Dr. Susan Boettcher
UT-Austin
Spring 2010
GAR 0.132, T 5-8
GAR 3.102
5-9297
[email protected]
Office hours: M 3-6 & by appt
HIS 350L (39654) – RS 357 (44498) – EUS 346 (36114): Martin Luther in History and Memory – SWC
Course Overview: This undergraduate seminar deals with issues in the biography of Martin Luther, a
historical figure who has inspired an enormous mass of scholarship. We will examine issues in the analysis
of Luther’s life that feed into broader discussions and historiographical controversies in Luther and
Reformation studies. We will also look at the meaning of the Luther figure for subsequent audiences in
Europe and the U.S. As this course is designed as a writing-intensive seminar, we will also spend some part
of class time discussing strategies for effective writing and/or helping each other improve our writing.
Prerequisites: for HIS 350L, junior standing. Students should be prepared to take a critical stance toward
the claims of the instructor, and also to research the background of unfamiliar materials. Awareness of
basic dogma of Christianity will make the course easier, but is not required.
Required Texts: The following texts provide a common basis of reading for the course and are available
for purchase at the University Coop Bookstore.
Martin Luther, Three Treatises
Erik Erikson, Young Man Luther: A Study in Psychoanalysis and History
Heiko A. Oberman, Luther: Man Between God and the Devil
Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the “Spirit” of Capitalism
Ernst F. Winter, trans., Erasmus-Luther: Discourse on Free Will
Roland Bainton, Here I Stand
Readings on electronic reserve or internet
These books, books from which additional readings were taken, and other works that may
be of help in preparing your papers (including the English translation of Luther’s collected
works), insofar as the library has copies, are on reserve at the Perry-Castañeda Library
Recommended: Bible (such as KJV, RSV, NRSV, NIV) – for reference. Please avoid interpretive or
paraphrase translations with "modern" language (like "The Way," for example). Most are on the internet.
For reference about the German Reformation, I recommend C. Scott Dixon, The Reformation in Germany.
Distribution of readings: Please read the reading assignments BEFORE the class for which they are
assigned.
Electronic Reserves: A portion of course reading is located at the Electronic Reserves page, at
http://reserves.lib.utexas.edu/courseindex.asp under my name, with the course number History 350L. The
password is “solafide” (all lower-case, no punctuation). If you note problems with any document, please
notify me immediately. For technical assistance, please use the ERES FAQ at
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/services/reserves/studentfaq.html or contact them directly at
[email protected], or by phone at 495-4451, as I am not able to help students with technical matters.
Boettcher/History 350L/1
Assignments & Grading:
Syllabus policy 0%
Attendance policy 0%
Two short essays on course readings (5-7 pp. or minimum 1,500 words) @ 20% each
Semester project (12-15 pp., or minimum 3,600 words) 45%, divided into
Bibliography 7%
Short summary/thesis 8%
Rough Draft 15%
Final version 15%
Class participation, including short discussion assignments, peer editing, and a brief oral presentation 15%
Each short essay may be revised once for credit. The revision grade will be averaged with the original essay
grade. In order for a revised essay to be graded, it must be submitted along with the original copy of the
essay within two weeks of its return to you. Rewrites must present a substantial (that is, more than cosmetic)
rewrite of the original essay based on comments from the professor and peer editor. Guidelines will be
distributed in advance.
The semester project will be focused on the analysis of a particular text by Luther, relating to your interests,
that we have not read in class. You will be responsible for presenting any relevant historical context and
explaining how a focus on the text might change the received picture of Luther that we are examining in the
course. Guidelines will be distributed in advance.
All assignments will be graded on a percentage basis. You may receive a fractional grade for an individual
assignment; however, the conventional rules of rounding (numbers of x.5 or higher rounded to the next
whole number) will apply only for purposes of determining the final grade.
To pass, you must submit all major assignments listed above, do an oral report, and comply with the
syllabus and attendance policies.
GRADING SCALE:
93-100
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
A
AB+
B
BC+
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
<60
C
CD+
D
DF
Logistical rules: Assignments are due on the date scheduled, which means submitted as a hard copy in my
hands or pushed under my office door by 5 p.m. No makeup is permitted for discussion assignments. All
assignments must be typed, double-spaced, on paper; you may not submit an assignment via email unless I
have told you to do so. Other assignments may be turned in late at a penalty of 8% per business day. No
penalty will be assessed in case of serious illness or family emergency (if verified by the presentation of
official paperwork from an appropriate authority).
Extra credit: You can receive up to five points of extra credit per writing assignment (short paper, project
draft, final project) for visiting the UT Writing Center, which sends me a written report about what you did.
