German 2331 INTERMEDIATE GERMAN HERBST 2007 PROFESSOR: Dr. Anne Reitz OFFICE: AAH 425 OFFICE HOURS: MWF 1:00-2:00 PHONE: 743-3073 E-MAIL: Anne.Reitz@mail.uh.edu SYLLABUS PREREQUISITES: PREREQUISITES: Completion of German 1502 or 1803. Placement test required for all students who did not complete first year German at UH in the past two years. See instructor for more information. REQUIRED TEXTS: ¾ Briggs & Engel-Doyle, Alles in Allem: This series includes a green Readings and Activities text, a red Grammar, and a blue Guide to the Audiocassette Program. CD’s for the audio component are available through the Language Acquisition Center, AAH 311. ¾ Di Donato, Fokus Deutsch ¾ Frisch, Biedermann und die Brandstifter A good German-English dictionary will also be required for this course. Before you purchase a dictionary, make sure it includes gender, plural forms, prefix or case indicators, etc. Collins and Langenscheidts are inexpensive and fairly good. Pocket editions are easy to carry but often inaccurate. If you think you want to continue with German, buy the best one you can afford. OPTIONAL TEXT: Zorach, English Grammar for Students of German, especially helpful for students with less background in grammar. OBJECTIVES: This course offers an intermediate-level grammar review, short literary texts, audio recordings, and a play to expand students’ German comprehension and selfexpression. Students will be able to converse with ease and confidence when dealing with most routine tasks and social situations that require an exchange of basic information related to work, school, recreation, particular interests and areas of competence. Regular writing assignments will sharpen your expressive skills, so that students will be able to demonstrate analytical and critical skills when writing in German. Finally, students will demonstrate professional readiness for language-related fields of study and work. APPROACH: Grammar review and expansion will be done mostly through at-home assignments, followed by in class use of the forms studied. Students will write the grammar exercises in a separate notebook that can be collected by the instructor and graded during quizzes. Classroom time will be devoted to actually speaking and writing with the grammar structures learned at home. Longer readings are assigned simultaneously with audio recordings of the same text, to help students practice both their audio and their reading comprehension. Video recordings afford a glimpse into German daily life, common attitudes, and social norms in German-speaking countries. Reading Biedermann und die Brandstifter, by Nobel laureate Max Frisch, allows students to enjoy a major 20th century drama, for which there is no satisfactory English translation. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Regular attendance and active participation are mandatory, as these are essential for meeting the course objectives, and the only way to demonstrate oral improvement. “Active” participation means preparing all homework assignments well and applying them orally in class. If you speak only when called on, or only when sure you have the right answer, you will miss opportunities to develop fluency and competency. Language learning involves dedicated preparation and the willingness to risk making mistakes! Therefore, both irregular attendance and classroom passivity lower grades. More than three unexcused absences lower your course grade by .2 for each class hour missed. Late assignments may not be accepted, and quiz make-ups are by the instructor’s discretion only. WRITING: Essays (Aufsätze) and the corrected re-writes (Korrektur) are due on scheduled dates – check the syllabus in advance. The corrected re-write will improve your original “first version” grade. Essays will be evaluated for grammar, complexity, and content. The essays should be handed-in, not e-mailed, and DOUBLE SPACED and TYPED. German word-processing software, including spell-check and grammar guides, is available in the Language Acquisition Center (AAH-311). You will be writing five essays during the course of the semester. READING: The texts from the Reading and Activities book are accompanied by content of discussion questions, which are considered part of the preparation of the text. They will often be the basis for classroom discussion. For the play, a handout of short questions for each reading assignment will be the basis for class discussion. Filling it out and turning it in are required, as they demonstrate your level of preparation. Your instructor will not correct and grade these handouts, but only evaluate your comprehension of the text. These handouts are also appropriate for noting new vocabulary or idiomatic phrases. GRAMMAR ASSIGNMENTS: Carefully work through the assigned pages the red grammar and complete the exercises in a separate notebook. Extra grammar explanations and answer keys will be posted in WebCt. Note any questions you want to bring to the professor’s attention in a different colored ink. Be certain to bring the notebook to class for grading on quiz days. Look over the planned materials for the following day’s classroom work to make it easier in class. QUIZZES: Several short quizzes will check students’ acquisition of grammar and comprehension of daily classroom instruction. MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAM: Both exams will cover grammar and reading texts, and include a writing component. The location of the final exam will be announced later in the semester. EVALUATION: Daily classroom participation, including homework notebook: Guide to Audiocassette work and Fokus Deutsch: Essays: Quizzes: Midterm exam: Final exam: 20% 10% 20% 15% 15% 20% STUNDENPLAN: This syllabus is an outline and is subject to change according to the needs of the class. Any changes will be announced in class. Turn in all assignments out of the blue Guide, all Fokus Deutsch chapters, and any other assignments the instructor specifically requests. Assignments out of the blue Guide to the Audiocassette Program and Fokus Deutsch chapters appear in blue below. NOTE: Vocabulary lists accompanying the chapters appear at the end of each chapter in the Readings and Activities book and should be studied and learned. They are not always explicitly assigned, but studying them will make writing assignments and in-class discussions much easier. Thema für die Woche Sich kennenlernen Class Day: Date Classroom work and dialogue: After class, at-home preparation: 1 Aug. Einleitung und Kennenlernen 20 (R+A 41-42 mit einem Partner) Grammar 1-4, 6-13, 14-16 2 22 Grammar, 20-25 R&A S. 10-11, 12-15 CD Anfang Kap. 1, Guide 1-5 3 24 CD Anfang Kap. 3, Guide 23-26 R+A 43 mit einem Partner, schreiben Sie zusammen einen Dialog (weiterer Wortschatz auf S. 62) R&A S. 10-11, 12-15, R&A Lesen Sie S. 37 Murtat Pileuncli (Wortschatz S. 39) Beginnen Sie den ersten Aufsatz: R&A S. 16 (a oder b); schreiben Sie 12 komplexe Sätze (=Hauptsatz und Nebensatz) oder 22 Zeilen (wenn Sie Thema a bearbeiten) Am 31. August abgeben Bist du Deutsch Die nähere Umwelt kleinere Freuden 4 27 R&A S. 37 Seving Ginar 5 29 Fokus Deutsch #34 besprechen R&A 34-35 (Wortschatz S. 39) R&A S. 37-38 wiederholen Grammar 25-29 Fokus Deutsch #34 Grammar 29-36 6 31 CD Ende Kap. 2 und Guide 20-21: „Wer braucht dringend ein Zimmer?