Issues and Trends: Topics in German
Germ-161 - Fall 2002
TR 1:15-2:30 ICC 219B
Instructor: Prof. Stefan R. Fink
Office: ICC 461; Tel.:7-5819; E-mail: finks@georgetown.edu
Office Hours: T 10:15-11; R 12:15-1:00 and by appointment
Course content and goals
This course is intended to deepen students’ understanding of the German-speaking countries today and to expand their linguistic skills to read and discuss pertinent issues on an academic level. The course will focus on socio-political, cultural, and economic developments: the German elections 2002; the process of European integration; legal, socio-economic and cultural aspects of “migrations”; globalization and the prospects for a humane digital future; (dis)connect between science and the citizen.
Special attention will be given to modes of argumentation and formal oral presentations as well as the acquisition and use of topic-related advanced vocabulary. At the end of the course, participants should be able to:
- read and understand complex materials (selected primarily from current print media)
- follow lectures, take notes, and summarize the content of lectures and readings orally and in writing
- discuss and comment freely (with reasonable fluency and accuracy of pronunciation) using topic-specific
advanced level vocabulary and discourse markers
- make short oral presentations and write summaries and short essays on selected topics of personal
and professional interest
Approach
The course is conducted in German, with all reading materials in German. However, additional background readings in English will be suggested.
In general, 75-minute class period proceed from oral infos on “Was gibt’s Neues” (“hot” local, national, international media including online internet news) or oral presentations to the discussion of selected readings. Text- or topic-related vocabulary, reading strategies, selected grammatical functions will be presented and practiced. We will also listen to audio materials or view video-/film sections. Typically, students will spend a considerable part of class time reviewing, discussing, and debating the course materials in groups while the instructor will attend to individual students’ progress and difficulties. At this level, participants are expected to consult with the instructor and work independently on areas where they need special guidance or assistance. They will also follow on a regular basis course related topics in the German and English media including selected Internet sources and German TV.
Course materials
There will be no textbook. Reading and listening or viewing materials for a particular topic will be distributed or announced in advance. Students are expected to have a good dictionary, e.g., Langenscheidt: New College German Dictionary (German-English, English German), or Wahrig - dtv Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache (German-German Dictionary) and Larry Wells: Handbuch der deutschen Grammatik.
Assessment & Evaluation
Active participation in discussion of reading materials (30%); short writing assignments (10%); one formal oral presentation with written summary (20%); two oral group presentations (20%); two topic-specific essays (20%);
All courses in the German Department adhere to the Honor Code of Georgetown University. In cases of alleged violations of the Code, the procedures described in the Honor Code will be followed.
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Semesterübersicht: Themen, Texte, Internet-Information
Thema 1 (28. 8 - 12. 9.): 2002 - In Deutschland ist Wahljahr
Jahr der Weichenstellungen (Editorial-Deutschland 1/02)
“Nicht nur schweigen und lächeln, meine Herren - denn es ist Wahlkampf” (Die Zeit 31/02)
“Schaut auf die Fakten”, Spiegel-Gespräch mit Schröder (Der Spiegel 30/02)
“Wie in einem Krämerladen”, Zeit-Inteview mit Stoiber (Die Zeit 31/02)
“Der doppelte Guido” - Kanzlerkandidat Westerwelle (Der Spiegel 31/02)
http://sueddeutsche.de/index (Bundestagswahl&Datei)
http://rtl.de/ (news/wahl2002)
Video: GE 0811 Schröder - Der Herausforderer (1998)
Thema 2 (17. 9. - 3. 10.): Das neue Europa - Integration und Erweiterung
Europa von morgen (Politik-Deutschland 2/02)
Europas Babylon - Sprache und Politik (Deutschland 3/01)
Der Euro - das neue Geld (Wirtschaft-Deutschland 1/02)
Erst schwach. Dann stark. Zu stark? -Der Euro steigt und steigt.... (Argument-Die Zeit 24/02)
Offen für Europa (Gesellschaft-Deutschland 1/02)
Grenzdialoge (Deutschland 5/01)
Thema 3 (8. 10. - 24. 10.): E-Society und Globalisierung: Ende der Privatheit? Eine humane digitale Zukunft?
Mobil, vernetzt und frei - Zukunft der Arbeit (Deutschland 5/01)
Globalisierung von unten (Spiegel-Gespräch, Der Spiegel 31/01)
Eine humane digitale Zukunft (Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft spezial, 9/01)
Führen Frauen anders? (Deutschland 5/01)
RIO +10 - Nachhaltigkeit (Schwerpunkt- Deutschland 1/02)
Die Wiederkehr des Menschenopfers (Essay: H.M.Enzensberger, Deutschland 5/01)
Thema 4 (29. 10. -14. 11.): “Wanderungen”- Migration: Chancen - Illusionen - Risiken
Wanderungen in Geschichte und Gegenwart (Deutschland 6/00)
“Ja zur Vielfalt” Interview mit Rita Süssmuth (Deutschland 6/00)
Das Fremde und das Eigene (Deutschland 2/02)
Gemeinsam ist ihnen nur die Angst (Die Zeit 26/02)
Staatsangehörigkeit:”deutchs” (Die Zeit 30/02)
Deutsch muss sein - Sprache und Integration (Deutschland 3/01)
Einwanderung: http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,129563,00.html
Thema 5 (19. 11. - 5. 12.): Forschung - Medien - Individuum
Einladung zum Dialog - Gemeinsam Wissenschaft erleben (Grusswort- Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft spezial, 9/01)
In der Zeittrommel (Deutschland 5/01)
Ethik im Zeitalter der Gene (Deutschland 2/01)
Das Humangenom - Der Bauplan des Lebens (Deutschland 2/01)
Schmelzende Riesen - Klima (Der Spiegel 29/2002)
Hermann Hesse - Zum 125. Geburtstag (Deutschland 3/02)
http://.suhrkamp.de/home/index.htm
Klimawandel: