EALC 1011

Introduction to Traditional East Asian Civilizations

The purpose of this course is to provide an interdisciplinary introduction to the traditional cultures of China and Japan, which shaped the East Asian world from early times to ca. 1650, the eve of sustained contact with the West. We will study selected aspects of Chinese and Japanese history, thought, religion, literature, and art. The focus will be on significant developments and representative works, not on comprehensive coverage or an excess of particularities. The first half of the course, through Friday, March 7, will deal with China. The second half of the course, from Monday, March 10 through the end of the semester, will deal with Japan.

 

Required texts:

  1. A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations, by Conrad Schirokauer
  2. Sources of Chinese Tradition, vol.1, ed. Wm. Theodore deBarry et al.
  3. Sources of Japanese Tradition, vol.1, ed. Ryusaku Tsunoda et al.
  4. Anthology of Chinese Literature, from Early Times to the Fourteenth Century, ed. Cyril Birch
  5. Anthology of Japanese Literature, from the Earliest Era to the Mid-Nineteenth Century, ed. Donald Keene


Lectures

Lectures in this course are not a rehash or paraphrase of the readings. For the most part, they shall present new information and suggest new contexts related to the topic of the assigned reading. The identification quizzes will take place on lecture days. This is a 4-credit course. You should therefore expect to devote proportionately more time to it than for a standard 3-credit course.

Recitations

The recitation session you enrolled in is the only one you may attend. These are small-group meetings of approximately 20-25 students, in which you will assume an active role in discussing selected topics from the previous week's lectures and readings. The position papers will be due on recitation days.

Course Requirements and Grading

Eight short quizzes* x 10 pts.  70 pts.
Ten position papers* x 11 pts.  99 pts.
Recitation attendance/participation 50 pts.
Two exams x 88 pts.  176 pts.
Total 395 pts.

* - the lowest score in each will be dropped

Quizzes will consist of short identification of key terms, taken from the lectures. These are 10 minute quizzes, scheduled on specific (lecture) dates, and are meant to help you focus on important concepts.

Position papers will be due at recitations. These are one-page, typed short essays, based on one of the discussion questions that will be available to you by Thursday of the preceding week via the class listserv e-mail program or on Friday in class. Although you will write on only one of the questions, you should be prepared to discuss the other or others in your recitation section.

Exam questions will consist of short identification problems and essays.

No make-up quizzes, recitation papers, or exams will be given.

The grading scale for exams is:
A  100-90 
B  89-80 
C  79-70 
D  69-60 
F  59- 

Ways to succeed in this course:

Attendance and mindfulness at all lectures. And take notes!
Complete each reading assignment by the date of the class meeting for which it is scheduled.
Finish your position papers and prepare all discussion questions by the day before your recitation section.
Attendance and participation at all recitations.

If you follow the above four points, you should have no fear of the quizzes and exams.
 

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