Stylistics, Expository Writing, and Communication

This course meets for about two hours daily and forms the core of the 400 level program. It aims at strengthening the student's ability to write and speak German at an advanced level through development of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills with an emphasis on advanced elements of communication and style. Attention will be paid to fine points of grammar, use of idioms, appropriate register. Classroom activities are enhanced by audio and video material as well as visitations by, and subsequent discussions with, German School guests and visitors. Lectures, films, and other cultural events of the German School will be incorporated into the course.

Required texts: Wolfgang Rug and Andreas Tomaszewski: Grammatik mit Sinn und Verstand. (Klett Verlag); Melinda Nadj Anonji: Tauben fliegen auf. (DTV); Yoko Tawada: Talismann. (Konkursbuchverlag); Anna Mitgutsch: Haus der Kindheit. (DTV); Christa Wolf: Störfall. Nachrichten eines Tages. (Luchterhand); Judith Schalansky: Der Hals der Giraffe. (Suhrkamp).