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World Civilizations: China Fall 2007 3400: 385-003, MW 2:15-3:05, Olin 127
Instructor: Ms. Jana
Russ Office: 344 Olin History Department: 216 CAS Office Hours: W 3-4 pm
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Required Texts
China: A Cultural, Social, and Political History by Patricia Buckley
Ebrey
and one biography, Wild Swans, Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang
Course
Objectives
1. To examine the geography, history, religion, and basic cultural
elements of
2. To “walk in Chinese shoes”—to gain a critical understanding and appreciation
of a Chinese worldview and be able to reflect on that worldview in light of
one’s own life.
Course Requirements
Midterm (20% of grade)
Comprehensive Final Exam (30% of
grade)
5-7 page Analytical Film & Book Review (30% of grade)
Weekly discussion questions and Small Response Paper (15% of grade)
Participation (5% of grade)
An extra credit assignment may be offered during the semester, but will only be available to those who have done all required work
Papers
Late papers will not be accepted, unless you have made prior arrangements with
me, and may be subject to grade reduction. All papers must be typed, double-spaced,
in no larger than 12 point font, with 1 inch margins using MLA style for
citations. I recommend using a computer as it makes producing and revising your
papers much easier and is more pleasant than a typewriter. There are computers
available in the GSC, Polsky building, and Bierce library. If you are truly
computer phobic, talk to me; we will work something out.
You are responsible for entirely reading the texts as well as several handouts
you will receive in class or on the web throughout the semester. You are
responsible for reading the web-based texts and for printing out your own
copies if you want hardcopy. The Tentative Schedule lists the days various
readings will be discussed in class. If you are wise you will read ahead and
simply review the readings before they are discussed. If you choose not to read
ahead you will find that you have a very heavy reading load toward the end of
the semester. Discussion questions will be based assigned reading for the days
they are given. Be sure you come to class prepared to discuss the readings,
non-participation or failure to keep up with the material may affect your
grade.
Make-up Exams
Students are expected to arrive promptly for examinations. Make up exams will
only be permitted in the case of a documented emergency. If you cannot make the
exam, you must inform me as soon as possible BEFORE the exam date. If you
have a schedule conflict with another exam time, you may make arrangements for
an alternate exam time in ad
Attendance and Participation
There is a large amount of material to cover in this course—your attendance and
active participation are essential! The easiest way to improve your grade is by
active participation in class discussions. If you don’t talk, or are abusive in
your talk, your grade will suffer.
Class Cancellation
Please wait at least 15 minutes before leaving any class if I have not arrived.
To find out if classes are cancelled in the event of bad weather, call the Snow
Line: 330-972-SNOW.
Writing Lab
Expert tutorial assistance is available at the writing lab for those who need
help with papers, which is located in Carroll Hall, room 212. Students
are encouraged to make appointments, but may also drop in to see if a tutor is
available. For appointments call 330-972-6548.
Grading Scale
Your final grade will be calculated on the standard grading scale below.
If your grade is close to a borderline your personal track record of active
participation, timeliness, and good effort may bump it up.
A (93 - 100%) A- (90 - 92.9%)
B+ (87 - 89.9%) B (83 - 86.9%) B- (80 - 82.9%)
C+ (77 - 79.9%) C (73 - 76.9%) C- (70 - 72.9%)
D+ (67 - 69.9%) D (63 - 66.9%) D- (60 - 62.9%)
F ( 0 - 59.9%)
Plagiarism
Just don’t do it! Plagiarism will result in the automatic failure of the
course and may be reported to the Dean for possible academic discipline.
Plagiarism includes:
1. Using a paper, or portions of a paper, that someone else wrote (i.e.: cutting
and pasting chunks of text from an internet source)
2. Using a paper that has been previously turned into another class or turning
in the same paper to two different classes
3. Using the ideas or words of another writer without giving proper credit/citation
(i.e.: using ideas or text from any source without proper quotes and author
info, improper use of paraphrasing
If you are ever unsure whether you are plagiarizing, come and see me. I will
not penalize you for making a mistake, as long as you come and talk to me about
it BEFORE you turn in your paper.
“A young man should serve his parents at home and be respectful to elders outside his home. He should be earnest and truthful, loving all, but become intimate with ‘jen’ [humanity]. After doing this, if he has energy to spare, he can study literature and the arts..” –Confucius
Week 1: Chinese Identity
Introductions, Syllabus. Film: “Unruly Dragon.”
Read online: Chinese Language and Writing. Read Ebrey, all preface material and Chapter 1
Week 2: Ancient China
No class on Monday—Labor Day
Website to visit: "History of China Timeline" On your own view a short film on Ohio Link called "Ancient China" at: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/dmc/video/2706997.
Week 3: Philosophical thought: Daoism, and Confucius
Read Ebrey Chapter 2, Read Online: from "The Analects," and "Dao
De Jing". Due Next
Monday: Reflection paper on
Confucian and Daoist philosophy.
Week 4: Bureaucracy & Imperial Governments, Buddhism
Read Ebrey Chapters 3 & 4 Slides: Buddhist and Daoist temples.
Websites to visit: "Chinese Lunar Calendar" & Chinese Astrology Online (find out what animal year you were born in!)
Week 5: Family Identity and Women’s Roles
Read Ebrey Chapter 5. Read Online: “Footbinding,” Ban Zhao:
"Lessons for a Woman"
Begin reading Wild Swans.
Week 6: Foreign Influences and Minority Identity
Read Ebrey Chapters 6 & 7.
Discussion: Mongols, Manchus (Manzhou), Tibetans, Muslims.
Website: The Mongols in World History
Week 7: Midterm
Keep reading Wild Swans and Final Paper assignment
discussed.
Week 8: The Last Imperial Dynasty, Foreign
Influences, and Literati Culture
Read Ebrey Chapter 8-9.
Slides: Forbidden City and
Read Online: "The Palace Eunuchs."
Week 9: Crises of the Nineteenth Century
Read Online: The Opium Wars
Slides:
Week 10: Warlordism & the Sino-Japanese Clash
Read Ebrey Chapter 11.
Handout: Sun
Yat-sen: "Fundamentals of National Reconstruction"
Week 11: From the Long March to Communist Victory
Film "Mao:
(note: some pictures on this website display graphic
violence)
Read Ebrey Chapter 12. Discuss Paper Assignment.
Week
12: From the
Read Ebrey Chapter 13 &14. Possible film "To Live"
Website to visit: "The
Cult of Mao"
Be working on your paper! Visit the
Writing Lab if you need help!
Week
13: The legacy of Mao to Deng to Zhang to Hu
Slides: Tiananmen Square. Website to visit: "Frontline: Tiananmen
Square."
Finish Wild Swans.
Week 14: Dealing with
Foreigners: Chinese Minorities, the
Paper due on Monday of this week.
Website to visit: NY
Times interactive video by Nicholas Kristoff (Click on the link that looks
like the Chinese Flag).
Week 15: Whither
Current Events Roundtable
Review for Final. Online: Studyguide
Useful Weblinks:
China Resources Page
http://www3.uakron.edu/worldciv/china
Ms.
Russ' Pages http://www3.uakron.edu/worldciv/russ