I heartily encourage you to make as much use of this resource as you can. More information about the
Writing Center is available at http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/rwsstc/writing.html
Boettcher/History 350L/2
Course Policies:
Attendance: An attendance sheet will be circulated in class. Please be sure that you sign it when it goes
around, since it is impossible to verify a claim that you forgot to sign it. Since the success of the course
depends on your attendance, you are expected to attend every class. Nonetheless, you may miss up to one
classes for any reason without penalty (all absences are equal; there are no "excused" or "unexcused"
absences). Further missed classes will be assessed at the rate of a letter grade (10%) deduction from your
course grade per missed class. Moreover, fifteen per cent of your final grade is based on a discussion
component that includes both participation in class discussions and submission of preparatory discussion
assignments. No discussion assignments will be accepted from students who do not attend the class. Missed
oral reports may not be made up. The class is scheduled to meet for three hours; we will always take a short
break at the halfway point, and we may not always meet the entire three hours, but I expect you to block off
the full time for each class meeting (don’t expect to be able to leave before 8 p.m. regularly).
Syllabus policy: By the twelfth class day, students enrolled must submit a signed statement that they have
read and understand the syllabus. Students who do not submit this statement will not be allowed to submit
assignments until they do.
Disabilities: Instruction and assessment in this course comply with the standards of Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as administered at UT by the
Office of Services for Students with Disabilities ( http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/ssd/ ). Students should
contact me as soon as possible during the semester to facilitate those accommodations permitted by SSD
(for further information on accommodation letters and referral, please contact them at 471-6259). Students
must provide an accommodation letter from SSD in order to receive accommodation.
Scholastic Dishonesty: Students who violate university rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the university.
Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the university, policies on
scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For further information, please visit the Student Judicial
Services web site at http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/. I will pursue cases of suspected dishonesty to
the fullest extent allowed by the university. I currently have a 100% rate of success in those cases I have
pursued. As a matter of routine, I always recommend failure of the course as the specific penalty for any
instances of scholastic dishonesty. By handing in a paper with your name on it, you pledge to me that you
are submitting your own work. Similarly, your signature on an attendance sheet is a pledge that you were
present for class; submission of a written excuse is a pledge that the excuse was honest. If you are
discovered lying with regard to any such claim, I will refer your case to SJS.
Student Privacy: Federal law (FERPA) considers certain student records confidential. Be aware of the
following policies with regard to your privacy:
-DO NOT write your Social Security number on any assignments.
-Grades will be posted only on Blackboard.
-I will not conduct discussions about grades via email.
-Graded tests and assignments must be picked up from me or other arrangements for their secure
transmission must be made. Graded papers cannot be given to anyone except their author.
-Unless you are a minor, I will not discuss your grades with anyone else, including your parents or
the UT Athletic Department, unless you provide a written release allowing me to do so.
Boettcher/History 350L/3
Classroom behavior: You may eat and drink in class as long as it does not distract me or other students. If
you will need to leave class early, please sit so that you can leave unobtrusively. Arrange bathroom visits so
they do not interfere with the class. Come on time. If I think your behavior is inappropriate, I will ask you
to correct it.
Laptop or PDA usage: You are encouraged to use electronic devices appropriately for matters that relate to
our class. If I discover you using your PDA, cell phone, or laptop for purposes not related to our course
material (some examples: IM or chatting, checking your fantasy football ratings), you will be asked to leave
and you will be counted absent for the day. I ask that you close your laptops during discussions in order to
focus your attention. If it turns out that many students have a problem using technology appropriately in the
classroom, I reserve the right to ban all electronic devices for student use from the classroom.
Cell Phones: It is imperative that you ADJUST YOUR CELL PHONE TO "VIBRATE" OR TURN
IT OFF DURING CLASS! Because of the increasing number of ringing phones in class, the following
policy will be in force: the first four times that a cell phone rings during a semester, I will overlook it. From
the fifth time, however, every incidence of a ringing cell phone during a lecture will lead to a 1%
deduction from everyone's final course average.
Email attachments: Students may not submit assignments via email attachment unless expressly permitted
by the instructor. If you have received permission to submit an assignment via email attachment, do not
assume that it has been received until you receive an acknowledgement from the instructor.
Use of email for official communication: Per university policy, I consider email a valid official means of
communication. Course announcements will be made once in class and then posted on the Blackboard
page; be prepared for additional announcements to come to the email address as listed in the university
directory and update this address as necessary.
Instructor Contact: Office hours take place weekly in my office at the scheduled times or by appointment.
You may also email me or call me in my office during normal business hours; you may assume that I check
my email approximately once per day during normal business hours and that I will respond to your mail
within one business day. Outside of office hours, you may drop by my office at any time; however, be
aware that I may not have time to meet with you unless you have made an appointment in advance.
Return of Assignments: Make sure that you keep your copy of all of your graded assignments until the end
of the semester; I will not make changes to my records unless you can demonstrate a recording error with
reference to the original document.
