Welcome to the Department of Germanic Studies! As a Business Studies and German student you will be taking a suite of specially designed language courses which respond to the main aims and objectives of the Business Studies and a Language degree. These aims and objectives include the following:

General

•  to lay the foundation for a career in international business in the rapidly expanding global economy

•  to integrate practical language competencies with business skills

•  to develop an understanding of business practice in a multicultural context

•  to provide graduates with an edge in a competitive job market

Vocational

•  to equip graduates to occupy administrative or managerial positions in public or private sector organisations (multinational firms, banks, government agencies, industry, commerce) with international connections

•  to provide students with an opportunity to gain work experience in the country of their chosen language

Academic (business)

•  to develop an understanding of business theory and practice

•  to develop skills and knowledge in key areas of business and management disciplines

•  to provide a foundation for postgraduate study and research

Linguistic and cultural

•  to develop high levels of proficiency in the foreign language

•  to develop business communication skills (negotiating, making presentations, taking part in meetings, report writing) in the foreign language

•  to develop an appreciation and understanding of the foreign-language cultural environment and institutions

•  to develop an awareness of culturally different approaches to business operations and strategy

•  to provide students with the opportunity of spending a year studying in the country of their chosen language

Generic/transferable skills

•  to develop analytical, critical and logical skills

•  to equip students for life-long learning

•  to develop transferable skills, including presentation skills, individual learning and time management, small group work and project work, multi-tasking, and planning

•  to develop qualities such as flexibility, adaptability and independence enabling graduates to cope in a rapidly changing social and technological environment

Information on your courses

The Degree in Business Studies and German is taught and administered by both the Department of Germanic Studies and the School of Business Studies. For information on the courses that make up your degree, you will need to consult a number of handbooks: these are the Business Studies Handbook , the German Handbook (this document) and the German General Departmental Handbook. It is essential that you read each of the handbooks very carefully. If you have any questions relating to these handbooks, please ask the relevant co-ordinator (details on cover sheet).

The German Handbook contains information specific to the German language component of your degree, the forms of assessment for each language course, guide criteria for awarding marks and classes as well as a list of the deadlines for assignments. The descriptions of courses given here are intended as general overviews and details may be changed. You will also find important information about the College policy on Plagiarism at the back of this handbook.

The German General Departmental Handbook provides, as the title suggests, more general information relevant to study within the Department of Germanic Studies and advice on how to study effectively.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of these handbooks, but you should note that only the College Calendar is legally binding.

You will also obtain regular information on your language courses from the notice boards in the Department of Germanic Studies. The notice boards are located in the corridor beside Room 5065 (Departmental Office). It is your responsibility to check all notice boards regularly and carefully.

Attendance and coursework

Attendance at all the courses described in this handbook is compulsory. Weekly homeworks are given in the Freshman years and you are expected to complete these. As a minimum, in all years students are required to submit at least two-thirds of all the work set on any course and to attend two-thirds of all classes held. If you do not meet this requirement you will be recorded NS (non-satisfactory) and your tutor will be informed. Students who are recorded NS in two or more terms may, at the discretion of the Department and the Senior Lecturer, be barred from taking annual examinations.

To keep on top of your work you need to develop good study skills. As part of your undergraduate study, we will be helping you to develop important soft or transferable skills such as planning, time management and multi-tasking so that you can manage your learning more effectively. These skills are life-skills and are as critical for study as they are for the world of work. When you are planning your study time, try to remember that for every hour of class, you should be doing at least an hour of private study.

Procedures for submitting work and penalties for late submission

Students must sign in all assessed work in the Departmental Office at the specified times and on the specified sheet. The Departmental Executive Officers will countersign the sheet. The Department takes no responsibility for work that is handed in or left in the office without signing and counter-signing. In case of accident or loss, you should keep hard and disk copies of all assessed work. You are also required to submit any assessed work as an e-mail attachment (word) so that it can be run through anti-plagiarism software. Where indicated in the handbook, we require you to submit your work using the anti-plagiarism Turnitin software tool.

Assignment extension forms are available from an envelope attached to the Departmental Office window. If you are granted an extension, a form must be completed and signed by the appropriate lecturer and then attached to your work. There are penalties for late submission of work without an extension. Up to one week's lateness incurs a penalty of 10%, after that 0% will be awarded.  

