Criteria for Grading the Second Essay --Question 2 – Spring 2003

2) Pick three of the cultural movements below and compare them with French Surrealism. What were the primary goals of each German movement and how did these goals resemble or differ from those of the Surrealists? How were the strategies used by these movements similar to or different than those employed by the Surrealists?

[In your answer you should clearly define Surrealism and give specific examples, but the majority of the essay should focus on Germany.]

A. German Expressionism
B. German Dada
C. Neue Sachlichkeit
D. The Bauhaus
E. Cultural Bolshevism (e.g. Brecht, Dix, Grosz, Heartfield)
F. Bertolt Brecht's ideas about theater

Basic operations called for in the question:

• Demonstrate an understanding of French Surrealism and its goals and strategies
• Demonstrate an understanding of the three German cultural movements selected and the goals and strategies of each
• Compare the three German cultural movements with French Surrealism, paying particular attention to their goals and strategies (focusing primarily on the German movements)

"A" papers will generally:

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of French Surrealism and its goals and strategies
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the three German cultural movements selected and the goals and strategies of each
• Provide a thesis which clearly compares French Surrealism with the German movements, including their goals and strategies
• Provide relevant evidence from French Surrealism and the three German movements from the readings, lectures, discussion, the web site, and the media presentations that clearly makes that thesis more credible.
• Focus primarily on the German movements
• Be well-organized, well-written, devoid of spelling and grammatical errors, and clearly cite sources.

"B" papers will generally:

• Demonstrate an understanding of French Surrealism and its goals and strategies
• Demonstrate an understanding of the three selected German cultural movements and the goals and strategies of each
• Provide a thesis which clearly compares French Surrealism with the German movements, including their goals and strategies
• Provide relevant evidence from the three German movements from the readings, lectures, discussion, the web site, and the media presentations that makes that thesis more credible.
• Focus on the German movements
• Be well-organized, well-written, devoid of spelling and grammatical errors, and clearly cite sources.

"C": papers will generally

• Make an attempt to answer the question
• Demonstrate an understanding of material covered in this section of the course
• Provide some examples that might be used to defend a thesis

"D" papers will generally:

• Show an understanding of the broad themes of the course
• Communicate this understanding in readable prose
• Demonstrate a basic level of effort