*17 one page reader response journals (Kommentar) to be dropped off by midnight of the day before the next class in the "digital drop box" on Blackboard. At the end of the journal you will formulate (at least) one "Frage zur Diskussion" - a question - you would like to pose the class for discussion about what you have read. These journals are a very important part of your grade.

*You will be expected talk about what you have read. (hauptsächlich auf Deutsch, ist ja klar!) Your questions can range from simple ones having to do with content or grammatical issues to more complex inquiries concerning literary aspects or the cultural context of the story. Class participation is, as always, a very important part of your grade.

* The four three-page papers for this class will be due on 02/05, 02/26, 04/ 02 and 04/30.

I will tell you what I would like you to write a week before the paper is due. For this class I will not accept rough drafts, because I want to encourage you to use a dictionary and be careful when writing in German. If you are unhappy with a certain grade for a paper we can discuss the reasons and I may let you do a rewrite.
You should conceive of the papers differently from the journals. In the papers you should work on developing a clear topic or thesis and on clear, concise and correct expression. This is where laziness or sloppy writing will be penalized. Feel free to ask other students for help: try and write a first version that you then go back and work on and improve. Come to office hours or send me an email if you have a particular question.

Your grade for the course will be based on the following components:

* Reader response journals: 34%
* Essays 40%
* Oral Participation 26%