KIN4520 – Recent Developments in Chinese Society
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Topic Spring 2024:?Governing Chinese Society: power and resistance
This course focuses on one or more central topics in the field of contemporary Chinese society and politics. It is closely related to ongoing research of the teacher(s), and topics, or at least the detailed reading lists and assignments, change every time the course is offered. Topics may include, for instance, civil society, media, ethnic relations, gender, environmental issues, political structures and debates, education, foreign relations, etc. Sometimes the course may have a more explicit theoretical focus such as, for instance, globalization, modernization, governance, citizenship, or individualization in the context of China.
The course is based on the reading, analysis and discussion of sources in Chinese and English. Training in methodology, team work, essay writing and oral presentation is an integrated part of the course.
Previous years
Learning outcome
You learn:
- To read extensively and to analyze sources in Chinese and English that are relevant for the study of contemporary Chinese social and political developments.
- To use theoretical concepts and work with theory
- To work individually and in teams
- To discuss, produce and present academic knowledge in oral and written forms.
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.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Admission to the MA programme option Chinese Culture and Society and passed the first semester course KIN4510 – How to study Chinese Culture and Society.
Participation in the course presupposes competence in oral and written modern Chinese language.
Teaching
The teaching is organized as 10 classes of 2 hours each during the semester?plus 10 single-hour conversational sessions held in Chinese.
Compulsory activities
- Attendance in at least 8 out of 10 classes, and active participation in discussions, team work, and other activities.
- At least one oral presentation in class, individually or in a team as assigned by the teacher.
The outline and draft of the term paper and peer-review
- Active participation in the conversational sessions and at least 80 per cent attendance
Oral presentations are only valid for one semester.
All compulsory activities must be approved in order to qualify for the exam. It is the student’s responsibility to check whether or not the compulsory activities are approved.
This is how you apply for valid absence from compulsory activities/compulsory attendance.
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
A term paper on a subject developed by the student and approved by the teacher, 2500 - 3000 words plus a list of references. The term paper should be based on both primary sources in Chinese, and secondary source readings in Chinese and/or English.
Previous exams and grading guidelines.
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.