Spring 2004

GER 431: The Classics
GERM 3520 The German-Speaking World from the Beginning to the Nineteenth Century

Die Goethezeit
Taught in German
TTH 9:30 - 10:45 at ECU and UNCW

A class of the UNC System German Consortium
with live two-way video conferencing between UNCW and ECU

Assignments - Notes - Links-Paper Topics

Instructor: Dr. Raymond L. Burt, Professor of German at UNCW
Office: Alderman Hall 111
BURTR@UNCW.EDU
Telephone: (910) 962-4095

Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays -12:00-1:00; Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays at 11:15-12:30. For ECU students, I will arrange to be available during these times through the desktop videoconference system NetMeeting.

As an administrator I am on campus during normal work hours. Call (910) 962-3137 to set up an appointment

Course Description

We will read, discuss and write about poems and prose works by German writers during the Eighteenth Century – with a focus on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. There will be mini-lectures, class discussion (sometimes in pairs or groups), two exams, a number of writing assignments, and regular quizzes.

Prerequisites

At UNCW you need to have completed GER 202 or have placed into the 300 level; at ECU, the prerequisite for this course is GERM 3510 (Introduction to German Literature). In more general terms, four semesters of college German have to be completed.

Student Learning Objectives

By the end of the course you should be able to:
- be familiar with the basic literary movements of the Eighteenth Century
- discuss, orally and in writing, selected works of German literature of the 18th century (their topics, motifs and literary devices) in their cultural and political contexts
- write an interpretive analysis of a literary text in German.

Texts

Recommended for purchase

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Die Leiden des Jungen Werther.   Roger Paulin, ed. Bristol Classical Press, 1993.

Schiller, Friedrich. Die Räuber. F.J. Lamport, ed. Bristol Classical Press, 1993.

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Faust. Walter Kaufman, trans. and ed.

If you can't purchase the books at your local bookstore, the texts are available online for free use at Projekt Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg2000.de/index.htm  

A good-size dictionary, such as the New College German Dictionary (Langenscheidt) or Cassell's German Dictionary Concise Edition.  You may also use on-line dictionaries such as: http://dict.leo.org/, http://www.langenscheidt.aol.de/, http://www.linguadict.de/ and http://www.wordreference.com/; there are others on the web (Google will turn them up), but these may be the best or biggest ones.

You may NOT use online or electronic translation programs.

Course Requirements and Evaluation

Class Work
For your participation in class, your grade will be determined using the following criteria:
A = you are well prepared, often with written notes, and participate actively; you are attentive, respond when called upon and volunteer often with pertinent questions and comments.
B = you are usually prepared, sometimes with written notes, and always respond when called on; you volunteer on occasion.
C= you show evidence of being unprepared; you have some trouble when called on and do not volunteer often.
D = you are unprepared and/or inattentive; you never volunteer; you come to class late and/or leave early.
F= you exhibit a lack of concern for the class; you sleep in class; your behavior may have a negative effect on the class.

Group Work
There will be group activities. The above evaluation criteria also apply to group work. Be a good team member in partner work or small group activities.

Written Assignments
You will submit your written assignments via email. Send email to burtr@uncw.edu.  Assignments are due by email submission at 9 a.m. of the due date. UNCW students may also bring a print-out of the assignment to class.

Final Paper
For your final paper you will write an analysis of a literary text, about 3-4 pages. The format will be 1 ” margins on all sides, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with page numbers. Base your arguments on close readings; give concrete examples (quotes) from the texts to support your arguments; and avoid vague impressions and over-generalization. For the format of footnotes and bibliography, if you have them, refer to the MLA Style Manual (available in bookstore or library). Paper topics will be given out later in the semester.

Exams
The midterm will cover roughly the first half of the semester, the final exam the second half. Exam expectation sheets will be posted later.

Department of Foreign Languages & Literature grading scale (in %)

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance is necessary for achieving good results in your studies and contributing to the success of the whole group. For every unexcused absence in excess of 2 (two) classes, your semester grade will be reduced by 1 point. If you have to miss a class, please inform me about it beforehand or as soon as possible after the absence.

Academic Honor Code

Students enrolled in this course must respect and abide by the Academic Honor Code of UNCW. This may be found in the Undergraduate Catalogue 2003/04 on page 64.