GERM 2223 - German IIA: Culture

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015

For Germany, the path into the 21st century has been full of turning-points and events which have shaped the generations. This course provides an overview of essential facts about politics, society and culture from 1945 to the present. The accompanying seminar will provide students with the opportunity to study topics in more depth through the discussion of various texts associated with the historical milestones presented in the lectures.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GERM 2223
    Course German IIA: Culture
    Coordinating Unit German Studies
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites GERM 1003 or equivalent, new SACE Stage 2 Continuers' German with a scaled grade of B or higher or equivalent
    Incompatible GERM 2221
    Course Description For Germany, the path into the 21st century has been full of turning-points and events which have shaped the generations. This course provides an overview of essential facts about politics, society and culture from 1945 to the present. The accompanying seminar will provide students with the opportunity to study topics in more depth through the discussion of various texts associated with the historical milestones presented in the lectures.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Ms Judith Wilson

    Judith Wilson
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will have:
    1) an in-depth knowledge of some of the issues central to an understanding of contemporary German society, culture and language
    2) the ability to locate, organise and evaluate primary and secondary sources of information pertaining to the study of those issues
    3) the ability to work independently and cooperatively to further their understanding of German society, culture and language
    4) the ability to communicate information, ideas and arguments about aspects of contemporary Germany cogently and coherently
    5) a greater awarenness of cultural difference/s and its/their impact on German society, but also on their own
    6) the capacity to understand the complex nature of contemporary German society and of the cultural productions that represent or crticise it
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 2
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 3
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 4
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 3
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 5, 6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There will be a reader for this course which can be purchased from Image and Copy at the beginning of the semester.
    Recommended Resources
    A list of recommended references will be provided with the detailed Course Outline made available to students at the beginning of the semester.
    Online Learning
    For a list of online resources click on Library – Resource Guides – German Studies Resources.
    Lecture materials will be available online via MyUni.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The modes of teaching and learning employed in the course are largely classroom-based and face-to-face. They include:

    1) a lecture “Milestones in German History: 1945 to the Present“ which is designed to contribute to students’ understanding of contemporary Germany by focusing on important events and turning points in post-war German history and to provide a context for the study of individual aspects of contemporary German culture treated in language workshops and elsewhere throughout the course.

    2) a seminar based on issues discussed in the lecture which will give students the opportunity to study topics in more detail and more depth.
    Students are encouraged to take personal responsibility for their learning through:
    independent personal study
    independent computer-based learning
    online access to lecture materials and other resources
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
    Below are the hours per week students are expected to devote to their German studies in addition to the 3 contact hours.

    Preparation for seminar: 2
    Reading & Research, assignments: 5
    Learning Activities Summary
    Detailed information will be provided in the Course Profile at the beginning of the semester.
    Specific Course Requirements
    There are no specific requirements in addition to those already mentioned.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    In the seminar students will be given the opportunity to work independently and cooperatively to explore topics and issues that particularly interest them and to embark on their own quest to discover more about German culture and society, past and present.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Oral presentation, written responses, minor research project, major research project.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Lecture – students are expected to attend all classes, but if they are unable to attend the lecture, it is students’ responsibility to contact their lecturer or course coordinator about their absence and to ensure that they get any material that may have been handed out in the lecture missed. Students who require alternative arrangements for assessment or extensions for assignments must notify staff before the due date and must provide evidence that they have legitimate medical or compassionate grounds for their request.

    Seminar– as a mark will be given for participation and performance, attendance is compulsory. Students who are obliged to miss the seminar must provide a reason.
    Assessment Detail
    Seminar:
    The oral presentation gives students the opportunity to explore a topic they are interested in and also to practise presenting material in a different format. The presentation should be approx. 10 minutes long and directly related to the themes of the seminar. Material should be provided in a way that makes it accessible and interesting to other members of the seminar.
    Like the oral presentation, the minor research assignment (1500 words) gives the students the opportunity to explore a topic in more detail, practise presenting the material in a written format and get some feedback before tackling the major research assignment at the end of the semester. It should be correctly referenced, have a clear structure and be presented in an appropriate register.
    Participation is based on preparation of the week’s material and participation i.e. active contribution and engagement with other members of the group.
    Written responses give students the opportunity to respond to issues raised in the seminar and develop their language skills in Germa.
    Lecture:
    The major research assignment (2500 words) is the major summative assessment for this course. It is designed to enable students to explore a particular topic in more depth. Students will be assessed on their knowledge of the topic, their critical engagement with secondary sources on the topic and their ability to develop and express their own point of view.
    Submission
    All work handed in during the year should have a German cover sheet obtainable from the School of Humanities office on the 7th floor of the Napier building. NB. The cover sheet requires the signature of the student declaring that the work handed in is their own individual work.
    Return of Work
    Work completed in semester time will normally be returned in class. If students miss a class, it is their responsibility to collect their work from their lecturer/tutor.
    The normal turn-around time for short assignments is one to two weeks, for essays and longer assignments possibly three to four weeks, depending on numbers.
    NB. It is important to collect your work so that you benefit from the corrections and comments made.

    Legal nature of the cover sheet
    The cover sheet is a legally binding document that asks students to confirm that they have read and understood the rules relating to plagiarism and related forms of cheating, that they are handing in the final version of their work and not a draft, that it has not been submitted for any other course, that they allow it to be photocopied or scanned and submitted to a plagiarism detection programme, and that they have kept a copy of the assignment that they will be able to produce on demand.

    Extensions
    10% will be deducted from work handed in after the due date unless there are legitimate compassionate or medical grounds and appropriate certification is provided. The 10% penalty applies for the first week; after that the work will not be accepted. Students who have legitimate grounds and require an extension should contact staff before the due date.

    Please note:
    a) All marks are subject to moderation. An adequate standard must be reached in each part of the course. Final grading (High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, Pass...) will be based on performance in each part of the course.
    b) Students should make a copy of all major pieces of work passed in for assessment.
    c) It will be assumed that all homework exercises, essays and tests are the student's own work. Work that is obviously not the student's own will be given zero and cannot be redeemed.
    d) Students may redeem the major essay if they receive less than 50%, or if they have legitimate compassionate or medical grounds and appropriate certification (letter from counsellor, medical certificate). Other work is only redeemable if there are legitimate compassionate or medical reasons and appropriate certification. If work is redeemed to enable the student to pass, the maximum result that can be obtained is 50%.
    e) Assignments completed during the semester will normally be handed back in class. Assignments completed in the non-teaching period should be accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope so that they can be returned by post.
    g) Staff will provide guidance where needed but won’t read and correct drafts of work.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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