Depending on the task at hand, students research a topic that is little or not at all familiar to them and learn about the components of a written scientific paper, such as an abstract, a scientific introduction, structuring of the main chapters, quotations, paraphrases, footnotes and endnotes, concluding remarks, as well as lists of literature and illustrations. On the basis of this new knowledge they will write their first own seminar paper.
Topic summer term 2020:
Bungalows & beyond: architectural expressions of the American Craftsman-Style 1900-1930
The American Craftsman-Style developed in the early 20th century from the British Arts and Crafts movement, which was based on the theoretical writings of William Morris and John Ruskin. As a reaction to Victorian opulence, the emerging style propagated simple forms, local materials and craftsmanship perfection. Typical architectural manifestations were, for example, bungalows in California with matching furniture.
The seminar is dedicated to all aspects of Craftsman-Style, its theoretical basis with Morris and Ruskin and its dissemination in the USA by the editor Gustav Stickley. The focus is on architects who worked in this style - in addition to well-known representatives such as Greene & Greene, Bernard Maybeck and Julia Morgan, the work of lesser-known architects such as Ernest Coxhead, Willis Polk and A.C. Schweinfurth will also be analysed. The topics of interior design and furniture design and its distribution in catalogues of e.g. Sears-Roebuck round off the tasks of this elective seminar.
obligatory dates summer term 2020, each in seminar room 251:
Tue., 10.03.2020, 15:00: introduction and presentation of the topics
Tue., 17.03.2020, 15:00: allocation of the topics
Tue., 31.03.2020, 15:00: discussion/status of research
Tue., 21.04.2020, 15:00: introduction to scientific work
Tue., 12.05.2020, 15:00: discussion/correction
Tue., 09.06.2020, 15:00: discussion/correction
Tue., 23.06.2020: 15:00: presentation
After presenting the topic, students are introduced to research methods. The sources are evaluated and their contents are summarized and analyzed. Afterwards the students receive a theoretical introduction to the obligatory components of a written scientific paper. The first draft prepared on this basis is corrected by the course instructor and returned for revision, which finally results in the final version of the seminar paper.