The Department sets aside two days after the publication of the annual examination results when you can discuss your scripts with members of staff. Please keep an eye on the notice board for dates.

Books

Besides the books required for specific courses, you will need to obtain appropriate reference works to support your language learning. You should own at least one dictionary and grammar of German. We recommend Langenscheidts Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache and a bilingual dictionary such as The Collins German Dictionary . The recommended grammar is: Durrell, M. et al: Essential German Grammar (London: Arnold), 2002. You will need to buy this and bring it to all of your language classes. In later years, you should buy the latest revised edition of: Durrell, M., Hammer's German Grammar (London: Arnold).

Bilingual business German dictionaries are available in the Library.

The department operates a peer tutoring system for JF students. More senior students advise and help Junior Freshmen to get to grips with coursework and private study.

Marking Scheme for assessed work and examinations

The Department operates the College's 0-100% marking scale.

Grade                                       Numerical equivalent

I                                                70 marks and above

II.1                                           60 marks - 69 marks

II.2                                           50 marks - 59 marks

III                                             40 marks - 49 marks

F.I                                             30 marks - 39 marks

F.II                                           29 marks and below

The following are general guidelines. Decisions will be based on the presence of some or all of the following qualities in a candidate's answering:  

Excellent knowledge

Exemplary structure & presentation

Critical use of secondary material

Independence of mind/imagination

Consistent performance

II.1

Aware of full implications of question

Thorough knowledge of subject/text

Analytical ability

Good structure and presentation

Good use of secondary sources

II.2

Aware of implications of question

Effective structure and presentation.

Solid and reliable/Sound knowledge

III

Understands the question

Satisfactory engagement with question.

Relevant knowledge

Adequate presentation and capacity to articulate

F1

A student may fail because of:

Serious misunderstanding of question

Minimal knowledge

Incoherence

The potential of the candidate to proceed to the next year is an important consideration in this grade.

F2

Written work in the F2 range will reveal some or all of the weaknesses noted under F1, but to a greater, perhaps extreme, extent.

Language Competence

•  Language competence is judged by criteria specific to individual languages, degree combinations and departments.

•  Ability to progress to the following year is the defining criterion for the award of a passing grade.

Business Studies and German

Junior Freshman

Course Structure

LANGUAGE FLUENCY [12 credits] which includes:

GR1000 German language (3 hrs class, 1 hr private study MT, HT, TT)

GR1001 JF Spoken German (1 hr per week MT, HT, TT)

LANDESKUNDE (12 credits) which includes:

GR1010 German Area Studies (1hr per week MT, HT, TT plus optional tutorial) [6 credits]

GR1003 Business German 1 (2 hrs per week MT, HT, TT) [6 credits]

LANGUAGE FLUENCY

GR1000: The course is designed to build on the skills acquired at school through systematic revision of basic grammatical structures and to encourage the further development of communicative and cultural competence. The aims of JF Language Fluency are:

· To lay a solid foundation in German grammar

· To develop reading skills in a variety of text types

· To build up vocabulary

· To develop narrative and descriptive skills in writing

· To foster oral communicative skills

· To develop listening skills

The course also aims to develop a number of transferable skills, including time-management and planning, which will help you to make the transition from school to university more effectively and to manage your learning more efficiently.

All students take an assessment test at the beginning of Michaelmas Term and a test based on the material covered in GR1001 half way through the year. This provides feedback on progress and potential areas of difficulty, which you need to address in your private study.

Coursebook

Durrell, M. et al: Essential German Grammar (London: Arnold), 2002

You will also need a good dictionary (not a pocket one!) such as Langenscheidts Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache and a bilingual dictionary such as The Collins German Dictionary .

Additional materials are provided by the department.

GR1001 JF SPOKEN GERMAN: This course is designed to help students improve their speaking skills. Each group meets for one hour per week to talk about and experience different aspects of German life and people. The co-ordinator of the classes is Thomas Müller, Room 5090 .

LANDESKUNDE

GR1010 GERMAN AREA STUDIES: This lecture series provides an introduction to political institutions and current affairs in German-speaking countries. The weekly lectures take a historical approach and focus on the geography and political institutions of three German-speaking countries and on society and the economy since 1945. Lectures are given in German to promote aural comprehension. Optional tutorials will be offered during the year on the subject matter covered in the lectures.

