Kennesaw State University-Department of Foreign Languages
GERMAN 3303: Grammar and Composition
Fall 2008
Instructor:
Dr. Susanne Kelley
Section:
2-3:15 MW, University College 226
Office:
Pilcher 254
Office Hours:
MW 1-2pm, Th 12:30-1:30 (at Kaffeeklatsch) and by appointment
Email:
skelle16@kennesaw.edu
Office Phone:
678-797-2383 (email is better and faster)
Program Coordinator: Dr. Sabine Smith, 770-423-6501, ssmith2@kennesaw.edu
Herzlich Willkommen in Deutsch 3303!
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Grammar and Composition. Prerequisite: GRMN 2002 or permission of the instructor.
Introduction to the more difficult points of German grammar, syntax and style. In addition to the
development of writing skills, students will concentrate on expanding their active vocabulary.
Taught in German.
BOOKS:
Required Book:
 Rankin, Jamie, and Larry D. Wells. Handbuch zur deutschen Grammatik: Wiederholen und
anwenden. 4th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004).
Recommended Books:
-- Rankin, Jamie, and Larry D. Wells. Handbuch zur deutschen Grammatik: Wiederholen und
anwenden: Arbeitsbuch. 4th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004)
-- College Dictionary English-German/German-English, e.g. Harper Collins, College Ed.,
Cassel’s Langenscheidt, Bantam Books
-- Strutz, Henry. 501 German Verbs. New York: Barron’s Educational Series, 2007.
-- Rubin, Joan, and Irene Thompson. How To Be A More Successful Language Learner. 2nd ed.
Heinle & Heinle, 1994.
COURSE GOALS:
In this course, students focus on reviewing and refining two important skills in foreign language
acquisition: grammatical accuracy and eloquence in writing. Students will expand upon the
fundamentals of spoken and written German, covering selected chapters of the textbook. In-class
activities will be interactive. Students practice their skills in partner work, group work, and short
individual and group presentations. Homework consists of vocabulary, grammar, and style
exercises, and composition assignments.
GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:
Active class participation is essential to a foreign language course. Effective class participation
requires regular attendance, active involvement in in-class activities, and proper preparation prior
to class. Classroom activities are mainly concerned with the acquisition of active communication
skills, which means that you will frequently prepare oral and written assignments in pairs and
groups (speaking and writing only German!). Class will begin on time. Each class session, you
will give yourself 0-10 participation points. You will receive the criteria and the grading sheet
separately. If you don't come to class, you will get a 0. Your total will be calculated so that you
get two absences for free. There is no way to make up or excuse non-participation beyond those
two absences, because regardless of your reason for not coming to class, you are missing
material, and you are not participating in discussion.
In case of an emergency, contact another person in your class before the next session. If for some
reason you find it necessary to arrive late, you will be responsible for all information, including
announcements or changes to the syllabus made during your absence. If you are absent for the
entire class period, you are also responsible for all assignments and other announcements made
during the class meeting.
Homework will be assigned in class unless otherwise specified in the syllabus or by me. I will
collect or have you read homework to ensure accurate completion of the tasks and to allow for
questions to be answered. You can also find the homework assignments in the calendar of the
course WebCT site. Please note that homework does not have to be mistake-free to earn top
points. Students who are struggling with the language can still get perfect scores for their
homework if they take it seriously. You will be expected to be able to respond to homework
assignments orally as well. Be sure to check over returned homework. It is a good idea to correct
the errors that have been marked. All homework assignments have to be submitted or delivered
on time. If a student is absent on a ―due date,‖ s/he is responsible for having her assignments
turned in by someone else.
Compositions are more formal writings that will be graded on both content and grammatical
accuracy. They will be typed and double spaced. Your grade will be based on two versions of
each composition. The second version will include the suggested corrections marked on the first
draft. When submitting the second draft, please include the first one too. Your revised assignment
will not be accepted without the first draft. The final grade will be the average of the original
assignment and the revision. You may only revise each composition once. Your final composition
will be an expansion of one of the earlier compositions.
Assignments and tests cannot be made up, except in cases of documented family or medical
emergencies. If any test/assignment is missed, the grade is 0.
In class: We will, of course, speak only German in class. At times you will not understand every
word. Do not panic! Keep listening for words you have already learned and try out as many
words, phrases, and grammar constructions you have learned. I encourage you to take risks by
speaking as much German as you can. You will not be penalized for making a mistake when you
experiment with the language in class – that is what language learning is about!
Participation
Homework and in-class writing
3 Compositions*
3 Tests*
Final composition and presentation
Notes:
* Tests and compositions will be staggered in importance:
Test #1/Composition #1 = 50 pts.
Test #2/Composition #2 = 100 pts.
Test #3/Composition #3 = 150 pts.
15%
20%
30%
25%
10%
_____________
100%***
Grading Scale: 100-90%=A; 89-80%=B; 79-70%=C; 69-60%=D; 59% and below=F
*** The total score can be boosted by students taking advantage of either one or both of these
options:
Service learning opportunity: Apply your German skills with appropriate agencies/institutions
(see Dr. Sabine Smith, PS143, for facilitation and approval) for a minimum of three (3) hours
for seven (7) weeks, keep a record on the experience and earn a maximum of 200 pts. (20%)
of your final course grade; the service learning grade will replace any of 20 % component of
your final course grade, except for your homework portfolio and final exam grades.
Extra credit: The total score can be boosted by students taking advantage of the extra credit
option. Attend a German cultural event, research German websites or German language
software, or view a German film (see your instructor or Dr. Sabine Smith for prior approval),
and write a 500 word account on the experience (extra credit is worth max. 100 points or 10
% of your final grade, which will be added on to your total; limited to one extra credit
assignment per student in this course).
