THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES
German 203 – German Composition and Conversation I
Fall 2008
German 203 is a three hour credit course designed for students who have taken a minimum of four
semesters of college German (German 104) or equivalent.
Time:
M/W/F 11:10 - 12:00
5 Film Screenings F 3:10 – 5:00
Caldwell 151
Caldwell 151
Lecturer:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Office hours:
German Department
Webpage:
Dr. Kerstin Gaddy
McMahon 210
(202) 319-6532
gaddy@cua.edu
MW 12:15-1:00, Tu 9:00-10:00 and by appointment.
Required Texts:
Jamie Rankin and Larry Wells. Handbuch zur deutschen Grammatik, Fourth
Edition.
Robert Reimer and Reinhard Zachau. Arbeitsbuch zu German Culture through
Film.
A German-English Dictionary
http://faculty.cua.edu/bornholdt/german.htm
Course Description and Goals
German 203 and 204 are the bridge courses between CUA's language requirement (101-104) and
advanced courses (300+). German 203 will further develop previously learned language skills. Even
though there will be a focus on advanced speaking and writing, advanced reading and listening skills will
also be developed. The four modalities will be developed by watching and discussing five German films;
extensive grammar review; reading excerpts of screen plays and other texts; writing and correcting five
essays; translating paragraph length texts; and producing short videos. Through the medium of film and
the additional readings and discussions, students will gain knowledge about important aspects German
history and culture.
Goals for student learning
By the end of German 203, students should be able to:
1) listen to interviews, short lectures, and films, understanding the
main ideas
2) engage in conversation on a variety of topics, with the ability to
narrate (tell stories) and describe at some length
3) read medium-length, authentic texts in German
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4) write cohesive summaries and résumés without making frequent basic errors
5) translate paragraph length texts
6) acquire knowledge about German culture and history
7) produce short videos in German
Instructional Methods
In German 203, we will reach these goals by:
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1) discussing films and texts
2) close reading of authentic texts
3) intensive grammar review and introduction of advanced grammar
4) writing assignments
5) performing short scenes from films
6) translating short passages
Films
Films will be screened in Caldwell 151 on five Fridays or on your own in the MLC (McMahon 206C), 98 M-Th, 9-4 F. Bring your textbook so you can answer comprehension questions:
Der blaue Engel (1930)
Die Brücke (1959)
Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum (1975)
Das schreckliche Mädchen (1990)
Lola rennt (1998)
Grammar
Our approach to grammar will be two-fold. In German 203, we will concentrate on certain advanced
aspects of grammar as it relates to verbs including the subjunctive and the passive, but we will also review
grammar as necessary depending on the texts we are reading and on common mistakes in your
compositions. It is your responsibility to read the grammar explanations in the textbook. Since the course
will be taught entirely in German, the grammar explanations in English in the textbook will prepare you
for the class.
Course Requirements and Policies:
1. Attendance
In a course such as this, which stresses effective oral communication, regular and prompt attendance is
necessarily MANDATORY and will be reflected in your final grade. Please let me know via e-mail if
you will not come to class.


0-3 absences, no penalty (but may affect class work grade).
above 3 absences, your final grade will drop 1 point per absence and the class
work/homework/quiz grades will also affected.
Exceptional cases of prolonged absences (more than one week beyond the initial 3 non-penalized
absences) will be reviewed on an individual basis.
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If you miss a class, you are still responsible for the material covered in class as well as for finding
out the assignments for next class.
2. Class work and participation
Discussion is very important in this class. You should come to class prepared to discuss the grammar
homework, reading assignments, and films. In addition, you will be working in groups to perform short
scenes from the movies and tape them (youtube-style).
3. Homework
You will receive a detailed homework sheet at the beginning of every three week period. Unless
otherwise specified, write out all of the exercises or questions that are due that day on a separate paper.
Homework may be collected at any time. The recommended preparation time for each class is two
hours. Unannounced quizzes may occur.
4. Testing
You will be tested by means of grammar and vocabulary quizzes, 5 compositions, a final exam and an
oral exam. Each composition will receive a letter grade and must be corrected by you. You can improve
your grade by one letter grade. Your videos will also be graded.
5. Academic Honesty
Academic honesty is expected of all CUA students. Faculty are required to initiate the imposition of
sanctions when they find violations of academic honesty, such as plagiarism, improper use of a student’s
own work, cheating, and fabrication.
The following sanctions are presented in the University procedures related to Student Academic
Dishonesty (from http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrityprocedures.cfm): “The presumed
sanction for undergraduate students for academic dishonesty will be failure for the course. There may be
circumstances, however, where, perhaps because of an undergraduate student’s past record, a more
serious sanction, such as suspension or expulsion, would be appropriate. In the context of graduate
studies, the expectations for academic honesty are greater, and therefore the presumed sanction for
dishonesty is likely to be more severe, e.g., expulsion. ...In the more unusual case, mitigating
circumstances may exist that would warrant a lesser sanction than the presumed sanction.”
