course-schedule

A Way with Words - Away with Words: Reading and Writing Short Fiction and Novels. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Inhalt: Are you natural talent when it comes to creativity or are you still waiting to find the right 'source' - or should I say 'course' of inspiration? Are your ready to meander along the blurry borders between fact and fiction in order to tell a story even if it's a lie? And finally, do you have a way with words or are they still having their way with you? Then welcome to the world of creative thought and fiction: A Way with Words, Away with Words. In this seminar, you will encounter a variety of creative writing methods in generative workshops (e.g. catalytic creativity exercises for plotlines and character development) as well as responsive workshops (e.g. peer-editing and evaluation methods for constructive criticism). Beginning with a variety of short fiction (twiction, drabbles, vignettes, flash fiction, short stories) and then proceeding to the novel, we will examine and discuss these various forms of prose as well as experiment with exercises in style and literary techniques. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to acquire vocabulary enrichment techniques, develop a feeling for nuances in language (connotations, register), and effectively employ stylistic devices. Finally, you will learn to develop and refine a personal literary style.

Creative Writing: Poetry, Short Fiction, and Beyond. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Maria Moss

Termin:
wöchentlich | Freitag | 12:15 - 15:45 | 15.10.2018 - 01.02.2019 | C 6.320 Seminarraum

Inhalt: Interested in awakening your creative spirit and discovering your potential for equally creative output? This seminar puts theory into practice by offering a variety of exercises to ignite ideas, experiment with literary styles and genres as well as give and receive constructive criticism in peer-editing sessions. This seminar will help you develop your own style and voice when writing poetry, flash fiction and/or vignettes, short stories, and a part of a drama. While students will use the Cisneros “snapshot approach” to writing vignettes (e.g. expressing a certain moment, mood, character, or object while creating an atmosphere, not a story), they will initially write poetry by copying the “masters.” Starting out with traditional Japanese Haikus, students will soon move to the great modernists, such as Robert Frost, W.C. Williams, or Gertrude Stein. Students will also read different short stories to see the differences between a more traditional approach (e.g. Shirley Jackson, “The Lottery”) to more postmodern methods of writing in authors such as Margaret Atwood, Donald Barthelme, Thomas King, and Lorrie Moore. The last assignment is creating part of a drama: students will begin by finishing scenes from different plays before writing their own act. Very different from a novel, a short story or a poem, a drama focuses almost exclusively on dialogue which delivers the message and thoughts of the author. In the end, students will have a portfolio (for lack of a better name), consisting of 3 Haikus, 3 pieces of short fiction, 3 poems, one short story and/or one act of a drama.

Dramatize This! Reading, Writing, and Performing for the Stage and Screen. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Maryann Henck

Inhalt: This seminar is not just for drama kings and queens, but for anyone interested in the link between written and spoken words in general as well as composing and performing dialogues in specific. By examining excerpts from plays, sitcoms, and dramadies, we will explore possibilities for transforming stories into dramatic scenarios. In the following sessions, we will experiment with creative writing techniques that will help you craft dialogues for your own dramatic scenario. The seminar will consist of group peer-editing sessions as well as individual appointments to support you during the creative process. Of course, drama is meant to be performed. Therefore, at the end of the semester, you will be expected to translate your dramatic scenarios into a final mini-performance, e.g. on stage, as street theater, or in sitcom/dramedy format.

Humor in Television, Film, and Literature. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Sabrina Völz

Termin:
wöchentlich | Mittwoch | 10:15 - 13:45 | 15.10.2018 - 01.02.2019 | C 12.009 Seminarraum

Inhalt: There are many kinds and functions of humor. In some cases, humor is meant to entertain or poke fun at something, and in other cases, it is a serious matter, a deadly serious matter. After a brief introduction to incongruity, superiority, and relief theories of humor and English terms in the field of humor studies, we will analyze and learn to have a greater appreciation for humor in British and North American literature and television, approaching the various themes, modes, and cultural contexts through the interdisciplinary lenses of aesthetics, psychology, gender studies, sociology, history, or ethnic studies (where appropriate). A special emphasis will be placed on the situation comedies: I Love Lucy (American) and Little Mosque on the Prairie (Canadian). Comedians (Chris Rock and Ellen DeGeneres), British sketch comedy (Mr. Bean or Little Britain), and the role of humor in the short story will also be approached. We will also learn about Native humor and meet Canadian Native playwright and humorist Drew Hayden Taylor. Students will have the opportunity to influence course content through their choice of presentation topics. This content-based seminar will also help students to actively perfect their general English skills. While working on presentation techniques, a special focus will be placed on developing fluency, signposting, pronunciation, and use of voice (pauses, pace, expressiveness, and volume). Moreover, students will have the chance to improve their vocabulary and receive individual and peer feedback on their oral and written skills in English.

Persuasive Presentations: The Power of Storytelling. (FSL- SZ) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Paul Lauer

Termin:
wöchentlich | Freitag | 12:15 - 15:45 | 15.10.2018 - 01.02.2019 | C 12.112 Seminarraum

Inhalt: This class was formerly listed as "Crafting and Presenting Professional Proposals" and is explicitly designed for students of all majors interested in communication in a professional context. In this class you will develop your own proposal and then communicate it in a presentation and in written form. In addition to improving your written and oral communicative competencies in English, you will have an opportunity to rethink what persuasive communication means and – step by step – craft your own proposal over the course of the semester into the perfect form. We will look at rhetorical concepts dating back to Aristotle – such as the rhetorical triad of ethos, pathos, and logos – in order to help understand the importance of context in persuasion and what means you have to reach your goals. We will also look at how storytelling is used in professional organizations to engage and influence audiences.

