GER 331L: Advanced Conversation and Composition
Spring 2010
Prof. Kit Belgum
Office hours: M 10-11, W 1-3, and by appt.
E-mail: belgum@mail.utexas.edu
(NB: not checked from home)
Office: BUR 324
Phone: 232-6375
Course Description
There are two central goals of this course. The first is to introduce you to several core issues in
contemporary Germany to familiarize you with important elements of German culture and
society and the ways in which these topics are discussed in Germany. This aspect of the course is
meant to prepare you to engage in conversations with Germans on a variety of current and
controversial topics. To this end we will read and/or listen to a wide range of material (film,
music, poetry, news reports, and print media) that relate to post-wall German society, politics,
and culture. These materials are organized according to four broad thematic units.
The second goal of the course is to improve your written and spoken command of German. This
means that you will expand your active vocabulary, aim for a consistently high level of
grammatical accuracy with basic structures, continually add more advanced grammatical
structures to your active repertoire, and increase the linguistic register at which you can produce
German. You will be expected to use grammatical structures appropriately and thoughtfully and
to add increasingly sophisticated and complex elements first to your written essays and then to
your spoken German. We will practice these elements in interaction (dialogues, conversations,
question-and-answer settings, and debates) before you use them in formal group and individual
presentations. The course will be conducted completely in German.
Course Objectives
By the end of this semester you should be able to:
• compose short written essays in German with a high degree of grammatical accuracy, a varied
vocabulary, and in a formal register;
• participate in verbal interactions in German with ease and advanced fluency using both
colloquial phrasing in conversation as well as formal elements in debates and presentations;
• understand and comment on primary German sources about contemporary Germany; and
demonstrate a solid understanding of core issues central to German society and culture.
Course Requirements
Texts/Readings:
Most of the required material is available online or via Blackboard. It is expected that you print
out each text in advance of the respective class, make notes on it as you read it, and bring it to
class. Each video should be watched multiple times and you should bring questions pertaining to
the material read and/or viewed. A German-English dictionary will be indispensable. I will
frequently refer students to Deutsche Wiederholungsgrammatik (used in GER 328) regarding
grammar points. If you do not have a copy, check out a comprehensive German grammar review
from the library for the course of the semester (see the list “Quellen und Nachschlagewerke”).
Preparation:
We will spend three weeks on each of four thematic topics about post-wall (i.e. post-1989)
Germany. In order for us to use our limited class time most effectively you are expected to
complete all reading or audio/visual assignments prior to each class period for which they are
listed. Sometimes you will be asked to skim longer texts for core information. But in all other
cases you should read all assignments at least three or four times. You should plan on watching
and listening to any video clips at least six (6) times prior to coming to class. Make sure you
allow yourself plenty of time to do this. Take notes on what you read and/or hear. There will be
several questions about the assignment that will help organize the focus of our discussion and
debate for each session. You are expected to have read all of the day’s questions carefully and
have prepared thoughtful answers to each and to come to class with questions of your own.
Participation:
Because a central goal of this course is to help you to improve your spoken command of German
and articulate complex arguments coherently you also need to participate in all class sessions.
We will do some group work in class each day so that everyone has as much opportunity to talk
as possible. The discussions you have in small groups (which should of course always be in
German and on the day’s topic) serve as preparation for our large group discussions. So use that
time to practice formulating ideas, answers, comments, questions using relevant new vocabulary
items and the grammatical structures and phrases that we are working on. Often we will include
short debates in our large group discussions. The best debaters will not be those who speak the
most, but those who use the appropriate forms, linguistic register, and vocabulary for the topic.
Participation grade profiles:
A
volunteers frequently and is well-prepared
B
volunteers sometimes and is well-prepared
C
does not usually volunteer but is usually prepared
D
does not volunteer and is generally poorly prepared
F
is consistently unprepared
Obviously, attendance is a prerequisite for participation. You can learn a lot from hearing other
students discuss and participate in class. And until you have to articulate an idea aloud you will
not know if you actually can do so. Thus, attendance is crucial to your success in this class. Of
course, you must not only come to class, but you must have done the assignments fully and
prepared to participate on the day’s topic.
Writing Assignments:
An assignment sheet will be posted on Blackboard for every class period (except presentation
dates). You are expected to answer the short questions or complete other short tasks in writing
before coming to class. I will spot check these by requiring you to hand them in on some days.
You are expected to complete them and bring them every day!
