History T335-01
Spring 2008
|
Instructor: Jill Nussel, Ph.D.
CM 201 Office: 481-6895 Department Phone: 481-6686 Preferred email is through the class web site at http://elearning.ipfw.edu/ Alternate e-mail: nusselj@ipfw.edu
|
|
Class Meets Tuesdays/Thursdays 4:30-5:45pm CM 212
Office Hours · Tuesdays/Thursdays 1:00-2:30pm · Or by appointment based on instructor availability |
Course Description
The history of Modern China analyzes modern issues in the People’s Republic of China as they have developed through its history beginning with the fall of the Qing Dynasty. This is a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary course which introduces the historical developments, political organizations, economic structures, social patterns, and cultural trends of China.
IPFW Core Curriculum
This course fulfills requirements in Area IV and in Non-Western thought.
|
Possess broad knowledge and specialized understanding of the historical past of China |
|
Recognize historical analyses of the human experience as the building block of modern China. |
|
Demonstrate the ability to read, analyze and write about Chinese historical topics based on primary analysis. |
|
Be equipped to add informed opinion in a lifelong appreciation of history. |
|
Lectures |
|
Discussion |
|
Exams |
|
Reading |
|
Exercises& Quizzes |
|
Research Paper |
Grading
There are four mandatory grades: two exams, one final, and one research paper. If you receive a “0” for missing any of these grades, you will receive an automatic failing grade for the course! Make-ups will be granted only under very rare situations. It is your responsibility to communicate with the instructor if you cannot meet deadlines. Plusses and minuses will be given on the assignments and exams so you can see where your grade fits on the continuum. Also, I never, never, never, curve. It is IPFW policy that all students regardless of age or dependency status are treated as adults. I cannot discuss grades with parents unless you are in my office.
Exams. There will be two exams and a final. Writing will be a significant portion of each exam.
Research Paper. This is an upper level history course and as such requires an extensive research paper for which you will receive additional instruction. Upper level papers must be driven by primary research! In addition to content, presentation will also count. I will take off for poor spelling, including Asian names, grammar, punctuation, and other marks of poor scholarship. The paper will be due in parts as will be explained in class. Printers break; computers crash; things happen: chaos is commonplace. Plan for it accordingly by saving your work frequently and making back-ups. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to set aside enough time for these bits of the unforeseen. Late papers on the final research paper will be docked five points for every day it is late, including weekends and holidays.
Pass Back Policy: It is your responsibility to be in class when papers and assignments are passed back. I do not bring materials back a second time. If you are absent or late, it is your responsibility to retrieve your papers from my office. On the day assignments are passed back, I will interpret any of my handwriting after class, but all discussions of your academic performance must take place in my office.
Class Work. In addition, there will be an assortment of in-class and homework assignments, online and in class quizzes. Not all quizzes will be announced. There are no make-ups on any class work. Class work combined with web work will comprise 20% of your final grade.
Web Work. There will be regular assignments to be done on the web where instructions will be given in class. These assignments may consist of readings, quizzes, document reading, discussion boards, and evaluation of web sites. All web assignments and online quizzes must be posted to the web site before class time on the assigned day in order to get credit. No late assignments will be accepted. The web work combined with in-class assignments will constitute 20% of the final grade.
Extra Credit. There will be an occasional opportunity for additional extra credit that will be announced in class. Extra credit will be averaged into the class work grade. No extra credit will be given if it is e-mailed to me during class time.
Class Cancellation Policy. In the event that class is cancelled for any reason, class work is still expected. It is YOUR responsibility to check Blackboard for instructions. If IPFW is closed for a prolonged period of time, such as an Asian flu pandemic, this course will continue online through Blackboard. It will be YOUR responsibility to check Blackboard
in the event of school closure for instruction and any changes in syllabus.
|
Grades: Midterm I = 15% Midterm II = 15% Final = 20% Research Paper and its components = 30% Web and Class Work = 20% |
|
Grading Scale: 92-100 = A 82-91 = B 72-81 = C 62-71 = D 0-61 = F
|
|
Classroom Policies
Attendance: There is no mandatory attendance policy beyond what is required by the University. However, the student is responsible for knowing of any changes in test dates and/or assignments that may occur. It is in your best interest to attend class since much of the test material will be covered in lectures. Also, again, there is no make-up for any missed class work assignment or quiz. There is a direct correlation between regular attendance, arriving to class on time, and good grades.
Academic Honesty: Honesty and integrity are important character traits for the serious historian and they are expected in the history classroom as well. See http://www.ipfw.edu/academics/regulations/honesty.shtml for the IPFW policies on academic honesty. Academic honesty also covers plagiarism, which can be defined as passing off someone else’s work or ideas as the student’s own. A note on web plagiarism: if a student purposefully takes a paper or someone else’s historical work from the web and turns it in as his/her own work, this will be easily detected, and the student will face charges of academic dishonesty.
Issues of Accessibility: If you have a disability, which may require a classroom accommodation, you MUST register with the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), if you have not already done so. Their phone is 260-481-6657 and they are in Walb Student Union, Room 113. Information shared with SSD will be kept confidential to the extent consistent with State and Federal law. Every effort will be made to assure that you have the best educational experience possible. I cannot make special accommodations for students without a statement from SSD. If you are an SSD student, and you wish to take your exams in their center, you must notify me in writing at least one week prior to the exam.
