The History of Germany |
A topics course offered in Fall, 2009 |
Instructor: Dr. Paul A. Schons 
Instructor Web sites: http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/paschons/schonsDir.html
Office: 335 OEC Phone 651.962.5153 e-mail: paschons@stthomas.edu University of St. Thomas
Times and Place: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 - 3:10, Room 319 OEC
Language of Instruction: German
Prerequisite: Germ 300 or equivalent
Content: This course will cover the history of Germany from 200 BC through the present. There will be reference to historic events in Austria, Switzerland, Luxemburg and Liechtenstein. The language of instruction, readings and discussions is German. The core history treated in the course will be a cultural / intellectual history with reference to critical political and social events.
Textbook and materials: The basic textbook is:
Hagen Schulze, Kleine deutsche Geschichte, Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag (DTV), 6. Auflage, 2003. ISBN 3-423-30703-X
Other print materials will be posted on Blackboard or sent to students by e-mail.
Videos of historic events will be shown in class and some posted to the Internet for student private use.
Tests and Grades: There will be 4 components to grades for the course:
1. Based on the daily German history e-mail messages which you get each day, there will be a 10 minuet multiple choice quiz each Tuesday. The questions will be taken from the information in the e-mailings and classroom information and discussions during the week since the last quiz. This will constitute 30% of the final grade.
2. 2009 is the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Berlin Wall. The German Club at UST, with sponsorship of the German government, is organizing a celebration of that historic event during the week of November 9. A part of that event is a competition with videos (which may be posted to YouTube) on the significance of the Berlin Wall and the end thereof. 30% of your grade will be based on a video you will make and enter into the competition.
3. During the first week of December you will be required to select a topic from German history and prepare a presentation thereupon (either as an oral report or as a video). This presentation will constitute 30% of the final grade.
4. 10% of the final grade will be based on class participation (comments, questions, additional information brought to class.
Attendance: Attendance at all class sessions is required. No make-up quizzes of the Tuesday quizzes will be allowed except for serious illness or family emergency. Understanding that some unforeseen but very serious reasons may cause an absence, additional reasons for absence may be arranged through consultation with and upon agreement of the instructor. Since there is no mid-term or final test, regular attendance is critical to assure that you are a recipient of all information presented in the course. Thus, the final grade will be lowered significantly for unexcused absences.
Students with disabilities:
Qualified students with documented disabilities who may need classroom accommodations should make an appointment with the Enhancement Program – Disability Services office during the first two weeks of the term. Telephone appointments are available to students as needed. Appointments can be made by calling 651-962-6315 or 800-328-6819, extension 6315.You may also make an appointment in person in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center, room 119. For further information, you can locate the Enhancement Program on the web at http://www.stthomas.edu/enhancementprog/.
Classroom accommodations will be provided for qualified students with documented disabilities. Students are invited to contact the Enhancement Program – Disability Services about accommodations for this course within the first two weeks of the term. Telephone appointments are available to students as needed. Appointments can be made by calling 651-962-6315 or 800-328-6819, extension 6315. You may also make an appointment in person in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center, room 119. For further information, you can locate the Enhancement Program on the web at http://www.stthomas.edu/enhancementprog/.
In compliance with the University of St. Thomas policy and disability laws, I am available to discuss academic accommodations that you may require as a student with a disability. Students are encouraged to register with the Enhancement Program-Disability Services office for disability verification and for determination of academic accommodations. Please do so within the first two weeks of the term. Appointments can be made by calling 651-962-6315 or 800-328-6819, extension 6315. Telephone appointments are available as needed. You may also make an appointment in O’Shaughnessy Educational Center, room 119. For further information, you can locate the Enhancement Program on the web at http://www.stthomas.edu/enhancementprog/.
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The University of St. Thomas is committed to a healthy campus community. During the 2009-2010 academic year, there will be ongoing concerns regarding the prevalence among university faculty, staff and students of both the H1N1 virus and seasonal influenza. To help limit the spread of these illnesses, the Centers for Disease Control has provided college campuses the following recommendation: students, faculty or staff with influenza like illnesses (temperature of 100.0 or greater, plus a cough or sore throat) are directed to self-isolate (or stay home) for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine. In the event that students are unable to attend classes due to this self-isolation recommendation, they should consult the university's pandemic web site http:www.stthomas.edu/pandemic/plan/default.html and complete an on-line form informing professors of their absence. In accordance, faculty will provide opportunities for these students to participate in alternative educational delivery due to this illness.