GM1MCG: The Making of Contemporary Germany

Module code: GM1MCG

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: 4

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Ute Wolfel, email: u.wolfel@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: na

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 25 September 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Students on this module will analyse and assess German political and social developments since 1945. Using a wide range of historical material including films, official documents, media discourse, documentaries, national symbols, and song lyrics, students will apply knowledge gained from introductory lectures in order to outline the context of the historical material correctly; this includes identifying key themes of the historical period, analysing formal characteristics of the material and assessing its perspective on the historical events. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify and discuss major events, factors and figures in post-war German history  
2. Analyse, evaluate and put into context a selection of German historical texts and films 
3. Apply and develop skills in textual analysis  
4. Make appropriate use of secondary sources   

Module content

This module introduces students to landmarks in the history of Germany from the founding of the German Empire in 1871 to the present day. We explore the history of the German nation from the Empire and World War I through to the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, both East and West Germany up to unification, and of unified Germany since 1990. We will put particular emphasis on the ideas and symbols of nationhood and discuss how they shaped society, culture and politics in the changing political states. This module provides students with useful contextual knowledge for modules they encounter later in their degree.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and seminars.

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs