EAST4610 – Voices from East Asia: How to Communicate Research Results
Course content
In this course you work individually, or together with another student, to develop your knowledge on an East Asia topic, and to gain practical skills in communicating this knowledge. The course consists of two parts. In the first part, you participate in various workshops that focus on skills such as journalistic writing, podcast-making, filmmaking, exhibition curating, public lecturing and teaching, or policy report writing. In the second half of the semester, you apply one of these skills to an individual project. You decide on the topic of your project in collaboration with your MA supervisor. The topic may be closely related to your Master thesis, but it can also be another topic that you wish to explore. In addition, you make and summarise a list of at least ten academic and non-academic items (articles, reports, films, podcasts, exhibition catalogues, etc., at least three of which are academic texts) related to your project. At least three of these should be in an East Asian language.?
The specific topic of your project should be judged, by you and your supervisor in collaboration, to be of interest to a non-academic audience, and the format should be chosen accordingly. If appropriate and if quality allows, this part of your exam will be published online on the "Voices from East Asia" blog, and, if possible, be fed into professional media or other public fora. However, do not publish your product before you have got the exam result, to avoid suspicions of plagiarism.????
Learning outcome
- Learning communication skills such as journalistic writing, podcast-making, filmmaking, exhibition curating, public lecturing and teaching, or policy report writing.
- Gaining experience that is useful for future careers in media and journalism, museums, education, film, art, the public sector, business, thinktanks, or other sectors.
Admission to the course
Admission to the MA programme option Chinese Culture and Society?or?Japanese Studies.?
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
You must have passed exams equivalent to 60 credits in the first two terms of your Master’s degree in Asia?and Middle East?Studies.
Teaching
The course starts with an obligatory introductory class. This will be followed by one or more workshops that focus on skills such as journalistic writing, podcast-making, filmmaking, exhibition curating, public lecturing and teaching, or policy report writing. Some of these may be taught in collaboration with external experts. During the semester, you have at least one meeting with your thesis supervisor and one with the course convenor to discuss the topic, format, and list of items of your final project. At the end of the semester, there is one final obligatory class in which you present your project to fellow students and teachers.?
Compulsory activities:?
- Attendance of at least 80% of the classes/workshops.
- At least one meeting with your supervisor and one with the course convenor about your choice of topic.
- A list of at least ten academic and non-academic items (articles, reports, films, podcasts, exhibition catalogues, etc., of which at least three are academic texts) related to your project. At least three of these should be in an East Asian language.?
- A summary of the items on your list (3-5 pages).
- A final presentation in which you present (part of) your project and give feedback to your fellow students.
All compulsory activities must be approved to qualify for the exam. It is your responsibility to verify that you have obtained approval for all compulsory activities.?
Absence from compulsory activities:?
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.?
More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo:?
The approved compulsory activity remains valid for the two following autumn semesters in which the course is offered. However, exceptions may arise if the course undergoes changes in its assessment format, teaching, or other significant modifications.?
Examination
The exam is one of the following, depending on the format chosen:?
- A magazine or newspaper article (1500-2000 words).
- A podcast (15-20 minutes).
- A short film or video essay (10-20 minutes).
- A small exhibition (5-10 items with captions; documented by photographs).?
- A policy report (1500-2000 words).?
- A public speech, lecture, or class (min. 20 minutes; documented by notes, report, or recording).?
You must submit the exam in Inspera - see guides for digital exams.?
You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.?
All compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam.?
You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.?
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English.You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about?the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.