Please review the complete texts of the University policy and procedures regarding Student Academic
Dishonesty, including requirements for appeals, at
http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrity.cfm and
http://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrity.cfm.
6. Grading
A letter or number grade will be given for each, composition, quiz, video, and final exam. Daily class
work and homework will be evaluated on the basis of their general acceptability. Final grades will be
determined according to the following scale:
100-94
93-90
89-87
86-84
83-80
79-77
76-74
73-70
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
C-
Excellent
Superior
Average
Lowest grade for continuing with German 204
3
69-60
59 -
D
F
Lowest passing grade
Failing
Your final grade will be calculated according to the following criteria:
Participation and homework
Quizzes
Compositions
Videos
Oral interview
Final
5%
15%
40%
10%
10%
20%
7. Learning aids
If you have difficulties with this class, don’t hesitate to ask for help. You may want to do the following:
* talk to me to set up an appointment
* find a classmate with whom you can study
* get extra practice in the Multimedia Language Center, McMahon 206C
8. Accommodations for students with disabilities
Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should
contact the instructor privately to discuss specific needs. Please contact Disability Support Services (at
202 319-5211, room 207 Pryzbyla Center) to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with
documented disabilities. To read about the services and policies, please visit the website:
http://disabilitysupport.cua.edu.
9. Course Schedule for GERMAN 203 Fall Semester 2008
This course schedule gives you an overview of the semester, scheduled quizzes, due dates for
compositions, tests, videos, film screenings, and exams. It does not designate homework. Before the start
of each chapter, you will receive a detailed homework assignment sheet.
FILM SCREENINGS
Monday, Aug. 25
Wednesday, Aug. 27
Friday, Aug. 28
Friday, Aug. 28
Course Introduction
Essay 1 due
Der blaue Engel
Caldwell 151
3:10 – 5:00
Monday, Sept. 1
Wednesday, Sept. 3
Friday, Sept. 4
Labor Day- No class
Video scenes
Der blaue Engel
Monday, Sept. 8
Wednesday, Sept. 10
Friday, Sept. 12
Final version
QUIZ grammar and
Essay 1 due
vocabulary
Monday, Sept. 15
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Friday, Sept. 19
Friday, Sept. 19
Essay 2 due
Die Brücke
Caldwell 151
3:10 – 5:00
Monday, Sept. 22
Wednesday, Sept. 24
Friday, Sept. 26
Video scenes
Die Brücke
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Monday, Sept. 29
Final version
Essay 2 due
Monday, Oct. 6
Wednesday, Oct. 1
Monday, Oct. 13
Columbus Day - No
class
Wednesday, Oct. 15
Video scenes
Die verlorene Ehre der
Katharina Blum
Friday, Oct. 17
Monday, Oct. 20
Final version
Essay 3 due
Monday, Oct. 27
Wednesday, Oct. 22
Friday, Oct. 24
QUIZ grammar and
vocabulary
Friday, Oct. 31
Essay 4 due
Monday, Nov. 3
Wednesday, Nov. 5
Video scenes
Das schrekliche
Mädchen
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Monday, Nov. 10
Final version
Essay 4 due
Monday, Nov. 17
Monday, Nov. 24
Monday, Dec. 1
Final version
Essay 5 due
Monday, Dec. 8
Study hard!
Friday, Oct. 3
QUIZ grammar and
vocabulary
Friday, Oct. 10
Essay 3 due
Wednesday, Oct. 8
Wednesday, Oct. 29
Friday, October 10
Die verlorene Ehre der
Katharina Blum
Caldwell 151
3:10 – 5:00
TUESDAY, OCT. 16
ADMINISTRATIVE
MONDAY –
REGULAR CLASS IN
CALDWELL
Friday, October 31
Das schreckliche
Mädchen
Caldwell 151
3:10 – 5:00
Friday, Nov. 7
Friday, Nov. 14
QUIZ grammar and
vocabulary
Friday, Nov. 21
Essay 5 due
Wednesday, Nov. 19
Wednesday, Nov. 26
Thanksgiving Holiday
Wednesday, Dec. 3
Video scenes
Lola rennt
Wednesday, Dec. 10
Study hard!
Friday, Nov. 28
Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, Dec. 5
Review – Last Day of
Class
Friday, Dec. 12
FINAL EXAM *
1:30 – 3:30
Room TBA
Friday, November 21
Lola rennt
Caldwell 151
3:10 – 5:00
Frohe Weihnachtsferien!
* NOTE: The final exam must be taken on the day and time assigned by the Registrar. Please plan
accordingly for travel, work or appointments
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