MODERN JAPAN
Note: Be sure to check PSU's course management system (commonly known as ANGEL) at least once a week. All announcements for the course will be posted on this system.
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Basic Information <> Course Description <> Exams & Grading <> Exam Mechanics <> Class Mechanics <> Disabilities <> Academic Honesty
Term: Spring, 2010
Time/Place: M & W 06:00P- 07:15P / 220 Thomas (PSU main campus map)
Instructor: Gregory Smits
Office: Weaver 211
E-mail: gjs4@psu.edu
Office Phone: 863-0172
Department of History Office Phone: 865-1367
Office Hours: 3:00-4:00, M & W
Dates to Remember:
Exam #1: Monday, 15 February
Exam #2: Monday, 29 March
Exam #3: As scheduled during finals week (see Elion)
Books:
The textbook for this course, Making Japanese, is available on the web. Read it as we go through the course at approximately the same pace as the in-class topics. Click Here for initial advice on how best to use this textbook. The main URL for the textbook is easy to remember: www.east-asian-history.net (note the hyphens). In the unlikely event that the textbook is not accessible at its main URL, there is a mirror of the site at: http://www.s118842024.onlinehome.us/. The complete text and links are there, but the search function may not work.
There are two additional required books for this course. They are available the usual campus and near-campus outlets, and they are obtainable at all the usual web-based booksellers:
Barbara Sato, The New Japanese Woman: Modernity, Media, and Women in Interwar Japan (ISBN 0-8223-3044-X)
Samuel Yamashita, Leaves from and Autumn of Emergencies: Selections from the Wartime Diaries of Ordinary Japanese (ISBN 0-824-829778)
Web-based book vendors are generally less expensive than the campus bookstore. You should order these books as soon as you know that you will stay in the course. Ordering late can be dangerous because there is always the possibility of a book being temporarily out of stock. The largest web-based vendors are amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com, and powells.com is, to my knowledge, the largest used book merchant. There are also book search/sale services like texbookhound.com that will search multiple vendors--and these are only a few of the many possibilities. If one vendor cannot get your book in a timely manner, try a different site--or get them at the campus bookstore or a downtown book vendor.
In any case, it is your responsibility to obtain the books sufficiently far in advance to allow you to read and study them. You should begin reading The New Japanese Woman right away, and you should begin reading Leaves from and Autumn of Emergencies during or soon after the spring break.
You might also want a more conventional textbook, especially if you have not taken any prerequisite courses for HIST 481. If so, feel free to buy one or check one out from the library. There are about 20-25 textbooks on modern Japan in print, many of which are just about the same in terms of coverage, approach, and readability. There are a few textbooks that stand out above the rest. One is John Hunter Boyle, Modern Japan: The American Nexus. This highly readable book is not a comprehensive survey of Japanese history, but, as the title indicates, it focuses on the relationships between Japan and the United States. Perhaps the best of the specialized (i.e., not comprehensive) textbooks is J. E. Thomas, Modern Japan: A Social History since 1868, which is willing to go into many areas that most textbook authors fear to tread. Of the many comprehensive textbooks, the best of the bunch is probably Andrew Gordon, A Modern History of Japan from Tokugawa Times to the Present (companion web site: http://www.oxfordjapan.org/). Another good choice is Peter Duus, Modern Japan (second edition). Textbooks such as these are optional. Some of you may want to read one or more of them simply because of a strong interest in the subject matter, and a few of you might feel more comfortable with a conventional, comprehensive textbook at hand for background and as a reference. Making Japanese and the two additional assigned books is what you will need for immediate task of exam preparation.
HIST 481 examines Japan during the 19th and 20th centuries. The organization of the course is more thematic than chronological. The goal is not to provide a comprehensive overview of modern Japanese history because there is simply too much material to cover in a single semester. Instead, I will focus on topics and themes that are not only essential for understanding Japan today, but which also shed light on broader human problems in the modern world. As far as I can tell, there is nothing radically different about Japan's modern development compared with that of, say, for example, France, Germany, or Russia. The details of each country's modern history, are, of course, different, but the basic processes are often quite similar. One goal of this course is to banish the notion that Japan's historical development is in any important way unique, mysterious, bizarre, or otherwise peculiar. There is a strong tendency to tell Japan's story only from the standpoint of leading members of society, and, while we too will encounter many of these important historical figures, we will also pay attention to what ordinary Japanese of different walks of life were thinking and doing.
In this spirit, then, the course most broadly examines the question of group and individual identities in modern Japan and their implications for cultural politics. The textbook title Making Japanese is about this very matter. It is from this vantage point that we examine certain aspects of politics, social life, economic development, diplomacy, and military affairs. Because Japan's modern history took place amidst a world dominated by several powerful imperialist countries, we shall often need to pay attention to Japan's relationships with foreign countries. Three other topics to which we will pay close attention are: 1) the role of the state in "making Japanese," that is, in promoting national consciousness, 2) the creation of "tradition" in modern times, and 3) rhetoric (the art of persuasion). How, for example, might someone criticize government policy when doing so explicitly was prohibited by the state and vigorously enforce by its police?
HIST 172, 174, or 175 are listed as prerequisites for this course. Students without these courses may still take HIST 481 but will almost certainly have to work harder, especially in background reading. HIST 481 is mainly a traditional lecture-style course, but there will be times for class discussion, especially after viewing videos. Being an upper-division course, a high level of academic rigor is expected. The ability to handle abstract concepts and deal with multiple, overlapping cause and effect relationships is essential. Also, some of the material we deal with may be disturbing or unsettling. Perhaps most important is the time, energy, and will to study and attend class on a regular basis and to work on major projects well in advance of their due dates. Like many university courses, HIST 481 is designed not only to impart information, but also to question the "common sense" notions that typically inform our ways of thinking about past and present issues.
This section explains exams and grading in detail. I will spend little time talking about these matters in class. It is important to understand the basis on which grades are assigned. Grades are based on degree of mastery of the course content as measured by the three exams. The exams are the only basis on which grades are assigned, so be sure to take each one seriously. It is important to know that personal circumstances (e.g., boy/girlfriend problems, having outside jobs, having been sick frequently during the term, the "need" for a certain level of grade, being a graduating senior, being a history major, applying for law school, et cetera) are not factors that influence the assignment of grades. Moreover, grades in HIST 481 are entirely independent of grades you may have earned in other courses, your overall GPA, and the number of hours you spend studying. There is no "extra credit." Class attendance is not a direct part of the grade, but regular attendance should be considered essential for learning the material and is expected. In short, grades are based only on results.
The exams are rigorous and consist of multiple-choice questions, short essays and a long essay. They are not cumulative. The weighting of each exam is as follows: Exam 1: 32% of the final grade; Exam 2: 32% of the final grade; Final exam: 36% of final grade. The format of exams 1 & 2 is the same, but the format for the final exam is slightly different. Specifically, exams 1 & 2 consist of: 1) 10 multiple-choice questions, at least 5 dealing with the assigned reading, for a total of 30%; 2) 2 ID/significance paragraphs @10% each for a total of 20%; and 3) one long essay worth 50%. The final exam is slightly longer. It will consist of: 1) 20 multiple-choice questions, at least 10 dealing with the assigned reading, for a total of 40%; 2) 2 ID/Significance paragraphs @10% each for a total of 20%; and 3) one long essay worth 40%. The final exam will cover slightly more material than the first two exams, which is the reason for its greater length and weight.
Each exam covers material from class sessions up to that exam (and after any previous exam) plus a subset of the two assigned books. Exams emphasize what is covered in class, but they also include material from the textbook not covered in class plus the relevant assigned readings. I will announce the specific coverage of each exam about one week in advance. The coverage for the assigned reading is as follows:
Exam 1: Sato, The New Japanese Woman. Prologue, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2---in other words, pages 1 - 77.
Exam 2: Sato, The New Japanese Woman. The rest of the book (pages 78 - 163).
Exam 3: Yamashita, Leaves from and Autumn of Emergencies. The whole book.