“ Grammar 38-45 Fokus Deutsch #28 7 Sept 3 5 Review: What is case? R&A 23-25, 38C mit einem Partner (Wortschatz S. 39) ERSTEN AUFSATZ ABGEBEN FERIEN: Tag der Arbeit Quiz: Case; articles, der and ein- word endings, personal pronouns Fokus Deutsch #28 8 7 R&A S. 92-93 besprechen 9 10 Review: Adjective endings R&A S. 84-85, 86-87 mit einem Partner 10 12 11 14 TBA: Bringen Sie R&A ins Klassenzimmer R&A S. 2-3, 178, 180, 104 12 17 R&A S. 91A-92 “Drei Variationen über meine Großmutter” (Wortschatz S. 100) CD Kap. 5 and Guide 52-53 After reading and listening, underline all the nouns in the text and write above them the pronouns that would replace them Grammatik S. 60-63, 66-69 Beginnen Sie den zweiten Aufsatz: 15 komplexe Sätze zum Thema a) R&A 38 C (Wortschatz S. 39) oder b) R&A 93 D (Wortschatz 100) Grammar S. 70 -75 A CD Anfang Kap. 5 and Guide 47-50 E Grammar 78 (4.12: Comparison...) – 85 D Wiederholen Sie die Grammatik Grammar S. 87- 90 13 19 14 21 15 24 Quiz: Pronouns, adjectives and adjective endings R&A S. 4-5 Grammar S. 90: “Blumenpracht gegen das Großstadt-Grau“ ZWEITEN AUFSATZ ABGEBEN: R&A 38C oder 93D R&A S. 213, 227 Review: Two-case prepositions R&A S. 149-153, Handout Grammar S. 91 (Dative prepositions) – 96 Grammar S. 96-101 Lernen Sie alle Präpositionen auswendig! R&A S. 149-153 Grammar 102-107 Freizeit und Ferien Älter werden 16 26 CD Kap. 5 und Guide 54-57 „Einkaufen am Samstag“ 17 28 18 Oct. 1 19 3 R&A S. 166-167 Grammar 105 Handouts: Da- und Wo- compounds Quiz: Präpositionen, Da- und Wocompounds Fokus Deutsch #31 Fokus Deutsch #31 und #32 besprechen 20 5 21 8 CD Kap. 7 und Guide S. 74 „Aktivurlaub in Kärnten: Sport, Spiel, Spaß” Handout: Midterm Review DRITTEN AUFSATZ ABGEBEN: Fünfzehn komplexe Sätze zum Thema R&A S. 168D oder R & A S. 191 #2 Midterm Review 22 10 Midterm Exam 23 12 24 16 R&A S.69 Video: Einschulung in Deutschland Video: Geschichte der Jugendbewegung 25 18 26 20 Fokus Deutsch #25 R&A 68 CD Kap. 4 and Guide S. 37 „Ein Stadtbummel“ und S. 38 Aufforderungen und Befehle“ R&A S. 166-167 Beginnen Sie den dritten Aufsatz: Fünfzehn komplexe Sätze zum Thema R&A S. 168D oder 152: „Ich bin ein dreizehn jähriges Kind, und ich spiele gern...“ (Wortschatz S. 170) Fokus Deutsch #31 und #32 Grammar S. 17-19, weak nouns and adjectival nouns Grammar S. 64-65, adverbial word order Midterm Review Review for midterm No late assignments accepted after midterm review Ruhetag!! Oder, besser, beginnen Sie den vierten Aufsatz: 18 komplexe Sätze zum Thema a) „Ich gehe am Wochenende einkaufen und mit Freunden aus“ oder b) „Mein nächster Urlaub wird besser...“ Sonst beginnen Sie Morgen! Grammar S. 108 -115 Grammar S. 155-162 Fokus Deutsch #25 Grammar 162- 164, 116-117 (Separable-prefix verbs) Grammar S. 120 – 123 Memorize impersonal and dative verb lists 27 23 Fokus Deutsch #36 28 25 29 27 R&A S. 70 - 71 VIERTEN AUFSATZ ABGEBEN: 18 komplexe Sätze zum Thema a) „Ich gehe am Wochenende einkaufen und mit Freunden aus“ oder b) „Mein nächster Urlaub wird besser...“ Quiz: verbs in present, imperative forms, modal constructions and infinitives Biedermann 3-9 30 30 Biedermann 3 -19, line 6 31 32 33 Nov. 1 3 6 34 35 8 10 36 13 Quiz: Biedermann Biedermann19 – 33 Biedermann, 35 – 49 Quiz Biedermann, 51 – 67 Biedermann 68 – 84 Biedermann 84-104 Quiz Biedermann, 105-134 37 15 38 17 39 20 40 41 27 29 42 Dec. 1 Biedermann, 137-156 FÜNFTEN AUFSATZ ABGEBEN Biedermann, 157-177 Handout: Text Review Sheets TBA Handout: Grammar Review Sheets Text Review Grammar Topics Review Fokus Deutsch #36 beenden Grammar S. 125 (Modals) 127, 153-154 (use of werden) Grammar S. 131 (Verbs + zu + Infinitive) - 132 Biedermann 3 –9 very carefully, then 11- 19, line 6 Biedermann19 – 33 Handout: Questions to text Biedermann, 35 – 49 (48 – 49 very carefully) Biedermann, 51 – 67 Biedermann 68 – 84, line 15 Handout: Questions to text Biedermann 84-104 Biedermann, 105-134 Biedermann, 137-156 Handout: Questions to text Biedermann, 157-177 Comprehensive Biedermann Review Text Review Grammar Review Comprehensive Grammar Review Final Semester Review FINAL EXAM: THURSDAY, DEC. 6, 2-5 pm ROOM TBA