Students

GMN 295 – Reading for Special Purposes 1

2018 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Susanne Binder
susanne.binder@mq.edu.au
Contact via susanne.binder@mq.edu.au
AHH L2 North Wing
Tues 3-4 pm
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Permission by special approval
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is intended for students wishing to acquire only a reading knowledge of the language, whether for general interest or for research purposes. No previous knowledge of German is required. The language is presented specifically from a reader's point of view. Assessment is by online tests and assignments. The unit is taught in blended mode with a strong online component.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • By the end of this unit you should be able to ... Identify basic and more complex structures of German as they appear in academic writing.
  • Analyze the structures of written German to a degree sufficent to allow for translation into English with the help of specialist and non-specialist dictionaries.
  • Use print and online resources in aid of comprehension and translation of German academic texts.
  • Have a reading strategy to de-code and assess the core statements made in German academic writing.

General Assessment Information

Criteria and standards of grading are explained with each of the assessment tasks. Assessment tasks must be submitted by the specified due date and will be returned online. For details, see the iLearn site. Extensions can only be granted in exceptional cases and require consultation with the unit convenor before the assignment is due. - The student is required to complete all the assignments and the tests by the due date (for details see section on "Assessment Tasks"). To complete the unit successfully, the student will need to submit all pieces of written work and to achieve an overall mark of 50% or above.

Late Submission of Assessment Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Assignments (4) 40% No Weeks 3, 5, 9, 11
Online Test 1 30% No Week 6
Online Test 2 30% No Week 13

Assignments (4)

Due: Weeks 3, 5, 9, 11
Weighting: 40%

In each of the four (4) Assignments (each weighted 10% of the final mark), the structures and vocabulary acquired are applied to a new text. The aim is to gain firm knowledge and recall of the most important German structures.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyze the structures of written German to a degree sufficent to allow for translation into English with the help of specialist and non-specialist dictionaries.
  • Use print and online resources in aid of comprehension and translation of German academic texts.

Online Test 1

Due: Week 6
Weighting: 30%

In Online Test 1, students apply the skills they have acquiredand revised to demonstrate their knowledge of vocabulary and grammatical structures of German. They demonstrate their understanding of German by some translation from German into English.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • By the end of this unit you should be able to ... Identify basic and more complex structures of German as they appear in academic writing.
  • Analyze the structures of written German to a degree sufficent to allow for translation into English with the help of specialist and non-specialist dictionaries.
  • Use print and online resources in aid of comprehension and translation of German academic texts.

Online Test 2

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 30%

In Online Test 2, students apply the skills they have acquired to demonstrate their knowledge of vocabulary and grammatical structures of German. They demonstrate their understanding of German by some translation from German into English.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • By the end of this unit you should be able to ... Identify basic and more complex structures of German as they appear in academic writing.
  • Analyze the structures of written German to a degree sufficent to allow for translation into English with the help of specialist and non-specialist dictionaries.
  • Use print and online resources in aid of comprehension and translation of German academic texts.
  • Have a reading strategy to de-code and assess the core statements made in German academic writing.

Delivery and Resources

Delivery: Day (on campus) and online, also External (fully online)

This unit is for students on campus (class: day 4-6 pm) or for external students online. It has an accompanying iLearn website. Both the on-campus and external students have access and work with the materials on this same iLearn site. 

Times and Locations for Lectures and Tutorials: for current updates, lecture times and classrooms please consult the the MQ Timetables website www.timetables.mq.edu.au

If campus students are unable to attend, appropriate apologies will have to be received. Students will need to contact the relevant staff member or the Department Administrator, phone: +61 2 9850 7005.

External students are required to have a regular presence on the unit website as per the weeks of the semester.

Required and recommended resources:

  • required: a good size (!) German-English / English-German Dictionary such as Harper / Collins (PONS) Unabridged Dictionary: German - English, English - German or Oxford-Duden Unabridged Dictionary: German - English, English - German
  • required: unit materials available on the GMN295 iLearn site and built week by week into a complete textbook by Week 12.
  • recommended: Durrell / Kohl / Loftus, Essential German Grammar, London: Arnold, 2002, ISBN 978-0-340-74189-4

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

Online Unit

Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Is my unit in iLearn?: http://help.ilearn.mq.edu.au/unitsonline/ to check when your online unit will become available.

Technology

Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

For students attending classes on campus we strongly encourage that you bring along your own laptop computer, ready to work with activities in your online unit. The preferred operating system is Windows 10.

Students are required to access the online unit in iLearn by the end of Week 1 and follow any relevant instructions and links for downloads that may be required. If applicable, students are required to download the relevant language package prior to Week 2.

Please contact your course convenor before the end of Week 1 if you do not have a suitable laptop (or tablet) for in-class use.

