Syllabus
Course Description
This course is meant to offer students an understanding of two important periods of German (and international) history: Nazi Germany and Divided Germany. These histories will be confronted through the various aesthetic artifacts made during and about these time periods; that is, through art, architecture, and memorials. We will attempt to ascertain how and why the choices made by the artist, architect, or designer influence the viewer’s experience and understanding of these histories. By the end of the course, we will all be more aware and critical of the versions of history that fill our daily lives.
The goal of the course is for students to engage with the various ways in which societies aesthetically re-present history, specifically in the artifacts of art, literature, architecture, and memorial design. Based on the premise that there is no history beyond what is presented in some aesthetic form (written, shown, told, organized spatially), we will approach the history of Berlin through the objects that mark the passage of time.
Student Outcomes
At the end of the program, students will: Know about important events and figures in twentieth century Germany. They will also have trained their critical thinking skills towards being aware of subjective choices made in the portrayals of history. They will also get to know one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in Europe.
Student Assessment
Pre-Trip Preparation Meetings & Readings 25%
Attendance in-country 25%
Journaling & Research in-country 25%
Final Project 25%
Grading scale
93-100=A; 90-92=A-; 87-89=B+; 83-86=B; 80-82=B-; etc.
“A” work 1) is on time; 2) accomplishes the assigned task fully; 3) is clearly and engagingly written using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation; 4) is well-organized; 5) correctly cites all sources used; 6) is carefully and thoroughly researched, if research is required; and 7) shows a superior level of creativity, thoughtfulness, and insight into the topic at hand.
“B” work competently accomplishes requirements 1-5 listed above, and is generally well done, but shows lower levels of creativity, originality, and/or insight.
“C” work offers a minimum level of competence on some or all of requirements 1-5, but contains serious flaws in argument, writing, research, and/or organization.
“D” work does not competently realize most or all of the requirements 1-5 and contains many serious flaws.
Pre-Trip Readings
You will be reading various texts to help orient yourself in our approach in the course.
Final Project
Before you depart and while in-country, you will research a neighborhood that we do not visit extensively in the course. You and a partner will prepare and execute a walking tour for the whole class. You should make a tour that is both efficient (time, energy) and informative in the same way the rest of the course is: you should present the history, aesthetics, and
Required Materials / Tools
Glue Tape. This is cleaner and easier to use and carry than a glue stick. You will use this to keep material artifacts in your journal.
Other Information
Special Needs
Due to the nature of the course (international travel to locations that might not have high accessibility standards), students with special needs should meet with me to determine the viability of their completion of the course. Those seeking accommodations based on disabilities should obtain a Student Academic Accommodation Request (SAAR) form from the Disability Resources office (515-294-6624), which is located on the main floor of the Students Services Building, Room 1076.
Policy on Academic Dishonesty
Please see the the rules and procedures concerning academic dishonesty in the Iowa State University Catalog (2006-2007). Of particular pertinence to this course is the definition of plagiarism. Please familiarize yourself with the following characterization: “Unacknowledged use of the information, ideas, or phrasing of other writers is an offense comparable with theft and fraud, and it is so recognized by the copyright and patent laws. Literary offenses of this kind are known as plagiarism. Plagiarism occurs when they do not credit the sources from which they borrow ideas, whether these ideas are reproduced exactly or summarized. The method of documentation will differ depending on whether the sources are written, oral, or visual. Ethically, communicators are responsible for providing accurate, detailed information about their sources. Practically, audiences need this information to comprehend and evaluate a message’s content. The Student Guide: English 150 and 250, available for purchase at the University Book Store, describes the process of documenting source materials as do many other reference guides.”
What does this mean? It means you SHOULD NOT do the following:
Cut and paste verbatim from the Internet or other texts unless you are drawing a direct quote (to be placed inside quotation marks) and giving the author(s) credit for their material in the form of parenthetical citation and bibliographical reference. Paraphrase the words of the author(s) without giving credit – changing the author’s words without crediting the source is still a form of plagiarism as the ideas behind the words are not being credited.
You should acquaint yourself with the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (latest edition available in the library for check out and for perusal at the Information Desk) to avoid any semblance of plagiarism. In this book, you will find the guidelines for how to: (1.) Cite a quote or source inside the body of your text (2.) Use footnotes/endnotes (3.) Write a proper bibliography
If you have questions about how to cite quotes or sources, please feel free to see me during my office hours or send me a Wave (see below) so that I can help you do the best possible work. Please take advantage of these opportunities when in doubt. In the event that a student is found to have committed plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty, he/she will receive a ZERO on the assignment. Furthermore, under University policy, I am obligated to report the incident to the Office of the Dean of Students, whose office will investigate the incident and decide what additional sanctions will be applied.