GR1003 BUSINESS GERMAN I : Students have two hours per week of BUSINESS GERMAN in MT, HT and TT. The course provides an introduction to the business register. All teaching is conducted through German.

Subjects covered in the first year include an analysis of the different sectors of the German economy, German-Irish trade relations, Germany as an industrial location, and foreign trade. Students are introduced to the analysis of statistical material in the foreign language. These topics are supplemented by authentic textual, audio and video material and, additionally, by grammar and vocabulary-building exercises. Further practice in oral communication is provided through role plays, simulations and discussion.

Reading Weeks: The Faculty of BESS has a reading week in Week 5 of both Michaelmas Term and Hilary Term. You are expected to attend JF German Language and the German Area Studies lecture during these weeks. The Business German classes will not take place.

ASSESSMENT :

Annual examinations are held in Trinity Term (May-June). Supplemental examinations are held in September.

The assessment is divided into two distinct components:

a) Language Fluency (100 marks)

b) Landeskunde (German Area Studies and Business German I) (100 marks)

a) Language Fluency: (100 marks)

GR1000/GR1001

2 2-hr written language exams (80 marks, i.e. 40 marks for German Language 1 and 40 marks for German Language 2)

1 1-hr aural (10 marks)

10-minute oral (10 marks)                   

German Language 1 (Lesen und Erzählen) paper consists of a cloze test, a grammar question and a composition.  

German Language 2 (Tatsache und Meinung) paper consists of comprehension and grammar questions, and a question involving expression of opinion.

Oral Exam : Students are expected to read and answer questions on a short text and/or advertisement and to converse with the examiners about themselves, their course, plans and so on. The material used in the oral examination also draws on the JF Spoken German classes.  

Aural Exam : Two questions: Dictation, comprehension.

b) Landeskunde: (100 marks)

GR1010: 2-hour end of year written examination in German Area Studies (50 marks)

The paper has three questions, weighted equally, consisting of 2 essay questions and four short explanations of terms.

GR1003: Two 90-minute tests during the year:   

Test 1: End of Michaelmas Term (20 marks)

Test 2: End of Trinity Term (20 marks)

Project:   800-1000 words in length (10 marks), to be submitted by 12 noon on Monday of week 10 of Hilary Term in accordance with the procedures set out at the beginning of this handbook.  

Fails and Compensations :

Language Fluency : You are required to pass both written language papers. An F1 in the oral or the aural may be compensated at the discretion of the examiners as long as the overall numerical language mark remains over 40%. Students who fail in language are required to resit all four language components, i.e., German Language 1, German Language 2, Oral and Aural at the supplementals.    

Landeskunde (German Area Studies/Business German I): Students may compensate an F1in Business German I (GR1003) or in German Area Studies (GR1010), as long as the overall result for Landeskunde is 40% or above. Students who fail Business German I (GR1003) and cannot compensate are required to take a 2-hr supplemental written examination based on the material covered in that course. This paper will normally consist of a terminology section, a description of statistical material and an essay question.   Students who fail German Area Studies (GR1010) and cannot compensate are required to take a 2-hr supplemental written examination. The format of the supplemental exam will be the same as that of the annual exam, i.e., 2 essay questions and four short explanations of terms. Students failing both German Area Studies (GR1010) and Business German I (GR1003) are required to take supplementals in both components.  

NB Students must pass Language Fluency to rise with their year. The BESS Court of Examiners may permit compensation of an F1 in Landeskunde (German Area Studies/Business German I) in accordance with BESS compensation rules .

If you have to take supplemental examinations, it is YOUR responsibility to check the departmental notice boards for information on the timetable and to inform yourself fully of all examinations you have to take.  

Senior Freshman

Course Structure

LANGUAGE FLUENCY [10 credits] which includes:

GR2000 SF GERMAN LANGUAGE (3 hrs per week = 2 hrs class and 1 hr private study MT, HT, TT)

GR2002 SF GRAMMAR TUTORIAL (1 hr per week MT, HT, TT) [For students achieving less that 60% in the JF language examinations]

LANDESKUNDE [10 credits] which includes:

GR2003 BUSINESS GERMAN 2 [7 credits]

Business German (3 hrs per week MT, HT, TT)

GR2010 KULTURGESCHICHTE [3 credits] The Legacy of German Cultural History (1 hr per week, MT, HT, TT, plus 1 hour per week optional tutorial)

The course is divided into two distinct parts, the Language Fluency component and the Landeskunde component which includes Business German 2 and Kulturgeschichte.   

LANGUAGE FLUENCY (GR2000, GR2002) :

GR2000 SF GERMAN LANGUAGE : The course aims to develop language skills to a level that will permit students to study through German at a German-speaking university. In particular, it aims:

· to consolidate grammar;

· to develop essay writing skills;

· to identify specialist lexical and syntactic features of Fachsprache ;

· to build up specialist vocabulary;

· to introduce translation of specialist texts.

This course also aims to develop and consolidate the following transferable skills :

· Presentation skills

· Multi-tasking

· Time-management

· Planning

The first half of the course has Universität as its thematic focus. It provides an introduction to the German university system and its study practices, for example, note-taking, summarising, group work and oral presentations. In grammar the emphasis is on the structural and syntactic features of academic German.

The second half of the course has Fachsprache as its thematic focus: It provides an introduction to the specialist register of Business Studies through exposure to a cross-section of text types from oral and written discourse. Selected lexical and syntactical features of Fachsprache are explored and particular emphasis is placed on developing presentation skills in the appropriate specialist register. Classroom activities include discussion of the criteria which can be used to classify a text as Fachsprache , comparison of specialist written and oral texts of the same genre in German and English to identify differences and similarities in the structure of discourse, and translation.  

Set text:

Durrell, M., Hammer's German Grammar and Usage. (London: Arnold).

GR2002: GRAMMAR TUTORIAL. This course is for students who achieved less than 60% in the JF language fluency exams. It is designed to consolidate basic grammar.

LANDESKUNDE (GR2003, GR2010):

GR2003 BUSINESS GERMAN 2: The Business German course concentrates on topical commercial issues such as industrial relations, entrepreneurship, organisational structures and management systems. Where possible a comparative approach is adopted and students are encouraged to compare and contrast business practice in German-speaking countries and in Ireland.

In addition, students attend a course to develop their written skills in Business German. This course covers essay writing, summarising, written comprehension and writing short commentaries.

GR2010 KULTURGESCHICHTE: The lecture course follows on from the JF Area Studies lecture series and extends its approach further into the past. It introduces students to key questions in the history and culture of the three German-speaking countries and investigates how these have shaped today's societies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Special emphasis is put on the relevance of the past since 1800 for understanding the present. Topics include: The Enlightenment and notions of Bildung and Kultur , German nationalism, militarism and the authoritarian tradition, the industrial and scientific revolutions, the Holocaust and its remembering, modernism and the media. The course will be taught through German with English summaries. A bibliography and handouts will be provided. Weekly tutorials on the lectures will also be offered.

ASSESSMENT :

Language Fluency (100 marks) consisting of the following :

· 3-hour end-of-year examination paper, consisting of a comprehension (60%), a grammar section (20%) and a Fachsprache translation (20%). (60 marks)

· Project: Fachsprache   (800-1000 words), due 12.00 midday on Friday, week 5 of Trinity Term (15 marks);

· Referat and Oral: The Referat and oral take place during Trinity Term. PowerPoint must be used for the Referat . After the 10-minute Referat students are interviewed on the content of their presentation. (15 marks)

· End-of-year 1 hour aural examination based on Fachsprache module (10 marks)

Landeskunde (100 marks) consisting of the following:

Business German 2 (75 marks):

Continuous assessment  

·2 projects/essays each of 1000 words (15 marks each = 30 marks),

Project 1: Project is due 12.00 midday on Friday, week 10 of Michaelmas Term .

Project 2: Project is due 12.00 midday on Friday, week 10 of Hilary Term .

Both projects must be submitted in accordance with the procedures set out at the beginning of this handbook.

  · 2 oral presentations (10 marks each = 20 marks)  

Presentation 1: Presentation will take place at the end of Michaelmas Term.  

Presentation 2: Presentation will take place at the end of Hilary Term.  

· 2 class tests (12.5 marks each = 25 marks ).

Test 1: 1-hour writing test during Week 3 of HT.  

Test 2: 1-hour writing test in Week 5 of TT.  