Drops, Withdrawals, and Incompletes. If for any reason you are unable to complete this course, it is YOUR responsibility to adhere to all university policies and procedures to drop this class. Failure to comply will result in a failing grade for the course. Incompletes are given only in the rarest of circumstances. I will not grant a grade of “incomplete” for this course without instruction from the dean.
Classroom rules: Students must conduct themselves in a manner which in conducive to learning for themselves and others. This includes clothing and discussion. Humor and discussion is encouraged if appropriate to the class. Turn off your cellular phones and pagers. In short, observe adult behavior.
Contacting the Instructor
The purpose of office hours is to give you the opportunity to discuss the course materials individually with me, to get ideas for further study, to clarify points, and ask questions. I am almost always available during my stated office hours. I will gladly make appointments to see you in the evenings, if I am not in my other classes. However, since there are few history emergencies, I will not make appointments on Fridays except in extreme cases.
While you may feel free to call me at my office, the best way to get my attention is through e-mail. The preferred method is through the classroom email at http://webct.ipfw.edu . Contacting me through this site is for your own protection. I cannot delete any correspondence through WebCT. I can also be reached at nusselj@ipfw.edu. I do not check my email after 5:00pm or on weekends. You may call my home or cell phone, but do not leave messages marked urgent on my phone unless you have also called 911.
Using WebCT
IPFW policy states that any time an instructor needs to contact a student, that contact should be made via e-mail to the student’s IPFW email address. IPFW cannot possibly keep up with student email addresses. Therefore, it is YOUR responsibility to have your IPFW e-mail forwarded to your preferred account. I will contact you through WebCT and it is YOUR responsibility to check this site regularly.
This course will make regular use of WebCT for e-mail, handouts, quizzes, and other materials important to your success in this class. It is YOUR responsibility to learn how to use this system. If you need help, contact the IT Help Desk at 481-6030 or at http://www.its.ipfw.edu/helpdesk/default.htm.
Required Reading
There is only required text for this class. You will also be required to complete additional assigned readings using additional materials available through the instructor or the library (hopefully online). Reading assignments should be completed prior to class. Reading Assignments will be posted to the classroom WebCT.
The required text:
Jonathan Spence, The Search for Modern China (New York: W.W. Norton, 2005).
(note: Follet’s has ordered the second edition but you may use the first edition.)
There will be additional readings that for the most part will be accessible through the class web site on Web CT. Additional reading that cannot be digitized will be duplicated and handed out in class. It is your responsibility to keep track of these.
Schedule: Modern China
|
1 |
Monday, January 8 |
Class Introduction |
|
|
Wednesday, January 10 |
Introduction to China Read Spence Chapters 1-3 |
|
2 |
Monday, January 15 |
No class. IPFW closed for MLK Day |
|
|
Wednesday, January 17 |
Development of Civilization and Confucianism |
|
3 |
Monday, January 22 |
China meets the West: Boxers and Opium Due: Paper topic posted to discussion board Read Spence 4-6 |
|
|
Wednesday, January 24 |
The Term Paper. Class Meets in Library Room 440A (4th floor) |
|
4 |
Monday, January 29 |
Read Spence 7-11 |
|
|
Wednesday, January 31 |
Collapse of the Dynasty |
|
5 |
Monday, February 5 |
Collapse of the Dynasty |
|
|
Wednesday, February 7 |
Exam I: Qing Dynasty Chapters 1-11 |
|
6 |
Monday, February 12 |
Forming the Republic Read Spence: 12-13 |
|
|
Wednesday, February 14 |
Due: Thesis and Bibliography |
|
7 |
Monday, February 19 |
Bad Weather Read Spence: 14-15 |
|
|
Wednesday, February 21 |
The Guomindang Due: Homework Essay on Lu Xun |
|
8 |
Monday, February 26 |
Chiang, Mao and Foreign Entanglements Read Spence: 16 |
|
|
Wednesday, February 28 |
Due: Chicago Assignment AND Book Review |
|
9 |
Monday, March 5 |
No School: Spring Break |
|
|
Wednesday, March 7 |
No School: Spring Break |
|
10 |
Monday, March 12 |
China and World War II Read Spence: 17-18 |
|
|
Wednesday, March 14 |
Last Day to Withdraw |
|
11 |
Monday, March 19 |
Fall of the Republic |
|
|
Wednesday, March 21 |
Exam II: The Republic of China Chapters 12-18 |
|
12 |
Monday, March 26 |
A People’s Republic? Read Spence: 19 |
|
|
Wednesday, March 28 |
Due: Best Four Pages |
|
13 |
Monday, April 2 |
Leaps and Plans Read Spence: 20-21 |
|
|
Wednesday, April 4 |
Cultural Revolution and the Gang of Four |
|
14 |
Monday, April 9 |
China and the West Read Spence: 22, 23, 24 |
|
|
Wednesday, April 11 |
A Nation of One Billion |
|
15 |
Monday, April 16 |
Democracy in the Wings? Read Spence: 25 |
|
|
Wednesday, April 18 |
Contemporary Issues Due: Finished Final Paper |
|
16 |
Monday, April 23 |
Contemporary Issues |
|
|
Wednesday, April 25 |
Contemporary Issues |
|
|
Monday, April 30 11:00am-1:00pm |
FINAL EXAM: The People’s Republic of China |