Seminar: "By the Bootstraps": Advice, Hope, and Promises for Achieving the American Dream - Vertiefungsmodul - Details

Seminar: "By the Bootstraps": Advice, Hope, and Promises for Achieving the American Dream - Vertiefungsmodul - Details

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General information

Course name Seminar: "By the Bootstraps": Advice, Hope, and Promises for Achieving the American Dream - Vertiefungsmodul
Course number ANG.05294.03
Semester WiSe 2024/25
Current number of participants 23
maximum number of participants 25
Home institute Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik
Courses type Seminar in category Offizielle Lehrveranstaltungen
First date Thursday, 17.10.2024 08:15 - 09:45, Room: Seminarraum 2 [AKStr.35] (Angl.)
Pre-requisites To earn credits in this class, it is essential that you participate actively and regularly. Without in-class participation, you will not be able to receive credit for the course. Here are the key requirements:

* Regular Attendance: Your presence is expected at every class session, as your oral contributions are the basis for receiving your "Studiennachweis." If you need to miss a class, please notify me in advance.
* Preparation: You are expected to thoroughly prepare for each class session by completing assigned readings, writing assignments, and other tasks. The reading workload is approximately 15-30 pages per week.
* Active Engagement: Class sessions are designed for discussion and engagement with the material. You are expected to contribute to class discussions, share your thoughts and ideas, and engage with your peers.
* Independent Work: You will be expected to complete independent research and assignments outside of class time, which may include library research, writing, and other tasks. Make sure to have time available for regular visits to the Steintor library.
* Time Commitment: This class requires a significant time commitment, including regular attendance, preparation, and independent work. You should ensure that your extracurricular activities do not interfere with your ability to dedicate adequate time to this course.
Performance record Students can earn two types of credit in this class:

1) A 'Studienleistung' is recorded in the university's computer system when all tasks set during the lecture period have been completed, regular and satisfactory in-class participation has been achieved, and written assignments have been submitted on time, in full, and of good quality.

2) Students receive credit for a "Modulleistung" upon successfully completing the "Modulabschlussprüfung". Detailed instructions on the nature of the final exam will be given at an appropriate time during the semester.
SWS 2

Module assignments

Comment/Description

The "American Dream" is a complex and multifaceted concept that is often oversimplified or misunderstood. This class offers an opportunity to explore the concept in depth, examining its historical and contemporary meanings, and its impact on individuals and American society. Through a critical analysis of primary sources, fiction, and nonfiction texts, students will examine the ways in which the "American Dream" has been constructed, contested, and reinterpreted over time. The course will engage with a range of influential texts, including writings by Benjamin Franklin, Horatio Alger, Arthur Miller, and contemporary writers that address this central cultural myth. By the end of this class, students will have a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of the "American Dream" and its various meanings, and will be able to think critically about its implications for American culture and identity.

This class will be relevant for students preparing to write their "Staatsexamensessay" ( Arbeit unter Aufsicht: Amerikanische Kulturwissenschaft).

Admission settings

The course is part of admission "Beschränkte Teilnehmendenanzahl: "By the Bootstraps": Advice, Hope, and Promises for Achieving the American Dream - Vertiefungsmodul".
The following rules apply for the admission:
  • A defined number of seats will be assigned to these courses.
    The seats in the affected courses have been assigned at 07.10.2024 on 18:00. Additional seats may be available via a wait list.
  • The enrolment is possible from 01.09.2014, 00:00 to 21.10.2024, 18:00.