Kulturgeschichte (25 marks)

· 1 Project: Project title will be based on a topic from the lecture course (1200-1500 words), due 12.00 midday on Friday, week 9 of Hilary Term (15 marks);

  ·End-of-year 2-hour aural examination based on Kulturgeschichte (10 marks), comprising three mini lectures and exercises.  

Fails and Compensation:

Language Fluency : Students must receive a mark of at least 40% overall and on the written language examination paper. Failure in the written language examination paper is non-compensatable. Failure at F1 level in any or all the remaining language fluency components can be compensated at the discretion of the examiners.

Students who fail language and must take supplementals will be required to do a 3-hour written paper, an oral (15 minute conversation partly based on topics covered in the language course and including business topics) and a 60-minute Fachsprache aural. Failed Fachsprache projects must also be resubmitted by the first day of the supplemental examination period. Resubmitted projects which pass can receive a maximum mark of 40.

Landeskunde (Business German 2/Kulturgeschichte ): Students may compensate an F1 in Business German 2 or in Kulturgeschichte provided they achieve an overall numerical mark of 40. Those who fail Business German 2 and cannot compensate are required to take a 3-hour supplemental examination in Business German 2 (GR 2003). The paper will normally consist of an essay, analysis of statistical material, and a further writing task, e.g. a comprehension, commentary or summary. Students who fail Kulturgeschichte and cannot compensate must take the Kulturgeschichte supplemental, which will consist of a 2-hr aural examination. Failed Kulturgeschichte projects must be resubmitted by the first day of the supplemental examination period. Resubmitted projects that pass can receive a maximum mark of 40. Students who fail both Business German 2 and Kulturgeschichte must take supplementals in both components.

NB Students must pass Language Fluency to rise with their year. The BESS Court of Examiners may permit compensation of an F1 in Landeskunde (Business German 2/Kulturgeschichte) in accordance with BESS compensation rules .

If you have to take supplemental examinations, it is YOUR responsibility to check the departmental notice boards for information on the timetable and to inform yourself fully of all examinations you have to take.  

SCHOLARSHIP

Students take a 3-hour written paper in language fluency. This paper requires students to answer three questions out of four on material covered in the JF (comprehension, composition exercise) and the SF (comprehension exercise, translation) language course. There is additionally a 15-minute viva voce examination. The first part consists of general conversation and topics arising from the SF language course. The second part requires students to discuss any aspect of their studies in German at a high level of sophistication. BSG students also take a 3-hour written examination paper based on Business German 1 and 2. The Business German paper normally consists of an essay question, analysis of statistical material and a further writing task, e.g. a comprehension, commentary, or summary. Further information can be obtained from Dr Barkhoff.

Junior Sophister

The Junior Sophister Year is spent abroad on an approved Socrates programme. The universities, that are currently part of the Socrates network are Trier, Bochum, Koblenz, Düsseldorf, Mannheim, Regensburg, Nürnberg, Linz and Innsbruck.

Socrates information sessions are held during Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity Terms. There are also extensive files on the individual partner institutions in the School of Business Studies. You are also encouraged to make contact with incoming Socrates students from German/Austrian universities.

At the partner university, you are expected to attend 3 or more advanced (e.g. Oberstufe) language courses per semester. In some institutions the number of language courses will be higher. Course descriptions, including information on course content and assessment procedures, must be submitted to Dr Martin/Dr Barkhoff for approval. In fourth year you are required to write your dissertation in German, so you should endeavour to attend advanced writing courses in German. Courses in translation are also recommended. Leistungsscheine must be submitted to the School of Business Studies and copies sent to Dr Barkhoff

You must complete the on-line E-Lab exercises and assessments during the year abroad. Details of E-lab are contained in the E-Lab information pack, which has already been sent to you.

You are also expected to complete a three-month work placement in a German-speaking country as part of the JS year abroad. Advice is given on finding a placement, but it is your responsibility to secure a position. On return, the Work Placement Report Form must be completed and a reference from the employer must be submitted.

It is your responsibility to provide the Department of Germanic Studies with contact details during the year abroad and to keep in regular contact with the Department. Any change of postal address, e-mail address or telephone number must be communicated to Dr Barkhoff and to the Department (germanic@tcd.ie).

NB According to BESS rules, students must obtain a minimum II.2 grade during their year abroad in order to rise to the Senior Sophister year. Information on credit requirements is in the information pack, which you will receive from the School of Business Studies.

