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Courses Summer 2015

Below please find our new course catalog. We will update these pages throughout the break and the semester.

Unless stated otherwise, classes start in the week of April 7th 2015.
Students are responsible for keeping track of updates on actual course dates (some are alternating).

 
 

Society, History, Politics I (04-001-1002)

Module Coordinator: Crister S. Garrett

This module is meant to provide students with an interdisciplinary and integrated introduction to key developments and themes in the history, politics, and society of the United States from the colonial period to the conclusion of the Civil War. Beyond becoming acquainted with important aspects of American life, the module is meant to provide students with repeated exercises and practice in analytical thinking and expression, both in written and oral form.

 

Introduction to Linguistics for American Studies (04-001-1003)

Module Coordinator: Dr. Sylvia Reuter (Anglistik)

Das Modul bietet den Studierenden einen ersten Überblick über Analysemethoden und zentrale, grundlegende Fragestellungen in der synchronen amerikanistischen Linguistik sowie das Erlernen des geschriebenen akademischen Diskurses darüber. Die Vorlesung “Einführung in die synchrone Linguistik” führt ein in die Grundlagen der modernen englischen Sprachwissenschaft und gibt einen Überblick über die wesentlichen Teilgebiete der Disziplin. Das Seminar “Systemlinguistik” vertieft das in der Vorlesung “Einführung in die synchrone Linguistik” vermittelte Wissen aus den Bereichen Morphologie, Phonetik/Phonologie, Semantik und Syntax mit spezifischer Relevanz für das moderne amerikanische Englisch. Eine Übung “Sprachpraxis für Amerikanisten” ergänzt das Modul.

 

Literature & Culture II (04-001-1007)

Module Coordinator: Dr. Florian Bast

The module builds on and advances the knowledge and skills students acquired in the introductory module “Literature & Culture 1.” It acquaints students with major issues, concepts, and theories involved in the study of literature and (popular) culture. The module explores the canon debate and its implications for the study of U.S.-American literature and culture. In addition, it introduces students to exemplary modes and genres of literature and culture, and to their reflection in scholarship.

 

The Anglo-American World in a Global Context (04-001-1008)

Module Coordinator: Dr. Katja Schmieder

This module is meant to provide students with a deeper understanding of how the United States and Great Britain/Ireland relate to each other and other countries that together make up what is often referred to as the “Anglo-Saxon tradition”. Especially in the wake of contemporary globalization but certainly during earlier periods of mobility, exchange, and discovery the concept of an Anglo-American world held great sway in many corners of the globe. Indeed, for much of continental Europe today, “the Anglo-American world” provides a basic compass for understanding fundamental developments in politics, economics, and culture. This module is meant to provide students with a more sophisticated understanding of how the United States and Great Britain have perceived and influenced each other historically and currently, and also to provide a deeper understanding of what the “Anglo-American world” means during our current period of global change.

 

Society, History, and Politics III (04-001-1010)

Module Coordinator: Crister S. Garrett

This module is meant to provide students with the opportunity to engage in-depth selected societal, historical, and political themes that have shaped and shape the United States. Issues will be explored in terms of basic questions relating to American identity, the nature of power in American society, the negotiation of forms of consensus, and how American dynamics influence the country’s exercise of power and transcultural undertakings in the international arena.

 

Literature & Culture III (04-001-1011)

Module Coordinator: Dr. Sebastian Herrmann

The module aims to deepen students’ knowledge of U.S. literature and culture, and of the methods and theories involved in their study. Two seminars allow students to explore exemplary themes and discourses in literary and cultural studies. A tutorial assists students in advancing their academic writing skills so as to master the module’s advanced writing assignments.

 

Ethnicity and Diversity in US Culture II:  Multicultural and Multilingual America

The module is offered in 2015 as a trial run. Students can use credit from this module either as equivalent for “Language and Society III,” or they can have their course work count toward 'Ethnicity and Diversity II” once the module has been formally installed. In any case, students can only take either of the two, and they have to enroll in TOOL for “Language and Society III” in either case. Please see this newsitem for more information.

 

Language and Society III – Language in Transition (04-001-1012)

Module Coordinator: Dr. Sylvia Reuter (Anglistik)

Das Modul vermittelt detaillierte Kenntnisse über die spezifische Entwicklung des US-Englischen vom Altenglischen bis heute sowie über diskurslinguistische Konzeptionen oder über spezifische US-Varietäten wie z. B. Gullah, African American Vernacular English (AAVE) oder regionale Dialekte. Das Seminar “Geschichte des US-Englisch” dient einem Gesamtüberblick über die Geschichte des Englischen vom Altenglischen bis zum Frühneuenglischen sowie die Herausbildung und Entwicklung des US-Englischen.

Ein weiteres Seminar (je nach Angebot aus Varietäten oder Diskursanalyse) und eine Übung “Geschriebener Akademischer Diskurs I” ergänzen das Modul.