HS 485W • Fall 2004 
(203 LEONHARD)

This course is an introduction to the last century of imperial rule in China examining the waning years of the Qing dynasty and its struggle to deal with internal and external challenges.  Taking the final years of the Qianlong emperor and the Boxer Uprising as bookends on more than a century of social, political and cultural ferment, China and the Chinese people underwent dramatic change.  How should this change be understood?  As a 'response to the West?'  As a result of internal decay?  As  a product of globalizing trends?  Engaging these different interpretations as well as discussing the more traditional themes of imperialism, rebellion and reform this class will seek to offer a more complex representation of Chinese society under Manchu rule.   

          The Manchus (Crossley)
             ISBN:  0631235914

          Opium War Through Chinese Eyes (Waley)
             ISBN:  0804706115

          God’s Chinese Son:  The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan (Spence)
             ISBN:  0393315568

          English Lessons:  The Pedagogy of Imperialism in Nineteenth-Century China (Hevia)
             ISBN:  0804706069

Only four books are required for this course.  The primary textbook, Search for Modern China (SFMC), while highly recommended is optional.  It is meant to serve primarily as background reading not a substitute for the lectures.   There is a copy on reserve in the Reserve Reading Room in Pattee Library.  

In an effort to make access to weekly readings as easy (and inexpensive) as possible nearly all the readings will be available on the course webpage.  New information and any last minute changes will always be posted on the webpage so it is advisable to check it on a regular basis. 

Grades:

      Final grades will be based according to the following breakdown:

A  =1000 - 930 pts
A-  = 929 - 900 pts
B+ = 899 - 870 pts
B   = 869 - 820 pts
B-  = 819 - 800 pts
C+ = 799 - 770 pts
C   = 769 - 700 pts
D   = 699 - 600 pts
F   = 599 - 000 pts

Formal discussions take place on most every Friday and will usually include a reading or short video clip.  These are an opportunity for you to process what you have learned from the lectures and readings and begin to formulate your own opinions on China's past.  While attendance at these sessions is critical to obtaining a good grade, those students who desire a B-grade or above need to display ACTIVE discussion and show evidence they have engaged the material prior to class.  Of course, I also encourage questions and comments during the lectures on the other days as well.

In addition each student will be required to sign up as co-leader of a discussion session. A sign up sheet will be available in-class during the first week of class, on my office door thereafter and on-line.  You may e-mail your request as well. Leading a discussion requires that you have (prior to class) gotten together with your fellow discussion leaders, discussed the text involved, created a list of questions to pose in class, as well as giving a short (5-10 minute) introduction to the issues at hand.

For the few individuals who suffer from the delusion that quantity equals quality those who dominate the discussion with excessive comments that add little or nothing to the topic at hand will have their participation grade lowered.

Any deliberate attempt to present knowledge, ideas or statements (verbatim or paraphrased) as your own when, in fact, it is gained from another source without proper citation will lead to an F grade on that assignment and could result in an F in the course.  Ignorance of what constitutes cheating is not  an excuse for dishonesty.  Please take the time to familiarize yourself with Penn State's policy's on academic integrity and plagiarism.