Syllabus
German 330: Literatur Lesen & Verstehen
- Iowa State University
- Fall 2011
- TR 12.40-14.00
- Black 1071
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Office hours: Monday 11-12am & Tuesday 4-5pm
1. Contact & Communication
One of the best parts of this job is getting to work closely with you. I want to be able to give you as much time and energy as I can, but I have almost 150 students this semester. Therefore, I have to be very careful about how I use my time and energy.
Email is useful because it can cross the entire globe in seconds and is virtually free. However, it does not allow for very quick or efficient dialog and problem solving. To combat this problem I ask you to avoid email unless there is an emergency. If there is an emergency (which doesn’t include you not getting an assignment done!) then you can gladly email me (mlooney@…) or call me (294-2759).
The best way to get your questions answered thoroughly (and quickly) is to plan ahead enough that you can bring questions to me face-to-face, either in class or in my office (Pearson 2244) during office hours. I will be in the classroom as early as possible and stay after to field questions. I also encourage you to use my office hours (Monday 11-12 & Tuesday 4-5( as much as you can. If these times do not work for you, ask me before or after class when I can schedule a meeting with you, which I am more than glad to do.
Please do keep your visits to within office hours (or individual appointment times).
2. Course overview & Outcomes
This course will help you learn how to engage in the acts of reading and understanding German literature from the so-called long 19th Century. We will begin with a general discussion of what literature is and how it fits into the history of modern, Western society. We will then move on to critical readings of four classic short stories, which will act as the textual proving grounds for your critical analysis.
Outcomes:
1. understand literary German
2. complete close readings of German literary texts
3. know about (and learn how to — correctly! — research) aspects of cultural history as reflected in the works
4. learn and correctly apply literary terminology
3. Required texts
Available in the ISU bookstore.
1. Five Great German Short Stories / Fünf deutsche Meistererzählungen, ed. Stanley Appelbaum
2. Wolfgang Herrndorf, Tschick (available in September)
4. Grading
reading quizzes/ homework 35%
3 close readings 30%
Protokoll 20%
Contribution to class 15%
Grading Scale: A = 90-100, B = 80-89, 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.
5. Assignments
Daily reading quizzes & homework
About twice a week we will take a short reading quiz at the beginning of class. At exactly 12.41pm the quiz will begin and will last approximately 5 minutes. If you are late, you may not make-up the quiz. The three lowest scores will be dropped (to match up with the three class sessions that you may miss).
The quizzes are meant to help you regulate your reading. If you haven’t read then we can not work on the texts; if you have not read then there is no point in being in class. The questions will be relatively simple comprehension checks.
Exams
At the end of each unit we will have a test over each text. This will cover all aspects discussed in class from background information to all elements of interpretation. this is why the _Protokoll_ is so important.
Protokoll
Go here for more information.
Online notes should not simply transcribe what’s on the board. Instead, you are responsible for the following:
* A 150 to 200 word summary of the day’s activities / whatever the main point of the class seemed to be. How did the assigned readings for that day hold together
* Transcribe at least one passage that we talked about in class, and explain how it related to the main point.
* Key terms that came up in class, plus a definition.
To make this task easier, I suggest that you check out a camera from the LSRC in order to document anything written on the board (if you do not have one of your own). Start this process today by reserving a camera in advance. I will also use the classroom’s camera to record each session, which you will be able to view while completing this assignment.
close readings
At the end of each of the first three texts, you will do a close reading
Contribution to course
Your contribution in class discussion every day is essential for a significant part of your overall course grade.Only 3 absences are allowed so come to class ready to work. If you miss more than three classes **your final grade will be lowered by 3 points for each absence**. If you miss more than 10 classes you will **automatically fail the course**. If you must miss and your absence is excusable please bring me an official, written note. Late work will only be accepted when your absence has been excused by me.
You will be assigned a grade at the end of each unit with 2.5 points possible each time (10 points for the whole semester), assigned thus:
2.5 Outstanding Always offers thoughtful answers when called on. Supports answers with evidence and explicit logic. Active group participation. Encourages others to participate and helps keep group focused.
2.2 Significantly exceeds course requirements Always offers thoughtful answers when called on and can support them with evidence. Active groups participant.
2 Exceed course requirements Offers thoughtful answers and can usually support them with evidence. Active group participant.
1.5 Meets course requirements Generally has an answer when called on, but often has difficulty with follow-up questions. Usually participates in group work.
5. Other Information
Make-up work
Make-up work is only accepted with an official note from your doctor or from a valid ISU group. If you have questions, please check with me beforehand.
Students with Disabilities
Any student with a documented disability who anticipates needing accommodations in this course should contact me at the beginning of the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will be required to provide documentation of your disability to the [Disabilities Resources] (http://www.dso.iastate.edu/dr/) (DR) office located on the main floor of the Student Services Building, Room 1076. Tel. 515-294-6624.
Academic misconduct
Please see the University’s rules and procedures concerning academic dishonesty in the Iowa State University Catalog (2009-2011). 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.” For the complete text, please go [here](http://www.iastate.edu/~catalog/2006-07/geninfo/dishonesty.html).
What does this mean? It means you should not do the following:
1. 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.
2. 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 latest edition MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers 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 by appointment 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.