History of Modern China

        Monday, Wednesday, & Friday - 2:00 PM - Humanities 203 - Spring 2004

  

Dr. Douglas Stiffler                                                                            Office Hours: Monday and Friday 10:00-10:30

Email: stiffler@juniata.edu                                                                                                        Tuesday 10:30-11:30

Office: I.H. Brumbaugh 103

 

Course Description:

 

This course introduces the main themes, events and personalities that have shaped Modern China. The economically dynamic and increasingly powerful Modern China of our own day can only be understood in light of the legacies of Late Imperial Chinese history.  In order to understand how a nation called China emerged in the twentieth century, we must first understand the nature of the Qing dynasty and its relationship to the wider East Asian and international orders.  The coming of the West represented both crisis and opportunity.  The Chinese gentry, and Chinese elites of the early twentieth century, sought new ways to reconstruct their empire/nation politically, economically, and culturally.  In the latter part of the course, we consider the impact of radical ideologies on Chinese society, and will pay particular attention to the upheavals caused by the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.

 

 

Required Texts:

 

Jonathan D. Spence, The Search for Modern China (2nd ed.; W.W. Norton & Co., 1999)

Pei-kai Cheng & Michael Lestz, The Search for Modern China: A Documentary Collection  (W.W. Norton & Co., 1999)

Philip A. Kuhn, Soulstealers: The Chinese Sorcery Scare of 1768 (Harvard University Press, 1990)

Lu Hsun, Selected Stories of Lu Hsun (W.W. Norton & Co., 1977)

Li Zhensheng, Red-Color News Soldier: A Chinese Photographer’s Odyssey Through the Cultural Revolution (Phaidon Press, 2003)

 

 

Course Grading:

 

Weekly Quizzes                                      15%

2 Oral Reports                                        10%

2 Map Quizzes                                          5%

1 Book Review                                       10%    

Midterm Examination                             20%

Research Paper                                     30%

Class Participation                                10%

                           100%

 

 

Mechanics of the Course: 

 

            The course will use a mixed format of lectures and discussions.  It is very important that you do the assigned reading for the class meetings in a timely manner.   Friday class meetings will usually be devoted to discussion of the week's material.  On Fridays, two or three students will be assigned to give brief Oral Reports on questions related to the week’s documents.   Each student will give two oral reports during the course of the semester.

            The Weekly Quizzes will generally not be announced in advance.  These will be ten-minute in-class writing exercises in which I ask you to respond to a question concerning the day’s readings.  If you have done the assigned reading, these questions will be no problem for you.

The Book Review should be about four to five pages.  We will discuss the format of this writing exercise as we begin to read the book.

The  Research Paper should be ten to twelve pages in length.  Topics will be decided in consultation with me, and should be clearly focused.   We will discuss topics and research strategies in class

All written work must be submitted the day it is due.  Except in the case of documented medical or family emergency, late papers will be subject to a reduction of one grade level (or equivalent) per day late. 

 

 

Attendance Policy:  

 

            Since this is a seminar course, regular attendance and participation in class discussions is extremely important.  Absences will only be excused if they are approved in advance by me (i.e. in the case of athletic participation) or in cases of documented illness.  Three unexcused absences will result in a reduction of one grade-level (e.g. 10%) in the final grade.  Each additional unexcused absence after this will reduce the final grade by 5%.

 

 

Academic Honesty/Withdrawal:

 

           All written work must be completed by the individual student.  Any instance of plagiarism will be treated very seriously.  You are responsible for familiarity with Juniata College's policies on academic honesty.  Please see the Pathfinder on the College's homepage for these policies. 

You may withdraw from the class at any time permitted by the Registrar's office.  To withdraw with a WP you must have completed course-work at a passing level and you must inform the professor immediately of your intent to withdraw.  Failure to do this will result in your receiving a WF.

 

 

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