Course Description:

Module coordinator: Joerg Seifert

The topical content of texts to be studied is related to the following two modules offered by the Department of History

• HI 101 European History since 1750
• HI 136 History of Germany from 1862 to the Present

Skills to be acquired are subject specific as well as transferable. They include

• The consolidation of a sound knowledge of German grammar and syntax and the development of history related vocabulary as a prerequisite for efficiently dealing with the highly complex structures of written German.
• The development of different types of reading techniques allowing to perceive the varying relevance of texts depending on the varying needs of the reader.
• The extension of communicative skills involving discussion and analysis of German political, social and cultural issues.
• Translation skills will be taught with a view to linguistic understanding and accuracy as well as a tool for textual analysis and interpretation.
  

Topic-orientated grammatical content 

• Consolidation of word order;
• complex sentence structure;
• the passive voice;
• subjunctive I+II;
• participles and participial constructions.

Reading techniques 

• Recognising textual structure;
• recognising discourse structure;
• ascertaining content and intention of text:
• understanding and evaluating source material.

Topical content 

Reading, writing and speaking activities will focus on a broad range of historical texts and history based audio-visual materials and on TV- news programmes centring on current German affairs

Communicative content 

The extension of speaking skills in German will involve the presentation and comparison of facts, causes, consequences, intentions and opinions, the identification of linguistic registers, expressing criticism and developing an argument.

Course Text Books:

Source material related to 19th and 20th century German history.

For Grammar Practice

1. Practice Grammar of German, Dreyer-Schmitt, Verlag für Deutsch
2. The Collins German/English-English/German Dictionary

History texts:

1. Aleff, Eberhard (ed.): Das 3. Reich, Hannover: Fackerträger-Verlag, 1970
2. Braun, Lily: Die Frauenfrage, Ihre geschichtliche Entwicklung und ihre wirtschaftliche Seite, Berlin/Bonn: J.H.W. Dietz Nachf., 1979
3. Gebhardt: Handbuch der deutschen Geschichte, dtv-edition, volumes 14-22
4. Gruner, Wolf, D: Die deutsche Frage in Europa 1800-1990, München/Zürich: Piper 1993
5. Heuss, Theodor: Ein Vermächtnis, Werk und Erbe von 1848, Stuttgart: Curt Schwab, 1948
6. Heiber, Helmut: Die Republik von Weimar, München: dtv, 1988
7. Herrmann, Georg (ed.): Das Biedermeier im Spiegel seiner Zeit, Briefe, Tagebücher, Memoiren, Volksszenen und ähnliche Dokumente, Berlin: Deutsches Verlagshaus Bong & Co, 1913
8. Lenman, Robin: Die Kunst, die Macht und das Geld, zur Kulturgeschichte des Kaiserlichen Deutschland 1871-1918, Frankfurt: Campus, 1994
9. Mayer, Arno J: Adelsmacht und Bürgertum, Die Krise der europäischen Gesellschaft 1848-1914, München: dtv, 1981
10. Mann, Golo: Deutsche Geschichte des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts, Frankfurt: Fischer, 1992
11. Nipperdey, Thomas: Deutsche Geschichte 1800-1866, Bürgerwelt und starker Staat, München: C.H.Beck, 1991
12. Nipperdey, Thomas: Deutsche Geschichte 1866-1918, Arbeitswelt und Bürgergeist, München: C.H.Beck, 1991
13. Richter, Gert: Die gute alte Zeit im Bild, Alltag im Kaiserreich 1871-1914 in Bildern und Zeugnissen, Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Lexikon Verlag, 1974
14. Rürup, Reinhard: Deutschland im 19. Jahrhundert, 1815-1871, Göttingen: Vandenhoeck/Ruprecht, 1984
15. Schlenke, M. (ed.): Preuœen, Beiträge zu einer politischen Kultur, Reinbek: Rowohlt 1981
16. Schulze, Hagen: Der Weg zum Nationalstaat, Die deutsche Nationalbewegung vom 18. Jahrhundert bis zur Reichsgründung, München: dtv 1985
17. Stern, C: Wendepunkte deutscher Geschichte 1848-1948, Winkler, A. (ed.) Frankfurt: Fischer, 1979
18. Stürmer, Michael:Die Reichsgründung, Deutscher Nationalstaat und europäisches
19. Gleichgewicht im Zeitalter Bismarcks, München, dtv, 1984

Teaching:

One seminar per week of two hours' duration. This class contact time should be supplemented by two hours independent study activities, vocabulary and grammar learning, reading, translation and comprehension practice with materials provided by the tutor. Students will also be encouraged to avail themselves of the Open Access facilities of the Language Centre, i.e. computers, satellite TV, audio tapes, magazines and newspapers.

Assessment:

All students are required to complete one written test and one written examination. The use of a bilingual dictionary is allowed in the examinations.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module students should be able to:

Demonstrate a sound knowledge of German grammar, syntax and history related vocabulary as a prerequisite for efficiently dealing with the complex structures of written German in historical contexts.

Demonstrate a good degree of competence in reading techniques.

Demonstrate a good degree of competence in translation skills with a view to linguistic understanding and accuracy.