Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor Kevin Carrico kevin.carrico@mq.edu.au
Credit points	Credit points 3
Prerequisites	Prerequisites
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description This unit is an introduction to contemporary China. The aim of this unit is to enable students to analyse critically and independently, domestic and international current events and information about China in the present day, including politics, the economy, international relations, the environment, ethnic relations, human rights, law and contemporary culture. This unit is a study of China in the present day, with enough background information to put current affairs in a wider context. Students develop an awareness of the variety of perspectives relating to contemporary China, and develop an ability to analyse the information in the context of Chinese history, politics and culture. This unit may be taken by all students with an interest in contemporary China. No background knowledge is required and all teaching and assessment is in English.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of Chinese historical, political, philosophical and cultural systems and show how these influence the Chinese world view and contemporary Chinese affairs.
Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary Chinese affairs and the underlying forces relevant to change in modern China.
Demonstrate an ability to analyse contemporary Chinese affairs objectively and to communicate this analysis in both oral and written forms.
Discover, read, and interpret written and material evidence relating to contemporary Chinese affairs with judgement, appreciation and understanding.
Understand and respond to the views of staff and other students in the unit, in both oral and written form.
Combine pre-selected and self-located evidence to provide a critical analysis of a major aspect of contemporary Chinese affairs.

General Assessment Information

Indicative examples of assessment tasks will be available on iLearn.

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Hurdle	Due
Tutorial Participation	20%	No	Cumulative
Current events presentation	20%	No	Throughout semester
Mid-session exam	25%	No	Week 7, in lecture
Final exam	35%	No	Week 13, in lecture

Tutorial Participation

Due: Cumulative
Weighting: 20%

This is not a simple attendance mark. Although attendance is mandatory and deductions for absences will count toward the final grade, no marks will not be awarded for attendance- one could attend every tutorial yet receive zero in tutorial participation due to lack of participation.

Tutorials are a critical part of your learning in this unit. Sitting in silence does not contribute, and does not earn credit. Weekly tutorial activities will be based on the week's set readings and questions, lecture materials, and current events presentations. Students are expected to actively participate in tutorial group discussions about contemporary China and current events.

Readings will either be from our main text, The China Reader, or will be posted on iLearn. All students will be expected to have read the readings, and considered the tutorial questions prior to attending tutorials, as well as having attended the lectures and reviewed the lecture materials. Tutorials are also the place to ask questions of any aspect of the lecture and tutorial materials or assessment tasks.

The tutor will look for evidence of student knowledge of set readings and lectures; analysis of those readings expressed in verbal form; ability and willingness to work with and respond to the views of the tutor and other students in verbal form. To do well in tutorial participation, you will not be expected to 'know everything', but you will be expected to show an informed opinion of the unit materials and be able to contribute and share constructively with the class.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of Chinese historical, political, philosophical and cultural systems and show how these influence the Chinese world view and contemporary Chinese affairs.
Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary Chinese affairs and the underlying forces relevant to change in modern China.
Demonstrate an ability to analyse contemporary Chinese affairs objectively and to communicate this analysis in both oral and written forms.
Discover, read, and interpret written and material evidence relating to contemporary Chinese affairs with judgement, appreciation and understanding.
Understand and respond to the views of staff and other students in the unit, in both oral and written form.
Combine pre-selected and self-located evidence to provide a critical analysis of a major aspect of contemporary Chinese affairs.

Current events presentation

Due: Throughout semester
Weighting: 20%

In this course, we will be discussing a variety of topics in the study of contemporary China. To encourage greater participation in and contributions to this process, each student in this course will be required to make one current events presentation, based upon a news article of the student’s choice.

The presentation will consist of a brief (3-5 minute) summary of the news article and its relevance to class discussions, followed by three discussion questions. I will soon hand out a grading rubric with specific guidelines, as well as a schedule.

This presentation will count for 20% of your grade. Take time to prepare for it.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary Chinese affairs and the underlying forces relevant to change in modern China.
Discover, read, and interpret written and material evidence relating to contemporary Chinese affairs with judgement, appreciation and understanding.
Understand and respond to the views of staff and other students in the unit, in both oral and written form.
Combine pre-selected and self-located evidence to provide a critical analysis of a major aspect of contemporary Chinese affairs.

Mid-session exam

Due: Week 7, in lecture
Weighting: 25%

An examination based on all materials covered in lectures and tutorials during the first half of the session.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of Chinese historical, political, philosophical and cultural systems and show how these influence the Chinese world view and contemporary Chinese affairs.
Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary Chinese affairs and the underlying forces relevant to change in modern China.
Demonstrate an ability to analyse contemporary Chinese affairs objectively and to communicate this analysis in both oral and written forms.