There will be short writing assignments due each week (typically between one paragraph and one
page in length) marked by an “S” on the assignment sheets. These will require you to practice
using various grammatical structures, vocabulary, and phrases correctly.
For each of the four thematic sections of the course, you will be assigned a three-page paper.
These papers will require that you discuss critically and insightfully one or more of the themes
addressed in that section. These papers can include material you have written for the shorter
writing assignments (but you are expected to improve your writing and not to repeat old
mistakes). The papers must be impeccably formatted (following the detailed instructions on the
document “Rechtschreibung und Formatierung” exactly) and be very carefully proofread. They
should be posted to Blackboard before class and should be brought to class in hard copy on the
date posted on the syllabus.
Group presentation and discussion:
There will be four in-class group presentations (Gruppenreferate) followed by discussions, one
at the end of each section. The purpose of these presentations is twofold: first, they provide you
with an opportunity to synthesize the material of the preceding weeks. Second, building on the
relevant vocabulary and the Redewendungen that we have learned, these forums help your to
improve demonstrate in a more formal setting and a structured situation your ability to handle
higher registers of speech. The presentations are dialectical in nature: each group will present
multiple and opposing view points (thesis/antithesis) on chosen topic and conclude with a
synthesis of the views presented. Each group should conduct solid research on their chosen topic
and present specific points for discussion that are related to but not included in the existing
course materials. Each participant should speak for approximately five minutes (but no longer)
on their portion of the presentation and must submit a list of all resources used. You may use
power-point slides and notes, but you may not read your remarks aloud. All students who are not
presenting on that day are expected to engage with the presenters and make astute comments.
Individual presentation:
During the last week of the semester you will make a five-minute presentation on a topic of your
choice, making a case (both verbally and visually) for something you think anyone who goes to
Germany needs to know (or would want to know). This may be related to something we have
discussed during the semester (but it may not be a topic from your Gruppenreferat). Note that
there is no requirement to do additional reading/research for this solo presentation; the main goal
of this assignment is to use your advanced language abilities to make an emphatic and
convincing case for your choice and to present relevant information in a well organized form!
Quizzes:
There will be up to 5 short quizzes, that cover both the grammatical structures, vocabulary, and
phrases that we will be learning as well as the content of the readings/videos and discussions.
These will be unannounced.
Grading:
Preparation and participation
Weekly writing assignments
Quizzes
Four three-page papers
Group presentation
Solo presentation
15%
15%
10%
40%
10%
10%
Plus/minus grades will be assigned for the final course grade.
SYLLABUS AND ASSIGNMENTS
You have received a detailed description of all requirements for this course in writing. It is your
responsibility to read it and follow all instructions. No late work is accepted. The conditions for making
up work for medical and other leaves are listed in the next section.
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ABSENCES
 Students can make up work missed because of a religious holiday as long as they notify the
instructor in writing at least one week before the holiday occurs.
 The same applies to official university obligations such as Club or Varsity sports.
 Documentation from a physician is required for a medical absence; arrangements to make up
missed work must be made promptly, and in no case should the work be completed more than 2
weeks after the absence.
 Other absences (e.g. family events) must be arranged for at least two weeks in advance and
missed work must be turned in during the next class session.
ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE
 UT Learning Center, in JES A332 provides free academic assistance, including help with collegelevel writing, reading, and learning strategies: <http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc>.
 Undergraduate Writing Center in FAC 211 has trained consultants who provide assistance with
writing: <http://uwc.utexas.edu>.
 For help using UT libraries see: <http://www.lib.utexas.edu/students>;
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/services/assistive/policy.html>.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The University of Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for students with
disabilities. Any student with a documented disability who requires academic accommodations should
contact the Service for Students with Disabilities as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining
authorized accommodations: <http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/index.php>. To receive
accommodations you must give this letter to your instructors. For more information, contact the Office of
the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-6441 TTY.
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
All forms of forms of scholastic dishonesty, such as plagiarism in written work or cheating during a quiz
or test, will be reported to the Dean of Students. Unauthorized collaboration, plagiarism on papers, and
cheating on tests will result in an F for the assignment, with no makeup possible. Students who engage in
any form of scholastic dishonesty more than once, will receive an automatic F for the course.
Please consult the information produced by the Dean of Students Office and read all the links and subpages: <http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acint_student.php>. They explain the various forms of
“scholastic dishonesty,” the “consequences of scholastic dishonesty,” and “avoiding scholastic
dishonesty.” It is your responsibility to know what plagiarism is and how to cite all of your sources
appropriately.
