Course Syllabus
GER-G 416 / GER-G 306 / GER-G 255
The Brothers Grimm
Spring 2015 (12 January-5 May)
Meetings: Mondays and Wednesdays at 2:45pm-4:00pm in KV 011 (IUS) and EA 2102 (IUSB)
IMPORTANT: Read this syllabus carefully and ask questions if you do not understand a policy statement.
Instructor: Michael Hutchins, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of German and International Studies
Professor Hutchins is the coordinator of German and International Studies at IU Southeast. Prof. Hutchins received his Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati with a dissertation on the influence of the Jewish Messianic discourse on the work of the late German author W.G. Sebald (1944-2001). He has published research on second language acquisition (SLA) pedagogy and learning disabilities and contemporary German literature. He also regularly teaches courses on German-language popular culture, dramas and fairy tales.
Office Hours: M/W 12-2pm, T 10-11am and by appointment
Contact: mdhutchi@ius.edu. Email is the preferred method of contact. I will be checking my email periodically during the day and, under normal circumstances, reply messages will be sent within 2-3 hours of email receipt. For specific assistance regarding grades, assignments, due dates etc. see me during office hours.
Course Materials
Required
(G306/416) Grimm, Jacob und Wilhelm. Die Märchen der Brüder Grimm. Goldmann, 1957. (ISBN 9783442004126) or any public domain copy of the Grimm Tales (preferably the Ausgabe letzter Hand, 1857)
(G255) Zipes, Jack. The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm. 3rd ed. Random House, 2003. (ISBN 9780553382167)
General Course Information
This course is an experiment! This year, for the first time, we are conducting an intense survey of the Brothers Grimm in a hybrid course offered to both non-German speakers (G255) as well as students of German (G416 and 306). The German courses are intended to present the life and works of a major author or group of authors. This year marks the 202nd anniversary of the publication of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm’s Kinder- und Hausmärchen (KHM), commonly known in the English-speaking world as the Grimm Fairy Tales. It is fitting, then, to focus this year on these two brothers, who collected some of the most familiar folk-stories in the world. This familiarity is due in no small part to the role that fairy stories have played in the English- and German-speaking popular culture. The tales have been retold, adapted, re-purposed and presented in countless short stories, books, films, musical works and, of course, cartoons. Consequently, most of us think that we know these Grimm brothers—we are sure that we know the fairy tales—but few American students have actually read all of the KHM, and still fewer are aware of the Grimm brothers’ other endeavors (most of which were far more important to them at the time!) This course will give students an opportunity to get to know these remarkable brothers and their work in more detail.
Methodology and Structure of the Course
The course will consist of brief lectures and thorough discussions, for which students will prepare in advance. Discussion sessions will begin with a brief report (→ Course Assignments: Reports) presented by a student. Students will attend class once weekly and will have the opportunity to view films related to course materials outside of the regularly scheduled class times.
G416 and G306 are intended for advanced students of German and are thus conducted exclusively in German, except when the material under discussion lends itself more naturally to English (e.g. were we to discuss Disney’s version of Snow White). The requirements for these two course levels are different. (→ Course Assignments)
G255 is intended for students with little or no previous experience with German. Class discussion, readings and all other assignments will be exclusively in English.
Students from either the English-only or German-only section are welcome—though not required—to attend the class meetings held for the other section.
Objectives
Successful students in this course will:
- Read the entire 1857 edition of the KHM (the “Ausgabe letzter Hand”). A-level students will have completed a reading checklist for all 211 tales.
- Demonstrate comprehension of the readings
- in G416 A-level students will be able to paraphrase in German 50% of the KHM (105 stories) in writing and 25% (52 tales) orally
- in G306: A-level students will be able to paraphrase in German 25% of the tales in writing and 10% orally
- in G255: A-level students will be able to paraphrase in English 50% of the tales in writing and 25% orally.
- Demonstrate structural understanding of a limited number of the tales. A-level students in both the English and German sections will:
- Identify models and tropes that characterize certain categories of tales and
- Analyze in detail these models and tropes at work in 10 of the tales
- Demonstrate synthetic understanding of the structure of the tales. A-level students will compose a brief and (relatively) original fairy tale based on the model of the tales in the KHM.
- Use their knowledge of the Grimm Brothers’ work to critique a popular media adaptation of the Grimm Brothers’ work. A-level students will convincingly defend (or discredit) the adaptation, using evidence from the adaptation as well as from the Grimm versions (and, perhaps other versions) to show how the adaptation is superior (or inferior) to the work from which it was adapted. (→ Assignments: Final Paper)
- Demonstrate knowledge of the Grimm Brothers’ biographies and work by critiquing a Wikipedia entry. A-level students will identify and correct 4-5 common misconceptions on the page.
Assignments to Meet Objectives and Grade Distribution
There are 8 weighted elements that will be calculated in the final course grade
Class Participation 15%
Participation in class means more than simply attending each class meeting. In order to earn full credit for participation, students must demonstrate thorough preparation for class meetings and willingness to actively contribute to class discussion. In other words, you should have completed the day’s assigned reading, made notes about what you want to say concerning the reading, and speak (in German) as opportunity arises during discussions.
