KIN4510 – How to study Chinese Culture and Society
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course constitutes a basic module in the study of Chinese culture and society at the postgraduate level. Through interactive seminars you will:
- learn how to identify, access and process Chinese primary sources and Chinese and English secondary sources, including reference works, digital material, interviews, etc.
- work with theory, concepts and methods in order to help you produce independent academic analyses.
- develop new questions and ideas for projects based one existing research.
- experience in working both individually and in teams, also under the pressure of deadlines and with specific requirements
- familiarize yourself with online learning tools, digital sources and datasets that are pertinent to China Studies.
The course includes a 2-day workshop - the academic survival kit (ASK) - sometimes together with students and academic staff from the Master’s program Japanese studies.?We explore how to combine theoretical-analytical and empirical work, and if possible we stay overnight in a place near Oslo. Students present their own ideas for thesis work and collection of data, and you will receive individual feedback and suggestions for the planning of your further studies and career.
Learning outcome
You will gain:
- methodological and theoretical skills needed to identify and analyze sources that are key to understanding Chinese society, culture(s), politics and history.
- communication?skills in presenting knowledge for a broader public, and in engaging in academic and other forms of dialogue about research findings.
- techniques of?academic?writing, including how to develop an academic project and write a project description, how to write short summaries of key texts, and how to present findings in written form academically and for a broader audience.
- presentation techniques and methodological skills, both individually and in teams with other students.
- digital competence in identifying, using online resources and tools in independent research.
Admission to the course
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.
Admission to the MA programme option Chinese Culture and Society.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
The course presupposes competence in modern Chinese, and basic reading competence in classical Chinese.
Teaching
The course will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops throughout the semester. The course is taught for four hours per week, with an additional compulsory two-day workshop.
Compulsory activities:
- At least 80 percent attendance with active participation in class, assigned team work, and discussions.
- A two-day workshop (The Academic Survival Kit).
- 1-3 oral presentations (individually or as part of team work) as assigned by the teacher
- A project description for the proposed master`s thesis, 700 - 900 words plus list of references. To be submitted in Canvas within a given deadline.
- Compulsory E-learning course in the protection of personal data (GDPR). The course will be delivered via Canvas.
- Theme Package I: Written summary/analysis of a selection of academic papers in Chinese and/or English, 1200 - 1600 words plus list of references.*
- Theme Package II: Written summary/analysis of a selection of academic papers in Chinese and/or English, 1200 - 1600 words plus list of references.*
* At least one of the Theme Packages will be a group assignment, and all students must contribute to the team work.
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:?
Oral presentations and approved project description are only valid for one semester.
Access to teaching:
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
The exam is a term paper consisting of an extensive MA research proposal including introduction, literature review and methodological reflections,?which is of 3200 - 3500 words plus list of references. The paper should be based on both primary sources in Chinese, and secondary source readings in Chinese and/or English.
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, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- 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.