CLASSROOM REGULATIONS
Cell phones must be turned off in class. Computers may be used only for note-taking.
QUESTIONS?
Please come and talk to me if you have questions about these items, concerns about the course, or need
some assistance or academic advice. I am here to help!
Semesterplan
EINFÜHRUNG
Woche 1
20.01. 1
22.01. 2
Woche 2
25.01. 3
Einführung in den Kurs; Vorstellungen; Themen; Materialien und Quellen
“Das Land der Dichter und Denker:” Deutschland als Kulturnation
Kulturszene in Deutschland: Medien, Presse, Rundfunk, usw.
Der Sozialstaat: Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft
Arbeit und Arbeitslosigkeit, Behörden und Beamten, usw.
27.01. 4
Deutschland als Staat: Parteien; Politiker; Koalition(en)
CDU/CSU; SPD; FDP; Grüne, die Linke, usw.
29.01. 5
BRD vs. DDR: ein Vergleich
[Wiederholung der Presse: Vergleich zwischen BILD und FAZ]
TEIL 1:
Wiedervereinigung
Woche 3
01.02. 6
Chronik des Jahres 1989: der Fall der Mauer
03.02. 7
Chronik des Jahres 1990: der Weg zur Einheit
05.02. 8
Abwicklung: Treuhand
Woche 4
08.02. 9
Kosten der deutschen Einheit: Solidaritätszuschlag
10.02. 10
Die Stasi: MfS, IM, Aufarbeitung
12.02. 11
Film: Das Leben der Anderen
Woche 5
15.02. 12
Erinnerung/Identitätsstiftung: “Ostalgie”
17.02. 13
Film: Goodbye, Lenin!
19.02. 14
1. Gruppenreferat und Diskussion: “Wiedervereinigung”
Erste schriftliche Arbeit: War das Verschwinden der DDR gut oder schade,
notwendig oder vermeidlich?
TEIL 2:
Multikulturalismus
Woche 6
22.02. 15
Deutschland ein Einwanderungsland?
24.02. 16
Religion und der Staat: Muslime in Deutschland
26.02. 17
Kopftuch-Debatte
Woche 7
01.03. 18
Leitkultur
03.03. 19
Rechtsextremismus
05.03. 20
Toleranz in Deutschland
Woche 8
08.03. 21
Film: Auf der anderen Seite
10.03. 22
Multikulti: Schmelztiegel oder Salatschüssel?
12.03. 23
2. Gruppenreferat und Diskussion: “Multikulturelle Gesellschaft”
Zweite schriftliche Arbeit: Ist Deutschland eine multikulturelle Gesellschaft?
Ferienwoche
TEIL 3:
Die Vergangenheit: Verdrängung, Fetischismus, oder sonstwas?
Woche 9
22.03. 24
Nach-Wende Hitler
24.03. 25
Über Hitler lachen
26.03. 26
Die Deutschen als Opfer
Woche 10
29.03. 27
Holocaust-Denkmal(e) in Berlin
31.03. 28
Frauenkirche Dresden
02.04. 29
Palast der Republik oder Stadtschloß?
Woche 11
05.04. 30
Vergangenheitsbewältigung
07.04. 31
Wir sind wir
09.04. 32
3. Gruppenreferat und Diskussion: “Vergangenheitsarbeit”
Dritte schriftliche Arbeit: Wie gehen die Deutschen mit ihrem geschichtlichen
Erbe um?
TEIL 4:
Berlin: die Stadt im Werden
Woche 12
12.04. 33
Berlin wird Haupstadt
14.04. 34
Architektur und Ideologie
16.04. 35
Mauer-Spuren
Woche 13
19.04. 36
Berliner Kunst
21.04. 37
Schwule Hauptstadt: “..das ist auch gut so.”
23.04. 38
Graffiti und Straßenkunst
Woche 14
26.04. 39
Sexarbeit: Ausbeutung oder Beruf?
28.04. 40
Berliner Kiez: Berliner Bilder
30.04. 41
4. Gruppenreferat und Diskussion: “Berlin”
Vierte schriftliche Arbeit: Ist Berlin besonders?
SCHLUß
Was man unbedingt über Deutschland wissen sollte und warum!
Woche 15
03.05. 42
Referate
05.05. 43
Referate
07.05. 44
Referate