Senior Sophister

Course Lecture/Tutorial Programme  

GR4012 Intercultural Communication (2 block hrs per week MT, HT, TT; 1 additional hour per week in HT)   [8 credits]

GR4006 Business German Translation (1 hr per week HT, TT)   [4 credits]

GR4011 SS BSG Language Oral/Aural (2 hrs per week MT; 1 hr per week HT, TT) [12 credits]

GR4013 BSG Dissertation (1 hr per week MT, HT) [The dissertation is worth 12 credits]

GR4004 SS Grammar Tutorial (1 hr per week, MT, HT, TT) OPTIONAL

GR3401 Sophister Spoken German (MT, HT, TT) OPTIONAL

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION (WRITTEN) [12 CREDITS]:

GR4012 Intercultural Communication [8 credits]  

This course explores both the theoretical and practical dimensions of managing and communicating in intracultural and intercultural business settings, including issues such as intercultural negotiation and working in multi-cultural teams. Emphasis is placed on developing a critical understanding of face-to-face and non face-to-face interaction between individuals within organisations and societies, using cultural taxonomies such as those established by Hofstede, Adler, Laurent and GLOBE. In the first part of the course the focus will be on the cultural structure of human communication, including the cross-cultural comparison of language varieties, linguistic registers, and speech acts. In the second part, we will explore the interaction between culture (societal and organisational) and management styles and the extent to which organisational behaviour and communication are culturally determined. Course readers will be made available. You should also make use of the following texts (available in the Library):

Adler, N.J., 2002: International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior. Cincinnati: South-Western College Publishing.

Bergemann, N., & Sourrisseaux, A.L.J., 1996: Interkulturelles Management . Heidelberg: Physica.

Hickson, D.J., & Pugh, D.S., 1995: Management Worldwide . London: Penguin.

Hofstede, G., 1984: Culture's Consequences. International Differences in Work-related Values . Beverly Hills: Sage.

1997: Lokales Denken, globales Handeln: Kulturen, Zusammenarbeit und Management . München: C.H.Beck.

Kieser, A., Reber, G., & Wunderer, R. (eds.), 1995: Handwörterbuch der Führung . Stuttgart: Schaeffer-Poeschl.

Perlitz, M., 1994: Internationales Management . Stuttgart: Lucius & Lucius.

Reeves, N., 1996: Business Environment Germany . London: Thomson.

Schein, E., 1995: Unternehmenskultur . Frankfurt: Campus.

Usunier, J. C., & Walliser, B., 1993: Interkulturelles Marketing. Mehr Erfolg im internationalen Geschäft . Wiesbaden: Gabler.

In Hilary Term the Intercultural Communication course comprises an additional weekly 1-hour class which develops the skills of writing Kommentare . The course draws on a range of materials with a cross-cultural and business focus.

GR4006 Business German Translation [4 credits]: The course concentrates on advanced translation from German to English and incorporates relevant aspects of the methodology of translation. The texts comprise a mixture of quality journalism, editorials, essays on current affairs, political, economic and social topics.  

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION ORAL/AURAL [12 CREDITS]

GR4011 SS BSG Language Oral/Aural :

Protokoll (2 hours per week MT only ) : This component is primarily video-based and aims to develop the listening and productive skills involved in minute-taking. The material used for analysis is representative of a range of discourse types, including non-business discourse, and promotes the ability to analyse and synthesise.  

Rhetorik ( 1 hour per week HT, TT ) :   This course consolidates presentation skills and prepares students for the end-of-year oral examinations.

STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO ATTEND TWO OPTIONAL COURSES:

GR4004 Sophister Grammar Tutorial ( 1 hour per week MT, HT, TT): Revision of a range of advanced grammatical structures.

SS BSL DISSERTATION [12 CREDITS: SEE DISSERTATION GUIDELINES 06-07 FOR FURTHER DETAILS]

GR4013 BSG Dissertation ( 1 hour per week MT, HT): The course helps students develop the skills necessary for writing their dissertation. It includes a focus on understanding research methodology, structuring longer pieces of written discourse, and on presentation of primary and secondary sources, including footnotes and bibliographical material.  

ASSESSMENT :  

The courses are assessed by a combination of written examinations, class tests, coursework, oral and aural examinations.

