Colloquium:  East Asia

MW 5:30-6:45 p.m.

Dr. Leslie Heaphy

 

Office:  Room 310F

Office hours: M-F 11-12 noon, MW 4:30-5 p.m. or by appointment. 

Office Phone:  ext. 53306

E-mail:  Lheaphy@stark.kent.edu

 

Course Description

            This course will explore the development and changes taking place in China and Japan during the 19th and 20th centuries.  This exploration will involve discussion about people, places, events and culture.  One of the key things we will be looking at are the changes that have occurred and why.

 

Course Objectives

1.      To give students a greater understanding of the modern history of China and Japan

2.      To help students understand some of the differences between China and Japan

3.      To encourage students to look for connections between the past and present

4.      To introduce students to the methodology of history through a research project

5.      To develop students ability to communicate in written and spoken formats through discussions and various writing assignments

6.      To help students learn a greater appreciation for the differences that exist in the world

7.      To help students develop their critical thinking skills

8.      To encourage students to pay more attention to the news of the day

 

Required Texts

            Bound Feet and Western Dress                       Pang Mei and Natasha Chang

            China's Path to Modernization                       Ranbir Vohra

            Japanese Today                                  Edwin O. Reischauer and Marius Jansen

            Modern Japan                                                 Peter Duus

 

            And lots of class handouts

 

Grading

            Attendance and participation ……………………50 points

            Map Quiz ………………………………………. 25 points

            Journal ………………………………………….. 75 points

            Biographical Sketches (3)………………………. 20 pts each ( 60 total)

            Book Review …………………………………… 50 points

            Research Project

                        Annotations ……………………………… 20 points

                        Thesis ……………………………………. 20 points

                        Rough Draft ……………………………… 60 points

                        Final Paper ……………………………….. 100 points

                        Poster Presentation ………………………..40 points

                        Exams (2) …………………………..…… 100 pts each (200 total)

 

                                    Total………………………………… 700 points

 

            A  630-700 points (90-100 %)

 

            B  560-629 points (80-89%)

 

            C  490-559 points (70-79%)

 

            D  420-489 points (60-69%)

 

            F  Below 420 points ( less than 60 %)

 

Attendance

Students are expected to attend class each week.  Having more than three unexcused absences will result in a failing grade for this class.  Students are responsible for the material covered on the days they are not there and for getting assignments turned in.

 

Students with Disabilities

In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact Kelly Oster in Student Services to submit documentation.  Then you must contact the instructor so they are aware of any required accommodations.

 

Campus Theme

Every two years the Stark Campus develops a theme to help students see the connections between their classes.  This year the theme will be "Dimensions of Time."  Many of the events taking place on campus will be related in some way to this theme.  We will discuss the idea as it fits in with class assignments.

 

Academic Honesty

All work that students hand in is expected to be their own.  Failure to do so is plagiarism and students could be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the "Cheating and Plagiarism" section of the University's Digest of Rules and Regulations.  Your instructor may use software to identify portions of papers which have been copied from websites.

 

Writing Center

            Located in Main Hall, room 202, the Writing Center offers students help and instruction on any writing assignments in this class or any other.  They offer tutorials, handouts and brochures, and information on their website:  www.stark.kent.edu/writing.  There is no cost to use this service.

            Fall Semester Hours:   MT 8 a.m.- 7 p.m.  WR 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.  F 9 a.m.- 12 noon

 

Testing Center

            The Testing Center is located in the lower level of the Stark Campus library.  Call ext. 53332 for hours and other information.

 

Course Outline

Since much of this class will be based on discussion it is expected that you will have completed the required readings before class.  Failure to do this could result in pop quizzes.  All readings listed below are tentative and subject to change as the semester goes along.  The instructor will inform you of changes in the reading schedule as necessary.

 

August 28 and 30         Overview and Background--will show a film

                                                Read Reischauer Pt. I and 4-6 in Pt. II; Vohra Chap. 1

                                               

Week 2                        China before the 1800s

                                                Read Reischauer Pt. III and Duus chap. 1

                                                ****Map Quiz Sept. 6th *******

Week 3                        China and Japan before the 1800s

                                                Read Reischauer Pt. IV and Duus Chap. 2; Vohra Chap. 2

                                    ***Topics Chosen by 9/13****

Week 4                        Japan and China moving into a new era

                                                Read Vohra Chap. 3; Duus Chap. 3-4

Week 5                        19th century changes

                                                Read Duus Chap. 5-6

                                    *****1st Biographical Sketch due on 9/27******

Week 6                        Coming of the West

                                                Read Duus Chap. 7 and Reischauer 7-8 in Pt. II

Week 7                        The West and East Asia's reactions

                                                Read Reischauer 30 in Pt. V

                                    ****Annotations and Thesis due on 10/9****

Week 8                        The Century Continues

****Midterm and Journal Due **********

                                                Read Duus Chap. 8; Vohra Chap. 4

Week 9                        Nearing the end of the Century

                                                Read Duus Chap. 9 and 10

Week 10                      Changes at the turn of the 20th Century

                                                Read Vohra Chap. 5; Duus Chap. 11

                                    ****2nd biographical sketch due on 11/1*****

Week 11                      East Asia and the World

                                                Read Reischauer Pt. V

                                    ****Rough Draft due on 11/6*****

Week 12                      A World at War

                                                Handouts; Begin Reading Bound Feet and Western Dress

                                    *****Book Review due on 11/15******

Week 13                      A World At War continued

                                                Read Duus Chap. 12-13; Vohra Chap. 6-7; Continue Bound                                                                Feet