Academic honesty statement: Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of
the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Section
ii of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University’s policy on academic honesty,
including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University
materials, misrepresentation/falsification of university records or academic work, malicious
removal, retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer
facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of alleged
academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University
Judiciary Program, which includes either an ―informal‖ resolution by a faculty member, resulting
in grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of
Conduct’s minimum one semester suspension requirement.
Academic honesty is fundamental to the activities and principles of a university. Authors and
source must be given credit for the ideas they publish—be it on the web, in a book, or in a
newspaper. Similarly, the work you submit for this course—papers, tests, quizzes, and other
assignments—must be the product of your own effort. Plagiarism, which includes minor
switching of words but otherwise cut and paste text from another source, is a serious academic
offence that I do not tolerate. If I have good reason to suspect plagiarism on an assignment, the
resulting grade will be a zero, and I will pursue the appropriate disciplinary measures. For further
information on the KSU Student Code of Conduct as well as KSU Judiciary Policies and
Procedures, see the website for the KSU Judiciary Program (http://www.kennesaw.edu/judiciary).
Disability Policy: Kennesaw State University provides program accessibility and reasonable
accommodations for persons identified as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A number of services are available to help
disabled students with their academic work. In order to make arrangements for special services,
students must visit the Office of Disabled Student Support Services (ext. 6443) and arrange an
individual assistance plan. In some cases, certification of disability is required.
Student Learning Outcomes
This course will contribute to the attainment of the following general (GSLO) and specific
(SSLO) student learning outcomes of the B.A. in Modern Language & Culture (ML&C):
GSLO ML&C 1: LANGUAGE, LINGUISTICS, & COMPARISONS
Learners are proficient in using the target language, are familiar with the target language system,
and seek opportunities to further develop their skills and knowledge. (Knowledge, Skills,
Attitudes)
SSLO ML&C 1.a.: Demonstrating Language Proficiency.
Learners demonstrate a high level of proficiency in the target language, and they seek
opportunities to strengthen their proficiency. (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes)
To address this outcome, learners will
 improve their writing skills by focusing on practical writing needs
(uncomplicated letters, simple summaries, compositions related to work, school, and
topics of current and general interest); connecting sentences into paragraphs using a
limited number of cohesive devices; writing simple descriptions and narrations on
everyday events and situations in different time frames. Upon completion of the major in
Modern Language & Culture, learners are expected to have achieved an Advanced-Low
level on the ACTFL scale in their primary language.
Assessment:
 4 compositions
 3 exams
 regular written homework assignments
 in-class writing assignments
SSLO ML&C 1.b.: Understanding Linguistics.
Learners know the linguistic elements of the target-language system, recognize the changing
nature of language, and accommodate for gaps in their own knowledge of the target-language
system by learning on their own. (Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes)
To address this outcome, learners will
 describe the syntactic patterns of the target language, such as formation of simple
sentences and questions, and contrast them with those of their native languages; identify
key cohesive devices used in connected discourse (e.g., conjunctions, adverbs); explain
the rules that govern the formation of words and sentences such as those pertaining to the
verbal system, agreement, use of pronouns, prepositions, word order, and interrogatives
in terms of regularities and irregularities; exemplify these rules with target language
examples; and investigate the target language system and examples when faced with
specific aspects of the system with which they are not familiar.
Assessment:
 In-class discussions, group- and partner work
 Compositions and final presentation
VIEL SPAß IN DEUTSCH 3303!
CLASS SCHEDULE: Fall 2008 -- GRMN 3303:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
M
08/18 Introduction and Orientation
W
08/20 Chapter 1: Word Order
M
08/25 Chapters 1 and 11: Word Order and Conjunctions
W
08/27 Chapter 2: Present Tense
M
09/01 Keine Klasse!
W
09/03 Chapters 3 and 7: Present Perfect and Simple Past Tenses
M
09/08 Chapters 7 and 8: Simple Past, Past Perfect, and Future Tense
W
09/10 Chapter 4: Cases and Declensions + COMPOSITION #1 DUE
M
09/15 Chapter 4: Cases and Declensions
W
09/17 Chapter 5: Articles; Review for Test #1
M
09/22 TEST #1
W
09/24 Chapter 10: Prepositions
M
09/29 Chapter 10: Prepositions
W
10/01 Chapter 14: Comparative and Superlative
M
10/06 Chapter 14: Comparative and Superlative
W
10/08 Chapter 22: Numerals and Measurements + COMPOSITION #2 DUE
M
10/13 Chapter 13: Adjectives
W
10/15 Chapter 13: Adjectives
M
10/20 Chapter 18: Infinitives
W
10/22 Chapter 18: Infinitives; Preview for TEST #2
M
10/27 TEST #2
W
10/29 Chapter 30: Prepositions as Verbal Complements
M
11/03 Chapter 30: Prepositions as Verbal Complements
W
11/05 Chapter 20: Subjunctive
13.
14.
15.
16.
M
11/10 Chapter 20: Subjunctive
W
11/12 Chapter 27: Indirect Discourse + COMPOSITION #3 DUE
M
11/17 Chapter 27: Indirect Discourse
W
11/19 Chapter 28: Passive Voice
M
11/24 Chapter 28: Passive Voice
W
11/26 Keine Klasse!
M
12/01 Chapter 23: Seasons, Dates, and Time Expressions
W
12/03 Last Day of class: Summary + Final Presentations +
EXTRA CREDIT, LEARN & SERVE DUE
W
12/10 FINAL PRESENTATIONS AND COMPOSITIONS: 2:00-4:00PM
VIEL SPASS IN DEUTSCH 3303 !!