CHIN 3231 - Issues in Chinese Culture for Chinese Speakers

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2016

This course introduces major issues in the study of Chinese society and culture. It caters for the special needs of international students with native or near native Chinese language proficiency who are studying in an English language environment. The course is designed to help bridge the gaps between Chinese and Australian education systems and improve students' learning experiences. It aims at providing Chinese-speaking international students with a fully formed, language rich and research rigorous alternative directly relevant to their experiences and futures. It focuses on key social and cultural issues in modern China and examines the influence of traditional society on them. The instructing language will be in both Chinese and English. By the end of the semester students will be familiar with some of the central concerns of Chinese culture and with a different cultural perspective from which to view oneself, one's culture and society.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code CHIN 3231
    Course Issues in Chinese Culture for Chinese Speakers
    Coordinating Unit Asian Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites At least 12 units of level 1 undergraduate study
    Incompatible CHIN 1002, CHIN 1012, CHIN 2002, CHIN 2102, CHIN 2012, CHIN 3002, CHIN 3202, CHIN 3212, CHIN 3012, CHIN 3213
    Assumed Knowledge Native or near native Chinese language proficiency.
    Course Description This course introduces major issues in the study of Chinese society and culture. It caters for the special needs of international students with native or near native Chinese language proficiency who are studying in an English language environment. The course is designed to help bridge the gaps between Chinese and Australian education systems and improve students' learning experiences. It aims at providing Chinese-speaking international students with a fully formed, language rich and research rigorous alternative directly relevant to their experiences and futures. It focuses on key social and cultural issues in modern China and examines the influence of traditional society on them. The instructing language will be in both Chinese and English. By the end of the semester students will be familiar with some of the central concerns of Chinese culture and with a different cultural perspective from which to view oneself, one's culture and society.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Chi-Ni William Wang

    Dr. Chi-Ni William Wang
    641 Kenneth Wills Building
    Tel: 08-8313-1112
    Email: chi-ni.wang@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

    Lecture and tutorials start on 25 July.
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    At the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
    1 Engage with the ideas and perspectives of other learners
    2 Develop the ability to set appropriate goals and to work independently and/orcooperatively
    3 Develop skills in synthesising and contextualising new information
    4 Develop skills and confidence in participating in public discussion
    5 Develop essay writing skills and the ability to communicate ideas effectively
    6 Acquire research training skills, and the ability to argue from evidence
    7 Gain an understanding of and respect for cultural differences and diversities intranscultural communication
    8 Develop an awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities
    9 Acquire a different cultural perspective from which to view oneself, one’s culture and society
    10 Acquire discipline specific knowledge and specialised understanding of cross-cultural theories and debates
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    2, 3, 5, 6
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9,10
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    7, 8, 9, 10
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    7, 8, 9, 10
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1, 6, 7, 9, 10
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Course Reader:

    Issues in Chinese Culture for Chinese Speakers
    (The Course Reader can be purchased from Image and Copy)

     

           
    Other Resources

    In addition to weekly readings, you are required to supplement reading by researching useful relevant materials in the Barr Smith  library.



    Library Resources and Tutorial

    Students who are not already familiar with the Barr Smith library should take a tour, and complete the on-line library tutorial at

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsj-sBHQ0HE&feature=youtu.be

     

    For “Issues in Chinese Culture for Chinese Speakers” course check
    out the page: http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/c.php?g=165051&p=1084940

     

    The Barr-Smith Library also has several useful academic search engines.

    For more info on China:

    http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/c.php?g=165051&p=1083514

     

    These pages contain lists of relevant catalogue search terms, relevant databases for finding journal articles, and useful websites. 
    It is an excellent resource; you should make it your first stop for research assignments. 

     

    For any further help in finding or using library resources please come in to see or contact Qing Liang, your Research Librarian for Asian Studies,
    ph. 8313 3863, email qing.liang@adelaide.edu.au


    Recommended Resources
    English resources

    The most useful academic journals for our purposes are marked:
    The China Journal (used to be called Australian Journal of Chinese Affairs)  
    China Quarterly                                                         
    Modern China
    Contemporary China
    Asian Studies Review                         
    Pacific Affairs                                                                         
    Asian Survey                                                              

    Journal of Asian Studies                                                         
    Critical Asian Studies (used to be Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars)   
    China Information
    Problems of Communism                                           
    Studies in Comparative Communism                         

    Chinese resources
    Students can get from the Barr Smith Library's datebase link "China Academic Journals Full-Text Database".

