German Research Part 2
Family History and Genealogy
Description
This course will familiarize you with German records and how to navigate them.
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to records and methodologies used for genealogical research in Germany. This course will prepare you to analyze these records and extract important information that will aid you as you search for individuals from this country.
This course, in conjunction with the other courses in this program, will help prepare you to apply for a professional genealogy credential through ICAPGen or BCG. This course has been designed to provide you with solid academic content and develop practical research skills which are critical for a professional genealogist across many research settings.
Prerequisites
You must successfully complete 251C before taking this course.
Course Outcomes
During this course, you will do the following:
- Learn about the most important record groups for genealogical research in Germany.
- Complete weekly reading assignments and activities.
- Submit weekly reports or assignments to the instructor.
- Take a mid-term exam and complete a final research problem.
Learning Model Architecture
The course follows a weekly cycle of Prepare, Teach One Another, and Ponder & Prove activities.
Prepare
You will prepare by studying records, research methods, and lessons specific to the Germanic region. These will help you to complete assignments, research Germanic documents effectively, and perform valuable work in the future. You will have a lot to study each week and will be responsible for thinking ahead and establishing your own productive schedule.
Teach One Another
You will teach one another as you complete specific assignments throughout the semester. Each week you will have the opportunity to share what things you have learned with your classmates, as well as learn from them.
Ponder & Prove
You will demonstrate your work by completing activities, quizzes, assignments, a midterm exam, and a final project.
Required Materials
A printer and scanner will be helpful in some assignments; however, they are not necessary, and you will be able to submit the assignments without printing/scanning them.
Optional Text: German English Genealogical Dictionary by Ernest Thode. This is a free online book through the BYU-Idaho library. You may also purchase the physical textbook if you like, through the University Store (about $40.00). Compare prices for your textbooks through the University Store Price Comparison site. They will show you all of the options from the University Store plus several online options to help you find the best price.
Course Expectations
General outline of each week:
- Each week there are discussion boards, activities, projects, and assignments. Some lessons have many activities and assignments, and it may appear overwhelming. Though it may appear daunting, please note that many of them are small activities and may take as little as twenty minutes to complete.
- Discussion boards are opportunities for you to participate in discussions and to teach one another. Participation is important not only for you, but also for other classmates. All of your posts will be based on whether or not you contribute and move the discussion forward. Be thoughtful and respectful in all of your posts. If you post something like "I agree" or "That's a good point" without a solid supporting argument, you will receive no credit for your post.
- Assignments are different from activities in that the instructor will personally grade them. They allow you to ponder what you have learned and to prove that you know the materials you have been studying.
- At the end of each week you will write a reflection of the things that you have learned and the impressions that you have had. These reflections will be a valuable asset for you as you refer back to them often.
Writing Requirements
As you complete your assignments throughout the semester, you will be graded on grammar and spelling. As a professional genealogist, you will be expected to write professional type documents. Grammar and spelling errors reflect poorly on your business. Spend time to learn to become a good writer. Make sure that your paper is focused on the topic given by your instructor. Be concise and clear. Rambling will not be accepted for full credit. Do not attempt to "pad" your responses by being wordy. Your papers should be well organized, using paragraphs with correct spelling and punctuation standards.
While writing, make sure that all work is original. If you use other sources, make sure to site them properly. Plagiarism will result in a zero on the assignment and possibly the course. Read the following guidelines about plagiarism on BYU-Idaho's academic honesty site at Academic Support Centers.
Weekly Time Commitment
The online class policy is that for every credit hour, you should expect to spend three hours of work per week. For this class, you should plan on spending approximately nine hours per week.
Final Research Problem
A client has hired you to research George Mager (born about 1862) who came to Minnesota from Germany sometime in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. According to the client, George and his wife Ottilia lived in Stearns County and raised several children in a country community there. They often visited George’s relatives who lived nearby. The family was Catholic. The client does not know what part of Germany George came from.
The client wants you to do the following:
- Find out when George came to the U.S. and what his town of origin was.
- Find George’s birth and his siblings.
- Find George’s parents and grandparents.
- Find George’s father’s birth and his siblings.
- Find George’s paternal grandparents’ marriage and great great-grandparents.
- If possible, extend the Mager direct family line into the mid-1700s, using baptism, marriage, and burial records. Find all children born to each couple, the parents’ marriage record, and related deaths.
You have two weeks (18 hours) to conduct research and write your research report. In addition to the research report, you will also submit your research log, a pedigree chart, and family group sheets for each family in your research.
Grading
Grading in this course will be as follows:
| Category | Points |
|---|---|
| Activities | 25% |
| Assessments | 20% |
| Assignments | 45% |
| Discussions (Weekly Reflections) | 10% |
| Bi-Weekly Surveys | Less than 1% |
GRADING POLICIES
| Grading Scale | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A 93%–100% A- 90%–92% |
B+ 87%–89% B 83%–86% B- 80%–82% |
C+ 77%–79% C 73%–76% C- 70%–72% |
D+ 67%–69% D 63%–66% D- 60–62% |
F below 60% |
Plagiarism (to steal or pass off the ideas of another as your own, without giving credit) of any kind will not be tolerated. Any form of plagiarism, cheating, or attempt to deceive will result in a failing grade.
RESOURCES
If any technical difficulties arise throughout the course contact the Online Support Center or the Help Desk before contacting the instructor.
Missing Content
Most modern browsers block content that is not secure or does not meet certain security specifications. There may be times when content in this course does not display properly. If you experience this, you may download this document for help.Content Settings in I-Learn
Online Support Center
Phone: (208) 496-1411
Email: onlinelearning@byui.edu
Website: http://www.byui.edu/online/online-support-center
Text Messaging: (855) 808-7102
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM, MT
Skype: onlinesupportcenterbyui
Live Chat: Available on the Online Support Center Website.
Help Desk
Phone: (208) 496-1411
Email: helpdesk@byui.edu
Website: http://www.byui.edu/help-desk
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 9 PM Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM
Copyright
Materials on BYU-I I-Learn and related sites may be protected by US Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code). These materials are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or further disseminated.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
University Policies
Please become familiar with the University Academic Honesty Policy. Pay particular attention to the links under the BYU-Idaho Standards Related to Academic Honesty.
Policy on Sexual Discrimination/Harassment
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an education program or activity that receives federal funds, including Federal loans and grants. Title IX also covers student-to-student sexual harassment. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based discrimination, please contact the Dean of Studetns at (208) 496-9200.
Reasonable Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere which reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any disability which may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact Disability Services. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by this office. If you need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures. You should contact the Disability Services at (208) 496-5210. For any other questions or concerns, please contact Disability Services.
Personal Conduct
All of your correspondence with the teacher or other classmates must be respectful. Writing something disrespectful or “venting” is unprofessional and not becoming of a university student. In addition, it is not in accordance with the Honor Code of BYU-Idaho, and you will be subject to discipline accordingly. You are invited to re-read the BYU-I Honor Code and the “Principles of Personal Honor.” Honor Office