Course Syllabus

Dr. Karin Schutjer

Professor of German

MLLL

T 3:30-4:30: 

Email: kschutjer@ou.edu

Wednesday evenings 6:00-8:40 PM. February 22-March 29.  KH 233

 

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Course Description:

This course will consider how Germany is grappling with arguably the greatest challenge of our times—climate change—through a transition or turn (Wende) at every level and in every sector of their society.  The most significant efforts of all are directed towards what they call die Energiewende, the move away from fossil fuels. Since climate change can be an overwhelming and even paralyzing topic, this course will keep a practical focus on solutions and efforts towards mitigation.  (But in case it's helpful background, here's a quick overview of the outcomes associated with a global temperature rise of 2 degrees Celsius.)

Like other microcourses you may have had, the class is organized around a project that is doable within the five-week framework. For us that will be a poster exhibit /presentation on the last day, to which we'll invite other German students and faculty.

You may have also experienced in your other microcourses a focus on a particular kind of linguistic skill (for example, translation, listening, declamation etc). In this courses we will be working on a skill that is very important if you ever take one of the standard German tests that qualify you to enroll in a degree program in Germany. That skill is called Graphikbeschreibung and it involves simply expaining visualized data like a table or a graph. We will practice this quite a bit.

Another feature of a microcourse is that we accommodate students at many different levels. I am hoping that everyone in this class will find that they have things to learn and ways to grow, that they feel challenged without feeling completely overwhelmed. In order to make this very diversified learning atmosphere work, where there's no uniform standard of performance, each student will need to take responsibility for their own learning to some degree. What I am looking for is your steady effort and engagement.

Keep in mind, a microcourse is a 5-week chunk of a 3-hour course (which according to OU standards should involve approximately 6 hours a week outside work).  At the same time I realize that many of you are taking this course in addition to a full load, so while homework really is necessary for a decent learning outcome, I have tried to strike some balance and aimed for a weekly maximum of more like 2-3 hours.  To do that homework, simply move through the Canvas module step-by-step.  The homework is by and large not high-stakes and grades are mostly based on completion. We will also devote some in-class time to working on the poster project.  Please note I spread the overall homework grade (45%) equally over weeks 2-4., which means that the weight for similar assignments (for ex. vocab) can vary, depending on how many other assignments there are in a particular week. 

For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.

Course Prerequisites 

Generally GERM 2223.  Can be taken concurrently with GERM 2223 with permission.

Course Materials

Grades

Breakdown

This course meets five times.  After the first class, which will include in-class activities, each week will have assignments due.  The breakdown will be as follows

Week 1 = 5% (attendance and participation only)

Week 2 = 15% (assignments) + 5% (attendance and participation) = 20%

Week 3 = 15% (assignments) + 5% (attendance and participation) = 20%

Week 4 = 15% (assignments) + 5% (attendance and participation) = 20%

Week 5 = 30 (final assignment) + 5% (attendance and participation) = 35%

Scale

I use the normal ten point scale.  I use standard approaches to rounding up and don't otherwise adjust final grades, i.e.

89.5 - 100 = A, 79.5 - 89.4 = B

Course Components

The largest grade item will be your final poster, which may be done individually or with a partner.

Exams

There is no exam for this course.

Course Policies

Communication

The best way to contact me is by email.  If you have not heard back from me in 24 hours, please send me a friendly prompt.  Don't sweat it, it won't hurt my feelings, you can simply say, "Dr. Schutjer, I just wanted to follow up on this email,"

Late Policy

If you need an extension, please contact me before the assignment is due.

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UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

ACADEMIC POLICIES AND STUDENT SUPPORT

Course Catalog 

Search the OU Course Catalogue.

Student Handbook

Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.

Online Library

Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.

Academic Misconduct

In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook. 

It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.

This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.

Plagiarism 

Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism. 

For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.

Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities

The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.

Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.

If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Disability Resource Center.

Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues

Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability.  Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.

Title IX Resources  

For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident. 

Religious Holidays

It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.

Copyright Policy

It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.

Registration and Withdrawal

If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.

Student Grievances

In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.