GERMAN 327 Syllabus
Autumn 2010
German@wiuis now on
Instructor
/Weijia Li
Office
/Morgan Hall 305 (c)
Telephone
/(309) 298-1496
Office hour
/M W F: 03:15 – 04:00 pmT: 1:20 – 3:00 pmor by appointment
Goals & Objectives
This course is designed to develop and expand your communication skills in German as you explore the contemporary literary and cultural topics and themes in the German-speaking world. Course activities will include:
- Reading authentic texts of increasing difficulty
- Viewing videos/films addressing contemporary cultural issues
- Summarizing verbally and in writing what you have read, heard, and learned;
- Participating and leading class discussion
- Writing compositions and short texts of various types;
- Researching a topic; preparing and presenting your results to the class (oral and written).
Support skills:
Vocabulary development; dictionary work;
German grammar: review and expansion;
Internat researching skills.
Required Course Materials1. Motyl-Mudretzkyj, I, and M. Späinghaus. Anders gedacht. Text and Context in the German-speaking World. 2nd. Ed.
2. Student Reading Package (Contact University Bookstore) incl. selected chapters or pages from:
Author / Book TitleW. G. Sebald / Austerlitz
Wladimir Kaminer / Russendisko
Burkhard Spinnen / Der Reservetorwart
Christian Kracht / Faserland
Ingo Schulze / Handy
Martin Kagel Ed. / The Meaning of Culture
Katharina Oguntoye / Farbe bekennen
Rafik Schami / Der Kameltreiber von Heidelberg
Uwe Timm / Die Entdeckung der Currywurst
Herta Müller / Atemschaukel
Access to Course Content Online
This course is using a customized course website embedded in Western Online. Students are supposed to log onWestern Online EVERYDAY to check out course announcements, homework assignments, and other course related information.
Assessments & Grading All tests and assessments will be graded on percentage basis. Missed tests or assessments will count as ZERO. Only in the case of verifiable (documented) illness or emergency will a make-up be given. Your grade in this course will be based on following assessments.
- Class Attendance10%
- Participation and Contribution to Class Discussion10%
- Quizzes (announced and unannounced)10%
- Grammar and Vocabulary Portfolio20%
- Compositions (with multiple drafts)15%
- In-class Presentations20%
- Final Exam15%
Grading ScaleGerman classes use the following scale:
A = 93 – 100 / B+ = 87 – 89 / C+ = 77 – 79 / D+ = 67 – 69 / F = below 60A- = 90 – 92 / B = 83 – 86 / C = 73 – 76 / D = 63 – 66
B- = 80 – 82 / C- = 70 – 72 / D- = 60 – 62
Your grade of each assignment will be posted on Western Online. Please log on Western Online to check where you stand throughout the semester.
Course Policies
Homework
Homework assignments are due on the day indicated on the course website. They will still be accepted within 3 days after the due date. You are required to correct all the errors on your homework assignments.
Composition Assignment
Homework assignments are due on the day indicated on the course website. They will still be accepted within 3 days after the due date. But, for each day after the due date, 10 points (10%) will be subtracted from your composition grade. The grade is based on the average grade of the two required drafts. Failure to submit the second draft will result a “0” as the grade of this draft.
Make-up Policy
In case you missed classes, you will be given the opportunity to make up quizzes, tests, and presentations only if you 1) notified the instructor about your absence in advance, 2) your absence has been excused by your instructor, 3) you will make up the missed assignments as soon as you return to the school.
Opportunities for Practice
German program at WIU organizes weekly “Kaffeestunde”and semi-monthly “German Movie Night”. You are encouraged to attend these events where you can practice your German skills and socialize with other people interested in German language and culture. You will be informed about other opportunities to practice your German as well as to attend events related to the German-speaking countries.
Students Rights and Responsibilities
Western Illinois University, like all communities, functions best when its members treat one another with honesty, fairness, respect, and trust. Students have rights and responsibilities ( and students should realize that deception for individual gain is an offense against the members of the entire community, and it is the student's responsibility to be informed and to abide by all University regulations and policies on Academic Integrity.
Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty constitute a serious violation of University conduct regulations. Students who engage in dishonesty in any form shall be charged with academic dishonesty.
Disability Support Services
Western Illinois University is committed to justice, equity, and diversity. Providing equal opportunities for students with disabilities is a campus-wide responsibility and commitment in which Disability Support Services ( plays a primary role. All students who have been admitted to the university and feel they will require accommodations in order to pursue a degree at WIU must register with DSS.
