Research in German Studies: Tips for Undergraduates

1. Research in German Studies: Tips for Undergraduates • Brooke Kreitinger, Ph.D. • Department of Languages, Literature and Cultures (German) • The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

2. So you want to create some knowledge.... • take it seriously • figure out where your interests lie • make it relevant to your life • planning to go to graduate school? • Know what research entails beforehand!

3. Conducting Research in German Studies What is German Studies? • Language (and foreign language instruction) + • Literature and film + • Culture • = INTERDISCIPLINARY! • Germanists use a variety of approaches and theories: • linguistics, second language acquisition theory • literary theory, film theory • women’s and gender studies, feminist theory • psychology, sociology, history, geography, economics, politics, philosophy, religion • natural sciences even!

4. How do Germanistsengage undergrads in research? • Research projects for courses/independent projects • Research Assistants • German Embassy supported projects and contests • On-site research: study abroad programs – UNCEP http://www.uncep.org/ • Grants to conduct research abroad • DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) • Fulbright • Bundestag Internships (International Parliamentary Scholarships) • Summer Programs (DAAD, Goethe-Institut, etc.)

5. How do I get started? • come up with an idea • talk to your professors – what do they work on? Can you work with them? • ask how you might be able to work further on atopic or how you might be able to investigate a work of literature/film in more depth • visit with a research librarian • figure out which databases and journals are central to German Studies • read scholarly articles – become familiar with academic discourse • attend academic presentations and conferences • collaborate! • e.g. social bookmarking, shared bibliographies

6. What do I do with my research? • UNCG Research Expo • (Annual) Undergraduate Conferences • Presentations or poster sessions • Maybe some “grown-up” conferences? • Southeastern Women Studies Association (SEWSA) • Women in German (WIG) • Undergraduate journals • Organize your own conference!

7. Marketing your Research and Skills • Revise your work = writing sample for applications to grad. school • Articulate what your unique contribution is. What is original about your idea? • Translate the variety of tasks you do in researching into the language of a resume, i.e. “soft skills” • critical thinking skills • I can engage with a topic from multiple perspectives and test my own thinking and argumentation against the ideas and arguments of others. • I can synthesize and analyze diverse ideas in a coherent argument = I can connect dots well in writing to uncover information about the bigger picture. • writing and organizational competencies • resourcefulness

8. Websites Grants for research abroad • BundestagInternshipshttp://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/bundestag/international/exchange/ips/ • Fulbright http://us.fulbrightonline.org/#&panel1-2 • DAAD https://www.daad.de/en/index.html • UNC Exchange Program http://www.uncep.org/ Undergraduate Conferences for German Studies • Moravian College & Lafayette College: http://home.moravian.edu/public/conferences/germanStudies/ • Wesleyen: http://www.iwu.edu/german/conference/ Undergraduate Journal for German Studies • The Kennesaw Tower https://commons.kennesaw.edu/kennesawtower/content/ddr-erziehung-der-ansicht-von-christa-wolf-der-geteilte-himmel

9. Important Databases and Journals for German Studies • MLA International Bibliography, Academic Search Complete • German Quarterly • New German Critique • Women in German Yearbook • Monatshefte • German Life and Letters • German Studies Review • Unterrichtspraxis