German Studies 126Q--Stanford Introductory Seminar
Autumn 2000-01
Instructor: Prof. Russell A. Berman
Office: 260-201
Phone: 3-1069
Email: berman@stanford.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 2:30-3-:30 or by appointment
TA: Scott Belliston
Office: 260-312A
Phone: 3-0508
Email: smb@leland.stanford.edu
Office Hours: Mon 3:00-5:00 or by appointment
This course has several goals. Designed for students who have finished one-year of college level German or the equivalent, the course intends to strengthen language skills through a study of some of the outstanding works of German literature. While we will work on all aspects of your language ability, special attention will be paid to developing writing and reading skills. At the same time, the course provides an introduction to the reading of German literature. Fundamental questions about literature and its interpretation will be posed, the basic contours of German literary history will be explored, and some major works by important authors will be studied.
The course requirements include regular writing assignments on the literature studied. Your writing will be returned to you, and you are expected to revise, rewrite, and resubmit all writing assignments. Resubmissions are due in the first session after you receive the corrections. Consult with the professor or teaching assistant regularly to discuss your writing. In order to firm up your command of the basic mechanics of writing, the course includes a grammar review. However the course is designed to give you an opportunity to go beyond mechanics and work toward effective expository prose in German.
The review of grammar will be tailored to your individual needs. Two or more diagnostic tests will be given, normally outside of regular class time, to check your command of grammar. The results of these tests do not influence your grade. Instead they will be used to determine where you may require particular support in grammar. Appropriate assignments in the grammar review text will be identified. In the course of the quarter, you are in any case expected to refresh your familiarity with the material covered in the Handbuch zur deutschen Grammatik.
The following books have been ordered at the bookstore for this course:
Your grade depends on your class participation (40%), your writing (40%), and your grammar work (20%)
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