    Online Learning


    See MyUni. Please remember to check your MyUni regularly because some of the announcements and notices will be publicised on that.

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The course consists of one two hour lecture and one tutorial.  The lectures provide an overview on the topic each week and the tutorial offers a problem-solving approach to learning. The course is especially designed for students who speak both Chinese and English to orient towards problem-based learning and to adapt to an Australian learning context. Combining formative and summative assessments, the course delivers blended models of learning through MyUni. to cater for the specific needs of multilingual and multicultural learners.

    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    2 x 1-hour lectures (or equivalent) per week 24 hours per semester
    1 x 1-hour tutorial (or equivalent) per week 12 hours per semester
    2 hours research per week 24 hours per semester
    6 hours reading per week 72 hours per semester
    2 hours assignment preparation per week 24 hours per semester
    TOTAL WORKLOAD 156 hours per semester
    Learning Activities Summary
    Schedule
    Week 1 Introduction: Chinese Cultural Studies
    Week 2 Boundarirs: Chinese Culture and Global Culture
    Week 3 How to write an research essay?
    Week 4 Orientalism and Postmodernism
    Week 5 Modernisation of Confucianism
    Week 6 Nationalism & China Dream
    Week 7 gender and Chinese Women
    Week 8 Rural Society
    Week 9 Ancestors Worship & Authority Dependency
    Week 10 Chinese Education System
    Week 11 Belief systems
    Week 12 Cultural Safety and other issues
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Due       Weighting Learning Outcome
    Participation Formative and summative weekly          10% 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9
    Bibliographical
    Exercise
    Formative and Summative 22 August        5% 6, 8
    Tutorial
    Presentation
    Formative and Summative weekly            15% 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9
    Tutorial paper
    (1000-1200 words in English or in Chinese characters)
    Formative and Summative 7 days after presentation     20% 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10
    Research Essay (2800-3000 words in English or in Chinese characters) Formative and Summative 31 October 5pm  50% 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Attendance and participation in lectures and tutorials is required.
    Assessment Detail
    Attendance and participation in lectures and tutorials - 10% weighting.

    Bibliographical Exercise: open book exercise in class - 5% weighting.

    Tutorial presentation: students will introduce one tutorial topic to the whole group - 15% weighting.

    Tutorial paper: students will submit a minor research paper of 1000-1200 English words or Chinese characters - 20% weighting.

    Research essay: students will submit an essay of 2800-3000 English words or Chinese characters - 50% weighting.
    Submission
    All written work for this course must be typed on A4 paper, by using size 12 of standard fonts, e.g. Arial, Arial Narrow, Calibri,
    Times New Roman in English or Kaiti in Chinese.

    Text should be double-spaced, with standard margins.


    For your tutorial paper and major essay:
    They must be submitted online via the relevant MyUni course site. You are required to submit:

     a PDF format into Turnitin (via MyUni)

     You can find the information to submit both in the Assignments folder in MyUni website.

     Assignment files must be converted to A4 size PDF before being submitted to MyUni - for assistance in converting your
    assignment file to PDF, please see http://www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/tutorials/content/ICC_Printed_Assignment_PDF_creation.html

    For more assistance on submitting your PDF assignment file to MyUni, please telephone the Service Desk on 831 33000, 8
    am – 6 pm, Monday to Friday or  Email:servicedesk@adelaide.edu.au

     Extensions

    Extensions are to be applied for in writing or email before the due date. Accompanying documentation (e.g. medic doctor's
    certificate, note from counsellor) to substantiate your case is required for an extension to be granted. Papers received late without an agreed extension by the tutor or lecturer will incur a 5% penalty per day including weekends. In some cases very late work may be accepted and marked but on a pass (50%) or fail basis.
     

    Return of assignments

    Marked assignments will be returned to you via MyUni.

    Students who are not happy with the grade awarded to a piece of work may approach the course coordiantor to have the work re-assessed by a second marker.




    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.



    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and
    teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students
    in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of
    online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and
    Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as CEQ surveys and Program reviews.

     

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual
    teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program
    curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning
    environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning
    outcomes.  Under the current SELT
    Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/
    ),
    course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at least once every 2 years. Feedback
    on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled
    students through various resources (e.g. MyUni).

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.