History HSTAS 211A, Spring 2003
History of Chinese Civilization

Section A Syllabus

Requirements and Grading

1. Three Short essays (3 pages each) 10 %
Essays must be handed in at the beginning of section. The essay question will be posted on the course home page one week before the due date.

First paper due April 16
Second paper due May 9
Third paper due May 30

2. Participation in discussions 10%
3 or more unexcused absences will result in a reduction in your participation grade by half.

3. Informal writing online 10%
There are five topics for online discussion: Ancient Tombs (April 10), Buddhism (April 15), Military Technology (May 1), Homes (May 8), Clothing (May 22).

Instead of going to lecture that day, you are required to be online from 10:30 to 11:30 to discuss the topic with your classmates. A good way to start discussion is by thinking about the questions that you will find in the visual sourcebook (VSB) and by answering them. To access the VSB, go to the course schedule and click on the link next to VSB.

a. Visit Section A home page
b. Click "message board"
c. Send at least two messages (questions, comments, answers to the questions)
d. You can reply to your classmates’ messages.

4. Two one-hour tests 40% (20% each)

5. Final exam 30 %

Participation in class discussions

The section’s purpose is to give you the opportunity to discuss the reading materials with your classmates and exchange ideas with each other. This constitutes a crucial part of your learning. Therefore, you are urged to come to class having done the readings in advance and to participate in discussions as much as possible. A student will get a:

√+ (4.0) if he/she is actively engaged in discussions, makes valuable contributions to discussions demonstrating that he/she did the readings and thought about them carefully (i.e. close reading of primary sources).

√ (3.5) if he/she is engaged in discussions, makes valuable contributions to discussions demonstrating that he/she did the readings.

√- (3.0) if he/she shows up but doesn’t participate in discussions at all.

0 if he/she is engaged in activities other than discussion of course material or doesn’t show up and therefore misses his/her chance to participate in discussions.

From time to time, pop quizzes and/or short writing assignments may be given to ensure that you keep up with your readings and be ready for the exams. These will count towards your participation grade.

Additional information

1. Primary sources

Sections will be mainly devoted to the discussion of the primary sources that are in your Sourcebook. Primary sources are the closest friends of historians and of students taking a history course. You must read them carefully and note the parts of the text which you find interesting and important. You are greatly encouraged to read quotes from these sources in section and analyze them. You should gain the habit to use primary sources to support your arguments either in your discussions or in your papers.

2. Dates

You are required to memorize important dates (i.e. dynasties, historical events). I will let you know in section which dates are important to remember.