Unit Schedule

  Texts Grammar points for discussion
Week 1 Texts 1 and 2 Introduction (1): cognates, spelling, pronunciation, haben & sein
Week 2 Book titles, Dictionary entries Introduction (2): singular / plural, gender, genitive constructions
Week 3 Text 3 Compound nouns, verbs (1), pronouns (1)
Week 4 Text 3 "Core sentence", adjectives, verbs (2)
Week 5 Text 4 Verbs (3): separable verbs, modal verbs, reflexive verbs
Week 6 Text 4 Word order (1), verbs (4): past participles
Week 7 Text 5 Verbs (5): the past tenses - Online Test 1
Week 8 Text 5 Past participles in various functions, case system and word order, pronouns (2)
Week 9 Text 6 Subordinate clauses, conjunctions
Week 10 Text 6 Present participles, expanded noun phrase (1)
Week 11 Text 7 Expanded noun phrase (2), "da-compounds"
Week 12 Text 7 Passive voice
Week 13 ------- Online Test 2

A more detailed Unit Schedule with the due dates for Assignments is available on the iLearn site for this unit.

Learning and Teaching Activities

Class participation

Exploring, applying and consolidating knowledge of German

Preparation for class

Revising the new topics and apply to new texts

Vocabulary learning

Consolidating knowledge of the German verbal system

Translating

Applying knowledge of vocabulary and grammar; using de-coding skills to understanding German texts

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Have a reading strategy to de-code and assess the core statements made in German academic writing.

Learning and teaching activities

  • Revising the new topics and apply to new texts

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • By the end of this unit you should be able to ... Identify basic and more complex structures of German as they appear in academic writing.
  • Analyze the structures of written German to a degree sufficent to allow for translation into English with the help of specialist and non-specialist dictionaries.
  • Use print and online resources in aid of comprehension and translation of German academic texts.
  • Have a reading strategy to de-code and assess the core statements made in German academic writing.

Assessment task

  • Online Test 2

Learning and teaching activity

  • Exploring, applying and consolidating knowledge of German
  • Revising the new topics and apply to new texts
  • Applying knowledge of vocabulary and grammar; using de-coding skills to understanding German texts

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • By the end of this unit you should be able to ... Identify basic and more complex structures of German as they appear in academic writing.
  • Analyze the structures of written German to a degree sufficent to allow for translation into English with the help of specialist and non-specialist dictionaries.
  • Use print and online resources in aid of comprehension and translation of German academic texts.

Assessment tasks

  • Assignments (4)
  • Online Test 1
  • Online Test 2

Learning and teaching activities

  • Exploring, applying and consolidating knowledge of German
  • Revising the new topics and apply to new texts
  • Consolidating knowledge of the German verbal system
  • Applying knowledge of vocabulary and grammar; using de-coding skills to understanding German texts

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • By the end of this unit you should be able to ... Identify basic and more complex structures of German as they appear in academic writing.
  • Analyze the structures of written German to a degree sufficent to allow for translation into English with the help of specialist and non-specialist dictionaries.
  • Use print and online resources in aid of comprehension and translation of German academic texts.
  • Have a reading strategy to de-code and assess the core statements made in German academic writing.

Assessment tasks

  • Assignments (4)
  • Online Test 1
  • Online Test 2

Learning and teaching activities

  • Exploring, applying and consolidating knowledge of German
  • Revising the new topics and apply to new texts
  • Consolidating knowledge of the German verbal system
  • Applying knowledge of vocabulary and grammar; using de-coding skills to understanding German texts

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • By the end of this unit you should be able to ... Identify basic and more complex structures of German as they appear in academic writing.
  • Analyze the structures of written German to a degree sufficent to allow for translation into English with the help of specialist and non-specialist dictionaries.
  • Use print and online resources in aid of comprehension and translation of German academic texts.
  • Have a reading strategy to de-code and assess the core statements made in German academic writing.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Test 1
  • Online Test 2

Learning and teaching activities

  • Exploring, applying and consolidating knowledge of German
  • Applying knowledge of vocabulary and grammar; using de-coding skills to understanding German texts

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • By the end of this unit you should be able to ... Identify basic and more complex structures of German as they appear in academic writing.
  • Analyze the structures of written German to a degree sufficent to allow for translation into English with the help of specialist and non-specialist dictionaries.
  • Have a reading strategy to de-code and assess the core statements made in German academic writing.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Test 1
  • Online Test 2

Learning and teaching activities

  • Exploring, applying and consolidating knowledge of German
  • Revising the new topics and apply to new texts
  • Applying knowledge of vocabulary and grammar; using de-coding skills to understanding German texts

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment task

  • Online Test 2

Learning and teaching activity

  • Exploring, applying and consolidating knowledge of German

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning and teaching activities

  • Exploring, applying and consolidating knowledge of German
  • Revising the new topics and apply to new texts

What has changed

A number of online practice quizzes has been developed (and more are in the making) to assist the students in the process of acquiring the basics of the German language and building their knowledge base and recall.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
23/02/2018 -