KIN4530 – Topics in Chinese Ideas and Ideologies
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
Spring 2019: “From the Great Divergence to the Great Convergence: Political Economy in Modern China”
Detailed course description for Spring 2019: Topic, teaching, exam and reading list.
General description
This course focuses on one or more central topics in the field of Chinese ideas and ideologies, both historical and contemporary. These ideas and ideologies may be:
- traditional and indigenous Chinese ideas and ideologies
- ideological currents shaped by China’s historical global encounters
- ideas and ideologies in contemporary China
Examples of such ideas and ideologies may include Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, Syncretism, Buddhism, Social Darwinism, Racial theory, Capitalism, Communism, Feminism, Modernism, Nationalism, and Individualism.
During the course, you will study one or more topics in the context of major theoretical approaches relevant to the analysis of Chinese ideas and ideologies. The course includes reading, analysis and discussion of Chinese sources. Training in essay writing and oral presentation is an integrated part of the course.
Previous topics:
Spring 2018: "Citizenship in China: Concepts, Practices, Dynamics".
Learning outcome
- You will learn to identify, read, summarize, and analyze sources relevant to the study of key topics in Chinese ideas and ideologies.
- Through teacher-guided writing of an essay you will learn to present academic knowledge in a written form.
- Through class presentations and oral discussions you will learn to present and debate academic knowledge orally.
Admission
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.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Please see the admission requirements defined by the programme option Chinese Society and Politics or East Asian Culture and History.
NB! The teaching presupposes competence in modern Chinese language and basic reading competence in classical Chinese.
Teaching
A combination of lectures and seminars organised as 10 classes of 2 hrs each throughout the semester.
Compulsory activities
- Active participation in class and at least 80 per cent attendance is required.
- A qualifying assignment in the form of oral presentation in class.
See the specific course description for Spring 2019 for more details.
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.
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 of around 3000 words on a subject approved by the teacher.
The essay should include analysis of a subject based on both primary source readings in Chinese and secondary source readings in Chinese and English.
Submit assignments in Inspera
You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera. Read about how to submit your assignment.
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
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.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.