Note: Be sure to begin reading the assigned chapters or book well before the date of exam. Attempting to squeeze this reading in just before the exam will generally cause unpleasant results. It is your responsibility to budget your time appropriately.
Grades on each exam and on the paper are expressed as percentages. The final average percentage is then converted to PSU's grading system as follows: A = 92-100%; A- = 90-91%; B+ = 87-89%; B = 82-86%; B- = 80-81%; C+ = 77-79%; C = 68-76%; D = 50-67%; F = below 50%.
The dates and times of the exams are listed above. Be sure to be here for them because missed exams may not be made up except in the case of a serious emergency the day of the exam. Be sure to take note of the exam dates at the start of the semester. In the unlikely event that an exam conflicts with an official university function that you must attend, you may make arrangements to take it early provided that you discuss such arrangements with the instructor at least one week in advance.
The format and degree of difficulty of exams should not be a surprise to serious students because past exams from this course are available at the practice exam center. (Note these differences: the format of the third exam is different from the last time the course was offered in that there are twice as many multiple-choice questions. Moreover, the assigned readings are now covered in the exams but did not appear on the exams the last time the course was taught.) Study the exams on this site from time to time, and actually write out answers to some of the long and short essay questions. As you probably know, there is usually a big difference between passively looking at an exam question and thinking that you could probably answer it versus actually writing an answer. Effort spent in writing answers before the real exam will usually pay off nicely.
The dates and times of the exams are listed above. Be sure to be here at those times because missed exams may not normally be made up. Oversleeping, being too tired or busy, weather, etc. are not excuses for missing an exam. So plan ahead. The only legitimate reason for missing an exam is severe illness on the exam day itself or a sudden emergency such as a traffic accident on your way to the exam. In the rare event that an exam conflicts with an official university function, you may arrange to take it early. Discuss this matter with the instructor at least one week in advance.
You are encouraged to examine and study previous exams from this course. They are available on the web at the Practice Exam Center and on Angel. These practice exams were the real exams for the previous term(s) the course was offered. Putting some effort into studying them will give you a very good idea of what to expect on the exams you will take so that the format and degree of difficulty will not be a surprise.
Exams are given at the start of class on the scheduled day. They are intended to take about 50 minutes, but you will be able to use the entire period. Bring an examination book (commonly called a "blue book") with you on exam day, as well as both a pen and a pencil. Write both your name and student number on the multiple choice answer sheet. Do not write your name on the examination book. Instead, clearly write your student number on the front cover. Grading the exams usually requires two class days.
The typical class session takes the form of an illustrated lecture. Questions are encouraged at any time, with the only request being that if your question is not relevant to the matter at hand, please wait until after class to ask it--out of courtesy for everyone else. In the same spirit, please do not disturb others during class. Other than that, however, there are no rules for what to do or not do. Occasionally we will view particularly important videos and discuss them in class the next day. Because these videos will illustrate key themes of the course, they are worthy of serious attention and thought.
It is expected that you will keep up with the readings. These is no set schedule or required pace. We will start at chapter one and keep going until the course ends. Ideally, you will want to read a little ahead of class in Making Japanese.
If you require accommodation for a disability, you must first identify yourself as disabled to the appropriate university office (click here for details). This office will make a determination of your disability and accommodation(s) based on medical information. The instructor for this course will not (and cannot) make such determinations, but he will be happy to help you contact the appropriate people for assistance.
Basic fairness to all requires reasonable standards of academic honesty. For reference, the official policy of PSU regarding academic integrity is as follows:
49-20 Academic Integrity
Definition and expectations: Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University's Code of Conduct states that all students should act with personal integrity, respect other students' dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts.
Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.
To protect the rights and maintain the trust of honest students and support appropriate behavior, faculty and administrators should regularly communicate high standards of integrity and reinforce them by taking reasonable steps to anticipate and deter acts of dishonesty in all assignments (Senate Policy 44-40: Proctoring of Examinations). At the beginning of each course, it is the responsibility of the instructor to provide students with a statement clarifying the application of University and College academic integrity policies to that course.
Important: study these Academic Integrity Resources for Students