Recommendations: I will write a recommendation for any currently enrolled student applying to study
abroad, and a general academic recommendation for any student who has received an "A" or "B" in a
course with me. (Do not hesitate, however, to ask if you do not fall into one of these categories). To write a
recommendation I will need copies of your written work, a current resumé, and at least two weeks advance
notice. Please be aware that I cannot recommend students for graduate study who have not completed at
least intermediate level coursework in the necessary languages for research in their interest area.
Intellectual property: My statements in class are protected by state common law and federal copyright law.
Whereas you are authorized to take notes in class thereby creating a derivative work from our experience,
the authorization extends only to making one set of notes for your own personal use and no other use. You
are not authorized to record classes, to provide your notes to anyone else, or to make any commercial use of
them without express prior permission from me.
Boettcher/History 350L/4
Schedule of Class Days and Readings:
Jan 19
Introduction of professor and students;
Introduction to significance of the Reformation and Martin Luther;
Introduction to Germany in 1500
Jan 26
Traditional Views of Luther
Readings:
Roland Bainton, Here I Stand: The Life of Martin Luther (complete)
Luther, Three Treatises, “The Freedom of a Christian”
Short discussion assignment: list eight terms from the reading with which you were not familiar, along with
a short definition of each; writing self-assessment (by email)
Feb 2
Luther as Medieval Theologian
Readings:
Erasmus-Luther, Discourse on Free Will, complete
Hamm, essay on “normative centering,” ERES
Luther, “95 Theses,” ERES
Short discussion assignment: write 250 words explaining who you agree with in the Luther/Erasmus
controversy and why.
Feb 9
The Reformation Breakthrough
Readings:
Luther, Three Treatises, “On the Babylonian Captivity” (complete)
Luther, “Preface to Latin Writings,” ERES
Bernd Hamm, “What Was the Reformation Doctrine of Justification?” ERES
Luther, selections from Lectures on Romans, on ERES
Short discussion assignment: write 250 words, citing sources from the reading, assessing the extent
of the similarity between Luther’s thinking in his breakthrough year and what you have learned
about medieval theology.
Feb 16
Luther as Political Theorist / The Peasants’ War
Readings:
Luther, Three Treatises, “To the Christian Nobility”
Luther, on the peasants, on ERES
“Twelve Articles,” on ERES
Peter Blickle, selections from “The Revolution of 1525,” on ERES
Short discussion assignment: Short Discussion Assignment: write 250 words discussing whether Luther’s
political position is logical and consistent, comparing his statements in “On the Freedom of a Christian” and
“Appeal to the Nobility” with his remarks to the Peasants and actual events.
Boettcher/History 350L/5
Feb 19, 5 p.m. PAPER ONE DUE
Feb 23
Luther & the Jews
Readings:
Luther, “That Jesus Christ was born a Jew,” on ERES
Luther, “On the Jews and their Lies,” on ERES
Mark Edwards, Jr., “Against the Jews,” on ERES
Short discussion assignment: write 250 words discussing whether Luther’s position on the Jews is or is not
defensible, stating the criteria upon which you are judging.
Mar 2
The Scholar’s Luther
Readings:
Heiko Oberman, Luther, selections
Short discussion assignment: write 250 words on which element of Oberman’s portrait of Luther
you find most convincing or attractive, and why.
PAPER TOPIC STATEMENT DUE
Mar 9
Luther and Modernity I: Weber
Readings:
Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic, 1-220
Short discussion assignment: write 250 words discussing the role Luther plays in Weber’s argument and
whether you find his use of Luther convincing.
Mar 16
NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK
Mar 23
Luther & Modernity II: Erikson
Readings:
Erik Erikson, Young Man Luther, selections
Selections from Erikson, Childhood and Society, on ERES
Selections from Cochlaeus, on ERES
Short discussion assignment: write 250 words discussing what, if anything, the psychological portrait
Erikson paints adds to our understanding of Luther
Mar 30
PASSOVER. NO CLASS.
5 p.m. PAPER TWO DUE
Boettcher/History 350L/6
Apr 6
Today’s Luther
Readings:
“Luther” (2003)
Short discussion assignment: write 250 words on what features, if any, are unique to the film’s portrait(s) of
Luther, and on the extent to which this portrait of Luther is “useful,” and for whom.
PAPER BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE
Apr 13 NO CLASS: STUDENTS TO MEET WITH INSTRUCTOR TO DISCUSS PROJECTS
Apr 20 NO CLASS: STUDENTS TO MEET WITH INSTRUCTOR TO DISCUSS PROJECTS
Apr 27 NO CLASS: STUDENTS TO MEET WITH INSTRUCTOR TO DISCUSS PROJECTS
DRAFTS OF FINAL PROJECT DUE
May 4 ORAL PRESENTATIONS
May 7, 5 p.m.: FINAL PAPERS DUE
Boettcher/History 350L/7