- Students enrolled in G 416 are required to lead 1 class discussion in the semester. (More details will be available under the Assignments tab.)
- In addition to attending class and participating in discussion, some G 306 and G 255 students will be invited to lead discussions for (significant) extra credit.
Reports 10%
A Referat (brief oral report: ca. 5 minutes in German) will be given by each student once during the semester. Depending on the final enrollment, Referate will begin either during the 2nd or 3rd week of the semester. A sign-up sheet with topics will be circulated on the first day of class. Failure to deliver your chosen Referat will result in the loss of fully half (50%) of your participation grade for the course.
Forums 15%
All students will participate in online (asynchronous) discussion threads in which elements from the readings and in-person discussions will play a role. Think of this as a Facebook thread without all the hashtags and cat videos. (OK, there may be a cat video or two. Who knows?)
Readings 10%
Students will be required to read both primary and secondary literature on a schedule announced below. There will also be optional reading or viewing assignments (worth significant extra credit). Students who complete the optional reading schedule will complete the entire Kinder- und Hausmärchen (KHM) by the end of the course.
Reading Guide 10% (indicated on the schedule below as RG1-RG15)
Throughout the semester, students will receive reading comprehension worksheets, which they will complete and submit periodically during the semester. These assignments are graded for completion alone, but are important, not only because they represent 1/5 of the course grade, but also because they will serve to prepare students for class discussions.
Quizzes 10%
There will be periodic quizzes throughout the semester. 10 are planned for now, but this number may increase or decrease as the semester progresses. These quizzes will cover the content of the narrative readings (the fairy tales themselves) and will serve to hold students accountable for the readings. Quizzes will be either announced or unannounced. The lowest score will be dropped.
Midterm Research Report 10%
Students will research a topic of their choosing and submit an extensive report (ca. 5 pages) which will prepare students to complete the final argumentative paper. This assignment will be discussed in more detail
Final Argumentative Paper 20%
All students will submit a final paper in which an argument concerning material from the course is presented and defended. This paper should build on the research students completed for the midterm report and should relate to either the Grimms, their collection(s) of fairy tales, another similar collection addressed in class, or a relevant other text or cultural phenomenon not assigned for class. Topics for this assignment will be selected early in the term, but may be changed by permission of the instructor.
GER-G 255
Paper is 7-10 pages in English
GER-G 306
Paper is 5-7 pages in German
GER-G 416
Policies
Policies and Procedures for German Courses at
Indiana University Southeast
General
The course instructor designs and administers the courses he/she teaches and may alter or update the policies stated below at his/her discretion. If you believe you are being treated unfairly, speak to your instructor first to make sure that you understand the policy in question and how it is being applied. If you still have concerns, you may also direct questions to the program coordinator (Dr. Michael Hutchins, KV110L).
Grading Scale
Final grades reflect a student’s cumulative classroom performance, quiz and exam grades. Students should track their own performance throughout the semester. The following grading scale will be in effect.
A 94-100% A- 90-93.9%
B+ 87-89.9% B 83-86.9% B- 80-82.9%
C+ 75-79.9% C 70-74.9% C- 70-73.9%
D 60-69.9%
F 59.9% and below
Grades will be rounded to the nearest .1% (i.e. 93.43% = 93.4%)
**Courses graded below C may not count toward the German BA / minor, but be sure to consult with your instructor, the German coordinator or an advisor before dropping a course.**
Class Attendance Policy
Class attendance and active participation are essential to the study of another culture. Additionally, IU has a “no cut” policy, which means that you are expected to be present for every class session. However, “participation” is much more than attendance. You are expected to be prepared to contribute to the class, respond to your instructor and have already completed the day’s assignments. Except in certain extreme situations, 5% will be deducted from your course participation grade for the fourth absence and each subsequent absence. If you know in advance that you will have to miss a class session, contact your instructor promptly before you miss the class. In emergency situations, certain unapproved absences may be excused without penalty. Students are expected to arrive on time, exercise common courtesy to their classmates and instructor. Please note the official policy statement in the IU Southeast Bulletin:
Class attendance is required. Serious illness, performance of certain civic duties (such as jury duty), and death in the immediate family are usually the only acceptable excuses for absence from class. Other absences must be explained to the satisfaction of the instructor, who will decide whether missed assignments may be made up. A student who is absent from the final examination and who has a passing grade up to that time may be given a grade of I (Incomplete) at the discretion of the instructor. The student must contact the instructor within two weeks of the examination date to schedule a make-up examination. Failure to do so may result in a failing grade being awarded in the course. (® Incompletes)
Due dates and other course-related deadlines
Unless otherwise indicated by the course instructor, the expressions “due date,” “deadline” or “submit by ___” define the last opportunity to submit an assignment or participate in an event for credit of any kind.
Late Assignments and Make-Up Policy
Exceptions to the deadline policy are made at the discretion of the instructor and may be considered only under the following conditions:
- The student has petitioned for a deadline extension in advance.
