GER2036 : Writers, Media and Society: the Bundesrepublik
- Offered for Year: 2020/21
- Module Leader(s): Dr Teresa Ludden
- Owning School: Modern Languages
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the SML to introduce the most important features of the history, politics and society of the Federal Republic from its foundation to its unification with the GDR; to understand the role intellectuals and writers played in shaping, criticising and reflecting this society; to analyse politically engaged texts; to encourage students to read German in an academic register, and to encounter and practise spoken German in an academic context.
Outline Of Syllabus
We begin by examining the division of Germany, the outbreak of the Cold War and the origins of the Federal Republic. The history of the Federal Republic is then traced to 1990, with particular emphasis on Adenauer’s policy of western integration in the 1950s, the student movement in the 1960s, Brandt’s Ostpolitik in the 1970s and the unification of Germany in 1990. Against the backdrop of the historical developments we study and assess the influence and contribution made by writers, intellectuals and filmmakers looking at questions such as how the BRD dealt with and negotiated the National Socialist past, and the role of the public intellectual in shaping the new democracy. Alongside historical material we will study two novels which engage with social and political problems and two films which pose questions about the legacy of the past, trauma and memory.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 44:00 | 44:00 | Prep for seminars/ guided reading |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | Preparation for oral presentation. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 100:00 | 100:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 12 | 2:00 | 24:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 12 | 1:00 | 12:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
German will be the normal language used in lectures; English will be used to give brief summaries of difficult points and to clear up misunderstandings. Lectures will provide students with an introduction to the main issues covered by the module. Seminars will be used for student-active discussion of the issues, in order to enable students to develop their interpersonal skills and to practise their ability to articulate ideas. Students will also be expected to prepare an assessed presentation in German on a subject of their choice relating to the texts and issues explored in the module. This will develop their oral presentation skills and, additionally, enable them to practise constructing coherent and reasoned arguments.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 90 | 2 | A | 50 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2 | A | 50 | 2,000 words |
Formative Assessments
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2 | M | To be completed during the Easter break |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
German will be the normal language used in lectures; Lectures will provide students with an introduction to the main issues covered by the module. Seminars will be used for student-active discussion of the issues, in order to enable students to develop their interpersonal skills and to practise their ability to articulate ideas. Students will also be expected to prepare a presentation in German on a subject of their choice relating to the texts and issues explored in the module. This will develop their oral presentation skills and, additionally, enable them to practise constructing coherent and reasoned arguments.
The essay is in English worth 50% and is linked to practising critical thinking, analysis of texts and ability to write in academic English
The exam will have a component where answers will be in German to reflect the teaching that is done in the target language on this module.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- GER2036's Timetable