Taking Care of Business: Meetings, Networking, and Trade Fairs. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Lynette Kirschner

Termin:
wöchentlich | Mittwoch | 10:15 - 13:45 | 15.10.2018 - 01.02.2019 | C 5.311 Seminarraum

Inhalt: Business isn’t just for business majors. Whether you are studying engineering, cultural studies, sustainability or one of the other majors, you will be part of business. In other words, you will be communicating your ideas to people around the world. But are you ready? This seminar focuses on the international and virtual happenings of business. Using culturally appropriate, informative, and persuasive communication styles in spoken as well as written English is the key to successful business. Short texts excerpts from Paul Krugman, Alerlof and Shiller, Skidelsky and Skidelsky, as well as other authors will be looked at and discussed. These will be used to look at the reasons why business needs various types of communication. Theory will be put to practice when the course has a virtual meeting and discussion with the Finnish University of Vaasa. Make sure to you can attend the two meetings on Tuesday. Specific emphasis will be placed written competencies (e.g. concise minutes from a meeting, a brief but persuasive business communication, a final progress report), oral competencies (pronunciation enhancement, rhetorical strategies for presenting) as well as culturally appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication (direct and indirect communication styles, use of gestures, time, and space).

The Wild, the Weird, and the Furry: Lore and Legend in North American Urban Fantasy. (FSL-SZ) (Modul 4, Profil NAS) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Lynette Kirschner

Termin:
wöchentlich | Montag | 10:15 - 13:45 | 15.10.2018 - 01.02.2019 | C 5.019 Seminarraum

Inhalt: Legends of creatures such as vampires and werewolves have become increasingly popular in the realm of literature, films, and fan fiction. In fact, urban fantasy, a cross-genre, is one of the best contemporary examples of this trend. After taking a look at the origins of these creatures, students will then explore their representations in contemporary texts. Additionally, when the literary texts jump boundaries to graphic novels, films, and video games, students can see adaptation theory at work. Especially aspects of Film Noir are often adapted in urban fantasy. Since Film Noir has many aspects, this course will meet 2-3 with the Swedish Nordic Noir course and compare and contrast how adaptation works within different genres. The next phase involves comparing texts and researching how these texts and their interpretation have changed throughout time. Consequently, students will look at books, blogs, films, and videos to see and interpret these effects. Every generation interprets legends in a new way. Now it's up to students to investigate a legend of their choice and its contemporary counterpart. Theory will meet practice when best-selling urban fanatsy author, Patricia Briggs, skypes with this seminar to discuss these aspects with the students as well as the creative side of writing. Additionally Leuphana students will skype with students from the University of Minnesota 3 times and discuss various topics.

U.S.-Canadian Relations: An Uneasy Balance. (Modul 2, Profil NAS) (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Maria Moss

Termin:
wöchentlich | Montag | 14:15 - 17:45 | 15.10.2018 - 01.02.2019 | C 5.111 Seminarraum

Inhalt: This seminar will focus on the relationship between Canada and the United States and illuminate important contrasts such as the following: revolution in the U.S. vs. intensified relations with England in Canada; the U.S. as a Puritan society vs. Canada as a trapper and trader society; the U.S. as a superpower and world police vs. Canada as a member of the commonwealth; and last but not least, the vastly differing literary expressions in both countries.

Writing With Style: Discovering Your Academic Voice in English. (FSL-SZ) (Modul 2, Profil NAS) (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Sabrina Völz

Inhalt: Ready for a challenge? Feel like giving your writing and speaking skills a fine tuning? Do you want to gain a deeper understanding of film? If so, then this course might be the course for you. Each participant will gain experience reading and responding to academic texts, working with a variety of reference works and essays as well as peer-editing exercises. Due to the heterogeneity of students, the instructor will assist students in developing their own writing style and mentor them on an individual basis. Furthermore, academic writing does not have to be boring, mechanical, or dry. Thus, we will take a closer look at style, voice, and the creative use of language. After being introduced to various techniques, course participants will discover the fine art of knowing when and how to use creative approaches in academic writing. Moreover after a brief introduction to film studies and representation theory, we will read, learn to appreciate, and analyze two recent historically-oriented African American films. Student will chose among the following: 12 Years a Slave (2013), The Butler (2013), Selma (2014), Moonlight (2016) or Loving (2016).

Course Schedule

Lehrveranstaltungen

A Way with Words - Away with Words: Reading and Writing Short Fiction and Novels. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Creative Writing: Poetry, Short Fiction, and Beyond. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Dramatize This! Reading, Writing, and Performing for the Stage and Screen. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Humor in Television, Film, and Literature. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Persuasive Presentations: The Power of Storytelling. (FSL- SZ) (Seminar)

Taking Care of Business: Meetings, Networking, and Trade Fairs. (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

The Wild, the Weird, and the Furry: Lore and Legend in North American Urban Fantasy. (FSL-SZ) (Modul 4, Profil NAS) (Seminar)

U.S.-Canadian Relations: An Uneasy Balance. (Modul 2, Profil NAS) (FSL-SZ) (Seminar)

Writing With Style: Discovering Your Academic Voice in English. (FSL-SZ) (Modul 2, Profil NAS) (Seminar)