GER 389K:
Introduction to Scholarship

Fall, 1998

Description:

This course is designed for beginning graduate students, to introduce the various branches of German studies today. The first section of the course focuses on today’s professions of teaching and research in languages and literature; it introduces literary, linguistic, and cultural studies as professions.

The second section of the course is an introduction to the practice of these fields: to the bibliographic and reference tools that facilitate research, as well as to the avenues through which this research is presented (journals, professional organizations, and conferences). The goal of this introduction is to aid students in developing efficient research strategies and to familiarize them with basic reference tools.

The third section of this course introduces major streams of literary and cultural theory (including some kinds of linguistics), as they can be used to analyze the texts and artefacts at the basis of literary, linguistic, and cultural studies.

Assignments and Grading:

four bibliographic search assignments @ 5% each = 20% of grade

five theory/interpretation assignments @ 4% each = 20% of grade

completed CV and professional plan assignment = 10 % of grade

bibliographic midterm = 20 % of grade

comprehensive final = 30% of grade

NOTE: for the theory, bibliographic, and CV assignments, full credit will be given for appropriate work done on them, not for any "correct" or exhaustive answer. Conversely, points will be deducted for answers that do not address the full scope of the assignment, or that simply do not make an appropriate attempt to identify and fulfill the tasks set in the assignments.

More time spent will not necessarily mean a better grade, since you will be graded on quality and logic rather than on sheer quantity.