1
Assessment Rubric for Speaking
Overall (40%) / Grammar (25%) / Vocabulary (25%) / Pronunciation (10%)100-90 / all task demands met
message clear
consistently demonstrates understanding / highly accurate
very few errors / excellent range of vocabulary
accurate using / Error-free intonation and pronunciation
89-80 / most task demands met
message fairly clear
usually demonstrates understanding / good control of major (basic) structures
errors do not compromise meaning / vocabulary range adequate for level and task
fairly fluent with minor breaks or hesitations / Pronunciation free of major errors
intonation accurate
79-70 / some task demands not adequately addressed
parts of message unclear
demonstrates some miscomprehension / inconsistency and errors on major (basic) structures
some errors compromise meaning / word choice limited, relies on simple vocabulary
performance characterized by hesitations or breaks / Pronunciation shows some major errors
intonation acceptable
69-60 / does not fulfill most task demands
frequently demonstrates miscomprehension of details / errors on major (basic) structures
errors often compromise meaning / word choice inadequate for task or level
performance characterized by hesitations or breaks / Pronunciation or intonation errors compromise understanding
below 60 / almost none of responses appropriate to task/situation
avoids using the target language, resorts to English or no response / grammar highly predominated by errors/inaccuracies
errors severely compromise meaning / word choice inadequate for task or level
performance characterized by major breaks and hesitations / Pronunciation or intonation errors compromise meaning
1
Assessment Rubric for Writing
100% - 90% / Excellent command of the languageWriting is appropriate to current level
Thorough response to the writing prompt
Wide variety and accurate using of grammar, vocabulary
Spelling and punctuation are mostly accurate
89% - 80% / Good command of the language
Most of writing is appropriate to current level
Generally thorough response to the writing prompt
Some grammar errors
Some spelling and punctuation errors
79% - 70% / Limited command of the language
Writing is below current level
Length is adequate, but brief
Noticeable grammar errors compromising understanding
Noticeable amount of spelling and punctuation errors
69% - 60% / Poor command of the language
Writing is well below current level
Insufficient response to the writing prompt
Grammar errors predominate
Predominance of spelling and punctuation errors
59%-0% / Unacceptable or not turned in
Response falls below the above descriptions or is inappropriate
Korrekturschlüssel für Aufsatz
Zeichen / Bedeutung / Übersetzung / BeispieleA / Artikel / Article is missing or wrong type of article / Ich kaufedeutsches Buch.
Ich kaufe ein deutsches Buch.
Ich kaufe die Uhr.
Ich kaufe eine Uhr.
AE / Adjektiv-Endung / Incorrect adjective ending / ein guter Buch:
ein gutes Buch
A/P / Aktiv/Passiv / Context requires that the verb should be changed from active to passive or passive to active / Ich bin getragen.
Ich werde getragen.
Der Hund wurde gespielt.
Der Hund hat gespielt.
D / Da-/Wo-Compounds / Da-/Wo-Compound needed or wrong one used / Ich gehe da.
Ich gehe dahin.
Ich spiele dahin.
Ich spiele damit.
D/E / Deutsch/Englisch / Context requires that the word/phrase should be changed from German to English or English to German / Die Blauen Jacken
Die Blue Jackets
Es fielen viele baskets/goals.
Es fielen viele Körbe/Tore.
Dpl / Pluralform im Dativ / "n" is missing from a dative plural noun / den Kinder:
den Kindern
E-M / Einzahl-Mehrzahl / Context requires that the word should be changed from plural to singular or singular to plural / das Buch:
die Bücher
G / Genus / Incorrect gender / die Bild: das Bild
GKS / Groß- oder Kleinschreibung / Improper capitalization/
failure to capitalize where needed / das haus : das Haus
Wenn Ich: Wenn ich
HV / Hilfsverb / Wrong auxiliary/helping verb / sie hat gereist
sie ist gereist
ich habe schreiben
ich werde schreiben
I / Idiom / Idiomatic expression / ich bin heiß
mir ist heiß
Inf / Infinitiv / Infinitive missing or needed / Ich möchte zu Hause.
Ich möchte zu Hause bleiben.
K / Kasus / Incorrect grammatical case / er sieht der Mann:
er sieht den Mann
L / Logik / Improper logic; sentence does not make sense / Das Wetter spricht.
N / Negation / Incorrect negation / Ich habenicht einen Wecker.
Ich habe keinen Wecker.
P / Präposition / Incorrect preposition or case following preposition / Ich denke um dich.
Ich denke an dich.
Ich denke an dir.
Ich denke an dich.
PL / Plural / Incorrect plural form / die Bruder: die Brüder
PP / Partizipien / Incorrect past participle / Ich habe gestudiert.
Ich habe studiert.
PR / Pronomen / Incorrect Pronouns / Ich habe einen Computer. Es ist sehr alt.
Ich habe einen Computer. Er ist sehr alt.