Business Communication (written) (100 marks): Intercultural Communication (60 marks) and Translation (40 marks).

Business Communication (oral/aural) (100 marks): Oral, Simulation/Presentation (60 marks) and Protokoll (40 marks ) .

Business Communication (written) :

Intercultural Communication:

A 3-hour end of year examination (40 marks). The paper has three questions: Two essay type questions, one of which is an   'applied' question (e.g. a case study), and a Kommentar .

A percentage of the marks for Business Communication (written) is awarded for continuous assessment (20 marks in total). This comprises:

· A project on the Intercultural Communication course (10 marks). It is 1500 words in length and must be submitted by midday on Monday of week 1 of Hilary Term . It must be submitted in accordance with the procedures set out at the beginning of this handbook.  

· A 90-minute in-class Kommentar test (10 marks) at the end of Hilary Term.  

Translation :

1-hour translation test at the end of Hilary Term (15 marks), 90-minute end-of-year translation examination (25 marks).      

Business Communication (Oral/Aural):  

Oral Examination and Simulation/Presentation ( 60 marks): The oral consists of a formal presentation on a business topic and discussion (50 marks) conducted with the external examiner and an internal examiner. A separate component of the oral consists of a simulation or a presentation of a case-study (10 marks). It will be held at the end of Trinity Term. Students are expected to use PowerPoint for both components.   

Aural (40 marks): 3 1/2 hour Protokoll exam at the end of Michaelmas Term and coursework during Michaelmas Term (25 marks for end of term exam and 15 marks for coursework). For coursework, students will be graded on their four best Protokoll homeworks.   

Students must satisfy the examiners in both (a) written proficiency and (b) oral and aural proficiency. Compensation between the elements of Business Communication (Written), i.e. Intercultural Communication and Translation, and between the elements of Business Communication (Oral/Aural), i.e. Protokoll and Oral Examination/Simulation at F1 level may be permitted at the discretion of the examiners provided the overall numerical mark is above 40.

Dissertation ( 100 marks): The dissertation should comprise ca. 10 000 words and be written in German. Students must also conduct an oral defence of the dissertation. Further details are set out in the Dissertation Guidelines 2005/06, which also contain information on grading the dissertation. The dissertation is non-compensatable (see below). The dissertation must be submitted according to the rules set down in the BSL dissertation guidelines. An electronic version must also be submitted to the language supervisor using the Turnitin anti-plagiarism software.     

The following compensation rules apply to the BSL degree:

" 2.7.4.3 General Compensation

2.7.4.3 (a) Students must pass the dissertation. A failure in the dissertation may

        not be compensated.

2.7.4.3 (b) One F1 in a business subject may be compensated by a 11.2 or

        higher in the other business subject or the dissertation.

2.7.4.3 (c) One F1 in a language component may be compensated by a 11.2 or

        higher in the other language component or the dissertation.

2.7.4.3 (d) Only one F1 may be compensated overall and an F2 or lower may not be compensated."

order to allow external examiners to survey any candidate's entire performance, all assessed work is retained in the Department and not returned to students after marking.

Statement on Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as being 'the wrongful act of taking the product of another person's mind and presenting it as one's own' (A. Lindey, Plagiarism and Originality , 1952, p.2).   It can arise from actions such as:

•  copying another student's work;

•  enlisting another person or persons to complete an assignment on the student's behalf;

•  quoting directly, without acknowledgement, from books, articles, the internet, or other sources, either in printed, recorded or electronic format;

•  paraphrasing, without acknowledgement, the writings of other authors;

Everyone gets a large proportion of their ideas from elsewhere: indeed you should make use of other people's writings. However, it is important that you distinguish clearly between your own words and the ideas and words of someone else. Direct quotations must be indicated by quotation marks and an indication of the source, with a page number and a reference traceable through your bibliography. When you paraphrase someone else's work, it is enough to indicate the source, with a page number and a reference to the bibliography.

Your attention is drawn to the entries in the College Calendar which deal with plagiarism:

35      Candidates for examination are forbidden to bring into an examination hall or have in their possession during an examination any books, papers, notes, memoranda, mobile phones or written or electronic material of any nature or to copy from or exchange information with other persons or in any way to make use of any information improperly obtained.   Any breach of this regulation is regarded as a major offence for which a student may be expelled from the University [...]. Where submitted work is part of a procedure of assessment, plagiarism is similarly regarded as a serious offence and is liable to similar penalties.                                                          (Calendar 2003-4, p. G7)

56    Plagiarism is interpreted by the University as the act of presenting the work of others as one's own work, without acknowledgement.  