Week 14                      Between the Wars

                                                Read Vohra Chap. 8-9; Duus Chap. 14-15 and Reischauer                                                                  Pt. II--9-11; Finish Bound Feet

                                    ***** 3rd biographical Sketch Due on 11/29*****

Week 15                      Wars continue to Break Out

                                                Read Vohra Chap. 10; Duus Chap. 16-17

                                    ***Final Paper Due Dec. 6th *************

Week 16                      ***Poster Presentations, Journal and Final Exam Due******

 

Class Assignments

 

Journal--15 entries from current newspapers--critique and try to tie in with the history you are learning.  Do not choose more than one from any single week --in other words spread them out!!  There should be at least one article for each week of the semester.  Journals will be handed in the same day as the midterm and the final.  Journals can be kept in any form the student wishes but the articles must be turned in with the journal entries.  Be sure to include the full bibliographic information with the articles. 

            Responses to the article should address the following kinds of questions:

There is no set length for journal entries because it will depend on the nature of the articles.  No response should be less than a page however.  To adequately address the questions asked will require at minimum a page of response.

 

Research Project--16-18 pages (not including bibliography) on any topic from 19-20th century China and Japan.  Topic must be approved.  6 sources minimum, without Encyclopedias.   A rough draft and outline will be handed in before the final project and a poster presentation at the completion of the project.  Complete details of this project will be handed out separately.  The final paper will be due the last day of class, Dec. 6th.

 

Annotations--three of the sources used for the research project must be turned in ahead of time with annotations-short descriptions (under 150 words) of the book context: theme, use, biases etc.  Examples will be handed out.  Annotations and thesis statement will be due on Oct. 9th.

 

Two tests--take home.  Questions will be handed out ahead of time.  The midterm is due on Oct. 18th and the final exam on Dec. 11th.  No late exams will be accepted.

 

Map Quiz--Involving key places in both China and Japan.  This will done in the second week of the semester.  Students will have the opportunity to make up the quiz within one week.

 

     Map Review

Three short biographical sketches--chosen by the student from lists given out by the instructor during the course.  Biography should be no more than a page and include the basics of where the person was born, family info, schooling etc.. and highlights of why they are important-what did they do?  Late papers will lose 3 points for each day they are late.

     List #1

    List #2

    List #3

One book review--chosen by the student.  5 pages, typed and double-spaced.  Ideally, the student should choose something to help them with their research project.  This is not just a retelling of the book but a critique of the theme, support, biases, who the author is etc..  The book review is due on Nov. 15th.  Late papers will lose 3 points for each day they are late. 

 


Research Project

            Each student will complete a 16-18 pp. research paper.  This paper will be typed and double-spaced.  Final papers are due on Dec. 6th.  Late papers will only be accepted through Dec. 8th and will lose 5 points each day they are late. 

            Students will choose their own topics from 19th-20th century Chinese/Japanese history.  All topics must be approved by the instructor by Sept. 13th.  If you change your mind later on this change must also be approved.  At the end of the assignment sheet is a list of some suggested topics.  These are just ideas and students are not limited by these suggestions.

            Students must complete all the parts of this project in order to receive a passing grade for the project.

            After choosing their topic students will then turn in a thesis statement and 3 annotations on Oct. 9th.  Sample annotations will be handed out separately. 

            A rough draft of the paper is due on Nov. 11th.  On that day students will be expected to turn in a draft of at least two-thirds of their paper (about 11-12 pages) and an outline of the remainder of the paper.  The more complete the paper is the better the feedback that can be given.  Students are encouraged to use the writing center resources as they work on their papers.

            The final project is due on Dec. 6th. 

            On Dec. 11th students will present their research in the form of a poster presentation for the class.  Examples will be shown during the semester of past projects.

 

 

Some Suggested Topics for Research Papers

 

The rise of Mao                        Empress Dowager                    Boxer Rebellion

Taiping Revolt              Opium Wars                             Nanking Massacre

Long March                             Geisha Girls                              Japanese Baseball

Shinto                                       Confucianism                            Chiang Kai-shek

Japanese Occupation                1911 Revolution                       Sun Yat-sen

Education                                 Art                                           Warlords

Samurai and their role               Great Wall                                Russo-Japanese War

Korea and Japan                      Tibet                                        China and Russia

 

 


Book Review

            Each student will complete a 4-5 p., typed review on a book of their choosing.  Ideally students should choose a book they will be using for their research paper or are at least considering for their project.  The review is not a simple rehashing of the entire book.  It should address the following questions:

Book reviews are due on Nov. 15th.  Late papers will lose 3 points for each day they are late. 

Each paper should begin with the full bibliographic citation at the top of their paper.  In addition all quotes, paraphrases and other borrowed materials must be properly cited using the Chicago Manual of Style.  Failure to cite materials will result in a failing grade for the project.  Citations can be in the form of footnotes or endnotes.

 

 

Biographical Sketches

            Each student will complete three short sketches during the semester.  Each one will be 1-2 p. typed.  Students will make their selections from three lists handed out by the instructor during the semester.  All papers will be shared with the rest of the class so we all can learn about these people. 

            Biographies should include:

Sometimes all of these items may not be available on every individual.

All quotes, paraphrases and other borrowed materials must be properly cited using the Chicago Manual of Style.  Failure to cite materials will result in a failing grade for the project.  Citations can be in the form of footnotes or endnotes.