Final exam

Due: Week 13, in lecture
Weighting: 35%

A cumulative examination based on all materials covered in lectures and tutorials. Although this exam will prioritize the second half of the session, it will also cover important topics from throughout the session.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of Chinese historical, political, philosophical and cultural systems and show how these influence the Chinese world view and contemporary Chinese affairs.
Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary Chinese affairs and the underlying forces relevant to change in modern China.
Demonstrate an ability to analyse contemporary Chinese affairs objectively and to communicate this analysis in both oral and written forms.

Delivery and Resources

iLearn

Online material can be accessed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au

iLearn is an important part of this unit. Lecture slides and recorded audio will be available for download on iLearn.

This unit will make use of iLearn for communications. iLearn also features a messaging system and discussion forum, which students are encouraged to use to circulate information and discussion.

Students should set the iLearn emails to be forwarded to their personal email account for convenience. It is the responsibility of students to be aware and up to date with unit news and announcements via iLearn.

Electronic submission of assignments via Turnitin.com

Macquarie University subscribes to the Turnitin plagiarism detection system. All students will be required to submit all of their written work through this system. See Assessment Submission for details.

Library Databases

The library databases offer access to thousands of academic journal articles on all relevant subject areas.Make a point of searching these databases for scholarly articles for sources of information for assignments.The library enquiry desk is a good point of assistance in the use of these databases.You can also the ‘Ask a Librarian’ service by phone or live chat. http://www.mq.edu.au/on_campus/library/

Please direct any questions about passwords, access, and iLearnto the IT helpdesk: http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

Assessment Marking Rubrics

An Assessment Marking Rubric will be used for each assessment task (see Assessment Tasks in General). They can be downloaded from iLearn.

Unit Schedule

Week	Topic	Reading
Week 1	Introduction	The China Reader, "Viewing China's rise: alternative perspectives," pg. 1-4, 5-33
Week 2	Politics	The China Reader, "Politics," pg. 34-40, 40-50, 65-74
Week 3	Economics	The China Reader, "Economic Development," pg. 100-102, 102-117, 128-142,
Week 4	Economic growth and political change	The China Reader, "Dissent," pg. 51-64, "The Internal Security State," pg. 324-336, and Excerpts from James Mann's The China Fantasy (ilearn) and Jonathan Unger "China's Conservative Middle Class" (ilearn)
Week 5	The environment	The China Reader, "Environment and Climate Change," pg. 143-152 and Yan Yunxiang, "Food Safety and Social Risk in Contemporary China" (ilearn)
Week 6	Religion	The China Reader, "The Upsurge of Religion in China," pg. 187-196 and Ian Johnson, "China's Great Awakening" and "Religion, Ritual, and Religiosity" in Jacka, Kipnis, and Sargeson, Contemporary China: Society and Social Change
Week 7	Midterm exam	Midterm exam (in lecture)
Week 8	Media and Internet	The China Reader, "Media and Culture," pg. 281-306 and James Leibold, "Blogging Alone: China, the Internet, and the Democratic Illusion"
Week 9	Ethnicity	The China Reader, "Ethnic tensions," pg. 226- 232 and "Ethnicity" in Jacka, Kipnis, and Sargeson, Contemporary China: Society and Social Change
Week 10	Hong Kong and Taiwan	The China Reader, "Hong Kong and Taiwan," pg. 459-472 and Kevin Carrico, "Swarm of the Locusts: The Ethnicization of Hong Kong-China Relations"
Week 11	International relations and nationalism	The China Reader, "Angry Youth," pg. 196-205, "Foreign Relations," pg. 345-367, and "China's Role in Asia," pg. 368-383 and Excerpts from Bill Hayton, "The South China Sea: The Struggle for Power in Asia"
Week 12	Ways forward	The China Reader, "China Faces the Future," 473- 497
Week 13	Final exam	Final exam (in lecture)

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/

Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Enquiry Service

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

Equity Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate an ability to analyse contemporary Chinese affairs objectively and to communicate this analysis in both oral and written forms.
Discover, read, and interpret written and material evidence relating to contemporary Chinese affairs with judgement, appreciation and understanding.
Understand and respond to the views of staff and other students in the unit, in both oral and written form.
Combine pre-selected and self-located evidence to provide a critical analysis of a major aspect of contemporary Chinese affairs.

Assessment tasks

Tutorial Participation
Mid-session exam
Final exam

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate an ability to analyse contemporary Chinese affairs objectively and to communicate this analysis in both oral and written forms.
Discover, read, and interpret written and material evidence relating to contemporary Chinese affairs with judgement, appreciation and understanding.
Understand and respond to the views of staff and other students in the unit, in both oral and written form.
Combine pre-selected and self-located evidence to provide a critical analysis of a major aspect of contemporary Chinese affairs.

Assessment tasks

Current events presentation
Final exam

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

Demonstrate an ability to analyse contemporary Chinese affairs objectively and to communicate this analysis in both oral and written forms.

Assessment tasks

Mid-session exam
Final exam

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of Chinese historical, political, philosophical and cultural systems and show how these influence the Chinese world view and contemporary Chinese affairs.
Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary