Welcome |
Assignments and Grade Distribution |
Textbooks |
Outline |
Resources |
Instructor |
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What are the goals of GER 291?
This course introduces you to three
things: This means that, by the end of the
course, you will have studied We will accomplish these goals
through various means. Over the course of the term you will read a
textbook that discusses the periods and movements in German-language
literature. At the same time you will read excerpts from important
writers which illustrate the motifs and controversies of these eras, and
you will learn how these works contributed to the development of German
culture. Class time will be given over to an analysis of these
epochs and works with a view to identifying the important themes, and to
help you learn the German vocabulary necessary to discuss literature. |
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What will we be doing in class? The course is divided into various epochs. Epochs are the construction of literary historians who, like all scholars, try to organize knowledge into categories. This is done because it is easier to understand something within a framework; it provides a point of reference for study. It will be important for us to learn the distinguishing features of these epochs, and so the first class period for each section of the course will contain an overview of that epoch. As important as it is to understand the general aspects of the literary and cultural movements of the German-speaking world, it is even more important for you to come into direct contact with the texts that define these epochs. (In other words, we should use epochs to help us organize the material we wish to study without allowing the epochs to become overly important; these epochs are the means to an end, and not ends in and of themselves.) The other class periods devoted to a particular epoch will be spent examining and discussing specific masterpieces. During class we will discuss the concept of representation in literature and culture, and we will also focus on developing the German vocabulary used to discuss literature and culture. Class time is important for your
learning. During class we will often break into pairs or small
groups to discuss particular questions, so it is important that you come
willing to participate in some way. Also, in order for class time to
be productive, it is necessary for you to keep up on work between
classes. 5-minute quizzes or short homework assignments will be
given on a regular basis in order to help motivate you to stay on top of
the material. |
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Course Theme: The Representation of Woman/Writing by Women Our main text gives us a general
overview of the main currents in German literature and culture.
But
it is also important for us to look at some primary works
in greater detail. A good way of reading these works is by selecting
a topic that links the works together in some fashion. In GER 291
the common link will be "woman." Most of the excerpts that
we will be reading will either present a representation of woman, or will
be written by a woman. The
representation of woman through the ages is just one window on larger
cultural currents and changes. We will study this representation, and
we will see if we can draw parallels with our early 21st-century
understanding of woman. The readings represent women in
different ways, and some are written by women. |
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What will the course website be used for? The course website is the nerve centre
of the course. You should check the site regularly: there you will find outlines
for upcoming classes,
important vocabulary, and references and/or links to interesting resources that will help you learn. If
you print the outline and bring it class, it will be a lot easier for
you to organize your notes during class. The site belongs to the
class: if you have suggestions for it, or things you want to see on it,
please let me know! |
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What language will we use in class? For the most part, German will be
the working language of this course. I will usually use German for
my lectures. However, I want people to be able to express their
ideas as much as possible, so students are welcome to use English if they
feel they can't get their point across in German. In some
assignments and quizzes German will have to be used, in others students
will be free to choose between German or English. |
| Kursbeitrag 20% |
Your contributions to the course will play a part in your final grade. Attendance and preparation are therefore essential for doing well. This is a subjective grade based on the following components: attendance; preparation for class; suitable completion of quizzes and mini-assignments; participation in course and group work. Thus, in order to do well on this portion of the course grade, you should attend class regularly and be prepared to participate in the work of the class. |
| E-Journal 15% | During the course of the term you will have to send me three short e-mail messages in which you discuss a personal perspective on some of the work we are doing in class. These messages are to be short (250-500 words) and written in German. You should consider this an opportunity to reflect on your relationship to the literature and culture we are studying, and to hone your ability to communicate that information in German. (What can you write about? Any topic in the course which you wish to discuss. Perhaps you feel a strong connection to an excerpt, or perhaps you can't see a relationship between it and your own society. Maybe you want to pose a question by discussing what you understand and don't understand about a topic. Perhaps you want to follow up on an idea which we didn't have time to discuss in class. Or maybe you wish to discuss an element of your term paper.) All e-journal entries will be commented on and returned. There are no due dates for these entries; the only stipulation is that no more than one journal entry (intended for grading) may be sent per week, and that all entries must be received by 24 November 2000. The entries will be graded on the use of language, thoughtfulness, and creativity. |
| Aufsatz 35% | The term paper for this course consists of two parts: a paper proposal (worth 10%), due on 1 November 2000, and a 1,500-word interpretive essay (worth 25%), based on the proposal, due 29 November 2000. The proposal contains the topic of your essay, your thesis statement (your argument), and an explanation about how you plan to argue this thesis (i.e. an outline of the major points you expect to raise in the essay in support of your thesis). The essay itself may be written in either German or English. You may choose a topic from the suggested topics list, or come up with your own. (For more details on the Aufsatz, including the suggested topics list, click on the link at left.) |
| Abschlußprüfung 30% |
A three-hour final exam, covering the entire semester, will take place during the December exam period. It will test your understanding of the periods, authors, cultural figures, and works discussed during term. The first part of the exam (multiple choice and short-answer questions) is in German; the second part (essay questions) may be written in German or English. (For more details on the Abschlußprüfung, click on the link at left after 30 November 2000.) |
Note on Deadlines: In some rare circumstances, it may be necessary for you to ask for an extension. If illness is the cause of this, you need to provide a "Verification of Illness Form" (these are available at http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosa/illness.html). Please note, however, that extensions for non-medical reasons are seldom granted. Late submissions of graded assignments will be docked 1% of the course grade per day late.
Note on Avoidance of Academic Offenses: All students registered in the courses of the Faculty of Arts are expected to know what constitutes an academic offense, to avoid committing academic offenses, and to take responsibility for their academic actions. When the commission of an offense is established, disciplinary penalties will be imposed in accord with Policy #71 (Student Academic Discipline). For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students are directed to consult the summary of Policy #71 (Student Academic Discipline) which is supplied in the Undergraduate Calendar (p. 1:11). If you need help in learning how to avoid offenses such as plagiarism, cheating, and double submission, or if you need clarification of aspects of the discipline policy, ask your course instructor for guidance. Other resources regarding the discipline policy are your academic advisor and the Undergraduate Associate Dean.
| Required:
Winfried Freund, Deutsche Literatur (Köln: Dumont, 2000). Recommended: A proper German or German-English dictionary. |
Note: Clicking on the hyperlinks below will connect you to pages containing outlines, study questions, and resources for the topic in question. It is expected that you will consult these pages in the week preceding that particular session. Please read the Lektüren by the date indicated.
WOCHE |
DATUM |
THEMA |
LEKTÜRE |
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1
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11.09.00 | Einführung | |
| 13.09.00 | Allgemeine Nachschlagewerke; Epochenvergleich Was ist Kulturgeschichte? Wie liest man Literatur? |
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2
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18.09.00 | Anfänge; Mittelalter |
Freund 8-23
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| 20.09.00 |
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3
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25.09.00 |
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| 27.09.00 |
Minnesang; Einführung in die Lyrik - Teil 1 |
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4
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02.10.00 | Renaissance & Humanismus |
Freund 24-35
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| 04.10.00 |
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5
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09.10.00 |
Happy Thanksgiving!
/ Frohes Dankfest!
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| 11.10.00 |
Kirchenlieder: Martin Luther |
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6
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16.10.00 |
Freund 36-49
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| 18.10.00 |
Sonette: Greiffenberg, Gryphius |
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7
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23.10.00 |
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| 25.10.00 |
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8
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30.10.00 |
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| 01.11.00 |
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Freund 50-59
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| 01.11.00 |
Aufsatzentwurf
fällig
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9
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06.11.00 |
Christoph Martin Wieland |
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| 08.11.00 |
Empfindsamkeit / Sturm und Drang
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Freund 60-79 | |
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10
|
13.11.00 |
Exkurs Radierungen: Chodowiecki |
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| 15.11.00 | Weimarer Klassik |
Freund 80-97
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11
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20.11.00 |
Goethe |
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| 22.11.00 |
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12
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27.11.00 |
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| 29.11.00 | Exkurs Oper: Mozart | ||
| 29.11.00 |
Aufsatz fällig |
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13
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04.12.00 |
Heinrich von Kleist |
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Dr. James M. Skidmore |
Modern Languages 308 |
Office
Hours: Mondays 3:30-5:30pm; Thursdays 1:30-2:30pm; or by appointment. |
I want to help you get the most out of your studies. You are always welcome to come by my office with questions or comments about any aspect of the course. I will look at rough drafts of work to be handed in, give you guidance on assignments, and provide assistance in any other way I can. German culture intrigues me, so I am always eager to share my enthusiasm and discuss topics related to the course, but for which there just is not enough time in class. In short: feel free to visit with me!