UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF WORLD LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, & CULTURES
German 3040: Berlin in Film
Spring Semester 2013
Instructor: Dr. Carol Anne Costabile-Heming
Email:
Office: LB 101
Main office phone: (940) 565-2404
Class meets: 11:00-12:20pm T/R (LB 219)
Office hours: TR: 10:00-11:00 am and by appointment
Course description:
This course offers an overview of the history of German film, by examining films from the 1920s through the 2000s that take place in the city of Berlin. In our exploration of films about Berlin, we also will explore 20th century German history and culture. We will watch a range of films from feature films to documentary-like films, black and white films and silent films.
Note: You are expected to have a good grasp of intermediate German grammar concepts (although you are responsible for reviewing grammar that still presents you with difficulties, your instructor will be very happy to assist you in these efforts). Occasionally, we may revisit some fundamental grammatical concepts but grammar is not specifically taught in this course.
Required Texts: There are no required texts for this course. Supplemental readings will be provided by the instructor in advance on Blackboard.
Course Requirements and Grade Assessment:
Class Participation and Attendance (10%)
Students are expected to participate actively in class discussions, to prepare the written assignments and reading assignments prior to each class, and to listen and watch attentively the films and other media shown in class. You are expected to come to class prepared, with readings and related activities completed, and contribute to the discussions to the best of your ability. PLEASE NOTE: attendance without participation is not sufficient. I assign a class participation grade every time class meets, which is determined and rated as follows: 0 = student failed to attend class or missed more than 20 minutes; 1 = attended class, but was not prepared, did not participate, or missed 10-15 minutes of class; 2 = made some effort to participate, but not voluntarily and/or often just repeating classmates; 3 = student was prepared, arrived on time, and participated actively. Rest assured that coming and “being a body” will not get you full points; you must be fully engaged in class discussion/activities to earn 3s. Please refrain from the following: late arrival, early departure, cell phone usage. Students are responsible for all material covered in class. When you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to obtain the day’s assignment (by consulting the syllabus, a classmate and/or Blackboard).
Regular attendance is required. Repeated unexcused absences and tardiness will affect your grade significantly. You are allowed a maximum of three (3) absences, whether excused or unexcused, without penalty. After three absences, your attendance grade will suffer in percent. After the twelfth absence, you will receive a failing grade for the entire class. Excused absences are only: A.) illness with doctor's documentation, B.) official university sponsored activities and C.) the observance of certain religious holidays (see University Class Attendance Regulations in the UNT Policy Manual http://policy.unt.edu/policy/15-2-5 for details).
Class participation is an essential foundation for learning a language. Consistent and constructive participation is expected from all students. Though we will spend a portion of the class time viewing films, you are expected to watch attentively and take notes. Sleeping during film screenings will count as an absence.
Discussion Forum (25%)
Because a portion of class time will be spent viewing the films and also because I will be out of town at several meetings this semester, we will utilize Blackboard discussion forums for much of our discussion and analysis of the films. We will utilize both the written and oral discussion forums.
Film worksheets (25%)
For each film, students will complete a detailed worksheet that analyzes specific aspects of the film. Worksheets will be due following the viewing of each film and listed on the course plan.
Blog (10%)
Each student will write 2 film critiques/reviews in a blog format. Films will be assigned randomly during the second class period.
Research Paper (15%)
Students will complete a 5-page research paper on a topic related to the course. The instructor will provide a list of topics and discuss the format during the second week of class.
Final group project (15%)
Students will film a short scene which will be shown to the class during the final exam period. The instructor will provide the directions and information immediately prior to Spring Break.
Grade Distribution:
A = 100 – 90%
B = 89.9 – 80%
C = 79.9 – 70%
D = 69.9 – 60%
F = 59.9 – 0%
General course and university guidelines
1. Film screenings: Films will be viewed in class. All films also will be available on reserve for viewing in the Language Resource Center in LANG 105.
2. Blackboard: All course assignments and materials will be posted on the GERM 3040 Blackboard site – if you are unable to attend a particular class, it is your responsibility to go to Blackboard to get that day’s assignment.
3. Course communication: The instructor will communicate with students through Blackboard and through e-mail. All e-mail will be sent to students’ UNT e-mail accounts. It is the students’ responsibility to check UNT e-mail regularly or have UNT e-mail forwarded to another account.
4. Cell phones and laptops: The instructor encourages the use of technology and media in the learning process. Cell phones and laptops may be used to access online resources. Texting, game playing, Facebook are not permitted. If it is determined that cell phones and laptops are being used for anything other than educational purposes, the student will receive a grade of 0 for that day’s class participation grade.
5. Academic Integrity: All work submitted in your name must be your own work. Submitting someone else’s (or a translator’s website’s) translation of your work is plagiarism. I encourage you to consult with the German tutor available in the Language Building or with me; however do not request proofreading help from your friends or relatives, as they will likely supply you with constructions that you cannot yet produce on your own and without explanations as to the how’s/why’s of these structures, thus preventing you form learning at your own pace.
The use of machine translators (aka computer translation) is strictly prohibited. Any assignment that is determined to have been translated from English by a computer will receive an F.
6. Religious Holidays: In accordance with Section 51.911 of the Texas Education Code, UNT will allow a student who is absent from class for observance of a religious holy day to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time. Students are required to file a written request with each professor within the first 15 days of the semester to qualify for an excused absence. A copy of the state rules and procedures regarding holy days and the form for notification of absence from each class under this provision are available from the Registrar’s Office.
7. Disability Accommodation: Students must be registered with the ODA and receive a Special Accommodation Request form to present to their instructors or academic unit liaison. This form will contain information relative to the reasonable accommodations of the student and will assure the instructor or liaison that proof of disability is on file with the ODA. Within the first week of class, qualified students must notify the instructor or academic unit liaison for disability accommodation that options to standard methods of educational access will be needed. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at http://www.unt.edu/oda. You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.
8. Student behavior in the classroom: Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at http://policy.unt.edu/policydesc/code-student-conduct-and-discipline-18-1-11
9. Student Evaluation: The Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness (SETE) is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT. This short survey will be made available to you at the end of the semester, providing you a chance to comment on how this class is taught. I am very interested in the feedback I get from students, as I work to improve my teaching. I consider the SETE to be an important part of your participation in this class. If you have questions or concerns at any point during the semester, feel free to contact me. Plan on attending office hours at least once during the semester, even if it is just for an informal visit. Furthermore, I encourage you to use Kaffeeklatsch and German Club activities for additional speaking practice.