R / Rechtschreibung / Spelling error/typo / Duetsch: Deutsch
RF / Reflexiv-Pronomen / Reflexive pronoun missing or incorrect / Ich treffe mit Freunden.
Ich treffe mich mit Freunden.
Ich wasche mich die Haare.
Ich wasche mir die Haare.
RP / Relativ-Pronomen / Relative pronoun missing, needed, or incorrect / Ich mag Erdbeeren, denen gezuckert sind.
Ich mag Erdbeeren, die gezuckert sind.
S / Steigerung
(Komparativ / Superlativ) / Incorrect comparative or superlative form / Es ist viel groß.
Es ist viel größer
Das am beste Auto
Das beste Auto
SD / schwache Deklination / Weak declination ("Masculine N-Nouns") require "n" or "en" ending in acc., dat., and genitive cases / den Student, dem Student, des Studentes
den Studenten, dem Studenten, des Studenten
SK / Satzkonstruktion / Faulty or awkward sentence construction / ... damit, wenn es regnet, ich nicht draußen stehe.
... damit ich nicht draußen stehe, wenn es regnet.
ST / Stil / Inappropriate choice of expression in view of context / Königin Elisabeth findet es echt geil, dass ...
Königin Elisabeth ist hoch erfreut darüber, dass ...
VF / Verbform / incorrect forms of the verb / Ich hätte drei Bier getrunken.
Ich habe drei Bier getrunken.
VSÜ / Verb-Subjekt-
Übereinstimmung / Verb-subject agreement error / du kommen
du kommst
WA / Wortart / Incorrect use of part of speech / heute Gesellschaft
heutige Gesellschaft
Wir suchen spielen.
Wir suchen Spiele.
WF / ein Wort oder mehrere Wörter fehlen / One or more words missing / Ich habegekauft.
Ich habe etwas gekauft.
WS / Wortstellung / Incorrect word order / Sie kauft ein jetzt.
Sie kauft jetzt ein.
WW / Wortwahl / Incorrect word choice / mit dem Auto gehen
mit dem Auto fahren
Z / Zeichensetzung / Incorrect or missing punctuation / Gut_ ich gehe.
Gut, ich gehe.
ZF / Zeitform / Incorrect verb tense / ich spiele gestern
ich spielte gestern
? / total unverständlich / Nonsensical / er aus nicht
German 327 Planning Calendar for Autumn 2010[1]
Monday / WednesdayAugust 23
Class Begin / 25
Reisen, Wandern und Popkultur:
Anders gedacht (AG) E+1
Martin Kagel: The Meaning of Culture
30
Sebald: Austerliz
In-Class Presentation (ICP):
W. G. Sebald und seine Werke / September 1
Ingo Schulz: Handy
Vocabulary/Grammar Portfolio (VGP) due
Report on German Top 40 Charts (D40C) due
6
Labor Day. No Classes / 8
Ingo Schulz: Handy
D40C due
ICP: Christian Kracht und seine Werke
13
Christian Kracht: Faserland / 15
Christian Kracht: Faserland
VGP due
D40C due
20
ICP: Deutsche Pop-Kultur (C/O POP) / 22
Multikulturelles Deutschland: AG 3
VGP due
D40C due
27
Wladimir Kaminer: Russendisko
ICP: Russische Imigranten in Deutschland / 26
Rafik Schami: Der Kameltreiber von Heidelberg
ICP: Rafik Schami und seine Werke
VGP due
D40C due
October 4
Rafik Schami: Der Kameltreiber von Heidelberg / 6
Film: Im Juli
VGP due
11
Film: Gegen die Wand (Head-On)
ICP: Fatih Akin und seine Filme / 13
VGP due
D40C due
18
Afro-Deutsche und Farbe bekennen
ICP: Initiative Schwarze Deutsche (ISD) / 20
VGP due
25 Vergangenheitsbewältigung: AG 5+6 / 27
Uwe Timm: Die Entdeckung der Currywurst
VGP due
D40C due
November 1
Uwe Timm: Die Entdeckung der Currywurst
ICP: Der Film „Der Untergang“ / 3
Introduction to German movies dealing with WWII
VGP due
8
Film: Das schreckliche Mädchen (Nasty Girl) / 10
VGP due
D40C due
15
Herta Müller: Atemschaukel
ICP: Herta Müller und ihre Werke / 17
VGP due
22
Thanksgiving Holidays. No Classes / 24
Thanksgiving Holidays. No Classes
29
Deutsch-deutsche Geschichte: AG 8
ICP: Generation Einheit / December 1
VGP due
D40C due
6
Film: Good Bye, Lenin. / 8
VGP due
13
/ 15
1
[1] Attention: All dates and assignments are subject to change.