- The student has a documented, legitimate reason for delayed submission. Examples include serious illness (student must seek medical attention), death in the immediate family, certain technological malfunctions beyond the student’s control, weather emergencies and natural disasters, school- or career-related travel (e.g. attending conferences etc.) and certain sudden changes in living arrangements (e.g. homelessness, fire, eviction etc.)
- The student is otherwise passing the course.
If an extension is given for serious emergencies, the instructor may give full credit (i.e. without a grade penalty) at his/her discretion. More typically, instructors will apply a penalty proportional to the lateness of the assignment. A typical late assignment penalty is the loss of 5% of the maximum grade for the late assignment per day past the deadline. Any exceptions to this typical penalty must be announced in advance.
If a student misses an activity that cannot be submitted late (e.g. a class field trip or group presentation), the student may be permitted to submit a “make up” assignment only if the absence is excused in advance (® Class Attendance Policy). There are no exceptions, and there is no guarantee that your instructor will allow such make-up work. It is therefore in your best interest to make sure you are present for all class sessions.
Incompletes
Students should familiarize themselves with the course completion policies stated in the IU Southeast Bulletin
The grade of I (Incomplete) indicates that the student has satisfactorily completed the major portion of a course but is prevented by extraordinary circumstances from completing the balance of the course. The grade of I will be given only if the instructor has sufficient reason to believe that the failure to complete the requirements of the course was beyond the student’s control and that it would be unjust to hold the student to the time limits normally fixed for completion of the required assignments. The grade of I will not be awarded simply to exempt a student from paying tuition for a repeated course.
If the instructor does not otherwise act to remove the “I” within 12 months, the registrar will automatically change the I to an F. Both the student and the instructor in whose course the student received the “I” will be notified of this change of grade.
In accordance with this policy, a grade of Incomplete will not be assigned unless such circumstances arise as stated above. Please do not ask for your instructor to make an exception.
® IU Southeast Bulletin 2011-2013
(http://www.iu.edu/~bulletin/ius/2011-2013/policies/grading-system/incompletes.shtml)
Plagiarism and Cheating
Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s work, including the work of other students, as one’s own. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged, unless the information is common knowledge. What is considered “common knowledge” may differ from course to course.
a. A student must not adopt or reproduce ideas, opinions, theories, formulas, graphics, or pictures of another person without acknowledgment.
b. A student must give credit to the originality of others and acknowledge indebtedness whenever:
1. Directly quoting another person’s actual words, whether oral or written;
2. Using another person’s ideas, opinions, or theories;
3. Paraphrasing the words, ideas, opinions, or theories of others, whether oral or written;
4. Borrowing facts, statistics, or illustrative material; or
5. Offering materials assembled or collected by others in the form of projects or collections without acknowledgment.
Cheating is considered to be an attempt to use or provide unauthorized assistance, materials, information, or study aids in any form and in any academic exercise or environment.
® IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct
(http://www.ius.edu/studentaffairs/codeprocedures.cfm)
Use of Cell Phones
Unless the instructor indicates otherwise during class, the use of cell phones, tablets, and laptops in class is strictly prohibited. Students will silence or turn phones off before class begins. Texting, placing or receiving calls and wireless internet usage in class will result in loss of all participation credit for the day. There are no exceptions. Since it is impossible for your instructor to monitor or inspect a student’s electronic communication, any use of cell phones during testing or quizzing will be considered an attempt to cheat and dealt with accordingly (® Cheating)
Students with Disabilities
Students who have a disability that requires accommodations in the classroom should contact the Office of Disability Services by phone (941-2243) or email (mtspring@ius.edu) early in the semester so that their learning needs may be appropriately met.
The student will need to provide documentation of the disability and if further documentation is needed, recommendations can be provided: (® see the Office of Disability Services web presence for more details: http://www.ius.edu/asc/disabilityservices/)
Snow Policy / Class Cancellation
In the event of inclement weather, phone the School Closing Hotline (941-2567 or 1-800-863-2020), visit the IUS homepage (http://ius.edu), watch one of the local TV stations, or tune in to one of the local radio stations to determine the schedule (if we are on our “snow” or “normal” schedule. If we are on a snow schedule, detailed information will be available at ius.edu.
Under normal circumstances, if class is cancelled for a non-weather-related reason, you will be informed via email by your instructor (or another Arts and Letters representative) as soon as possible, but generally speaking no later than 1 hour before our scheduled meeting time. Emergency cancellations may or may not be posted in the classroom, but the Arts and Letters office staff will normally be informed of all cancellations and may be consulted if it seems that an unannounced cancellation has occurred. Please attempt to contact your instructor before contacting the office staff (→ see the Contact Information on your Syllabus).
Online Courses
All-online courses (defined by IU as “100% of instruction is provided through asynchronous online education in which the student is not bound by place or time”) are not subject to the same attendance policies as face-to-face classes. However, there may still be required virtual meetings, phone calls or conferences with the instructor. Failure to attend these required conferences will be treated as an unexcused absence and will be subject to the same policies regarding late work etc. that apply to face-to-face courses.
Students who fail to meet with the instructor as indicated on the syllabus may or may not be able to make up such meetings at the instructor’s discretion.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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