Course Syllabus

Please note: As the course instructor, I reserve the right to make adjustments to this syllabus if the evolving needs of the class participants warrant changes.

Office Hours:

My in-person office hours are right after class on Tuesday from 3.30pm to 5.30pm and by appointment. Office Location: RWAC 945/Department of HIstory. Zoom option available.

Explanatory Note:

Since the other webpages contain much of the information that usually goes onto a printed syllabus, this version homes in on fundamentals not covered elsewhere.

Course Goals:

Learn about the long history of peoples of African descent and evolving ideas of blackness in Germany
Strengthen your skills of historical analysis and of oral and written communication
Participate in a learning community and enjoy gaining new knowledge

Course Materials:

We will be working with readings, film materials, and works of art as well as fiction. All materials will be electronically available to you.

Our readings includes in e-book available through our library:

1. Jennifer Teege & Nikola Sellmair, My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me: A Black

Woman Discovers her Family's Nazi Past (The Experiment, 2016)

All other readings and visual materials will be posted weekly under the course modules.

Contact and Communication:

You must use your UCSD e-mail account for this course and make sure it is always in working order. Important messages about assignments and exams will come via e-mail.

I want to answer people's questions and needs outside of class, but there are many of you and one of me. In order to allow me to most quickly get to your email, please follow these steps.

Your Subject Line MUST be:

HIEU 144 Student Question

Copy and paste the lines below into the body of your email and fill them in:

Student Name:

PID:

My question is about (place an X on the appropriate line):

___ A grading issue

___ An assignment not yet due

___ Requesting an exception (for a deadline, an exam, etc.)

___ Something else

Dr. Strasser,

Thank You!

Because constant email checking decreases productivity, I limit my times on email to twice per day, and rarely log on in the evenings or weekends. I enjoy meeting with students and find it much more effective for quality instruction. Please use email only for scheduling appointments and other brief communications.

Course Assessment

Overview:

Assessment in this course is designed to balance collaborative project work with individual mastery of course content. The central component is a quarter-long podcast project, complemented by a final exam and a small number of brief project check-ins.

There is no formal attendance grade. However, regular attendance and engagement with lectures and readings are essential for success, particularly on the final exam.

Grading Breakdown:

Podcast Project (Group + Individual): 50%

Final Exam (Blue Book or Oral): 45%

Project Check-Ins: 5%

Podcast Project (50%)

This is a major, quarter-long assignment completed in teams of three.

You will research a topic related to Black Germans and produce a 9–10 minute podcast, along with supporting materials.

The podcast should present a clear, well-supported historical argument based on your research.

The project includes:

1. A midterm component (Week 6): Podcast Proposal & Research Portfolio

2. A final podcast, streamed in class during Week 10

3. Supporting Materials

- A written transcript with citations and bibliography

- An annotated bibliography with sources attributed to each group member

- An external listener response

- An individual reflection

Grading Structure (within the project):

Group Component (70%)

- Historical accuracy and depth

- Use and integration of sources

- Organization and clarity

- Podcast quality

Individual Component (30%)

- Research contribution

- Reflection

- Peer evaluation

Final Exam (45%)

You will choose one of the following options:

- In-class blue book exam

- Oral exam (scheduled individually)

Details about the oral exam option will be provided later in the quarter.

The final exam will cover lectures, readings, and class discussions. It is not possible to perform well without consistent engagement with course material.

Project Check-Ins (5%)

To support steady progress on the podcast project, you will complete a small number of brief submissions during the quarter (e.g., topic idea, preliminary sources, or draft materials).

- These may be submitted in bullet-point form

- Graded as Complete / Missing only

- No detailed feedback will be provided unless necessary

These check-ins are designed to keep you on track without adding significant workload.

General Expectations:

- This is a history course: all work must be grounded in credible evidence

- You are responsible for both your individual contributions and your role within the group

- The final exam ensures individual accountability for course content

- Regular engagement with lectures and readings is essential for success

Modules:

We will be working with modules in this class. They will be uploaded by the time of the first lecture of the week.

Absences/Medical Concerns/Incomplete Grades:

Attending class is a expectation for this course to secure your success.

The exceptions to this general rule are medical issues, family emergencies, and active duty. Please provide appropriate documentation afterwards.

An incomplete for this course will only be granted in extenuating circumstances.