           Plagiarism is considered as academically fraudulent, and an offence against University discipline. The University considers plagiarism to be a major offence, and subject to the disciplinary procedures of the University.

57    Plagiarism can arise from deliberate actions and also through careless thinking and/or methodology. The offence lies not in the attitude or intention of the perpetrator, but in the action and in its consequences.

           Plagiarism can arise from actions such as:

(a)   copying another student's work;

(b) enlisting another person or persons to complete an assignment on the student's behalf;

(c)   quoting directly, without acknowledgement, from books, articles or other sources, either in printed, recorded or electronic format;

(d)   paraphrasing, without acknowledgement, the writings of other authors;

       Examples (c) and (d) in particular can arise through careless thinking and/or methodology where students:

  (i)   fail to distinguish between their own ideas and those of others;

(ii)   fail to take proper notes during preliminary research and therefore lose track of the sources from which the notes were drawn;

(iii) fail to distinguish between information which needs no acknowledgement because it is firmly in the public domain, and information which might be widely known, but which nevertheless requires some sort of acknowledgement;

(iv)   come across a distinctive methodology or idea and fail to record its source.

       All the above serve only as examples and are not exhaustive.

Students should submit work done in co-operation with other students only when it is done with the full knowledge and permission of the lecturer concerned. Without this, work submitted which is the product of collusion with other students may be considered to be plagiarism.

58    It is clearly understood that all members of the academic community use and build on the work of others. It is commonly accepted also, however, that we build on the work of others in an open and explicit manner, and with due acknowledgement. Many cases of plagiarism that arise could be avoided by following some simple guidelines:

(i)    Any material used in a piece of work, of any form, that is not the original thought of the author should be fully referenced in the work and attributed to its source. The material should either be quoted directly or paraphrased. Either way, an explicit citation of the work referred to should be provided, in the text, in a footnote, or both. Not to do so is to commit plagiarism

(ii)   When taking notes from any source it is very important to record the precise words or ideas that are being used and their precise sources.

(iii) While the Internet often offers a wider range of possibilities for researching particular themes, it also requires particular attention to be paid to the distinction between one's own work and the work of others. Particular care should be taken to keep track of the source of the electronic information obtained from the Internet or other electronic sources and ensure that it is explicitly and correctly acknowledged.

59    It is the responsibility of the author of any work to ensure that he/she does not commit plagiarism.

60    Students should ensure the integrity of their work by seeking advice from their lecturers, tutor or supervisor on avoiding plagiarism. All departments should include, in their handbooks or other literature given to students, advice on the appropriate methodology for the kind of work that students will be expected to undertake.

61    If plagiarism as referred to in §56 above is suspected, the head of department will arrange an informal meeting with the student, the student's tutor, and the lecturer concerned, to put their suspicions to the student and give the student the opportunity to respond.

62    If the head of department forms the view that plagiarism has taken place, he/she must notify the Senior Lecturer in writing of the facts of the case. The Senior Lecturer will then advise the Junior Dean. The head of department may recommend that the work in question receive a reduced mark, or a mark of zero. If satisfactory completion of the piece of work is deemed essential for the student to rise with his/her year or to proceed to the award of a degree, the student may be required to re-submit the work. However the student may not receive more than the minimum pass mark applicable to the piece of work on satisfactory re-submission.

63    The Junior Dean will interview the student if the facts of the case are in dispute, or if the head of department feels that the penalty set out in §62 above is inappropriate given the circumstances of the case. In either circumstance, the Junior Dean may implement the procedures set out in Conduct and College Regulations §2. (Calendar 2003-4, pp. G12-14)

In accordance with the above the Department regards plagiarism as a serious offence which may lead to a 0 mark for the work submitted and possibly to disciplinary action by College.

Students should note that, in addition to downloading material from the World Wide Web, asking native German speakers to correct work is also defined as plagiarism and will be monitored and penalised.

The above regulations on plagiarism apply in exams, in submitted essays and dissertations, and in assessed language work. Remember that if you fail to give adequate sources, lecturers may ask you to account for the originality of your work.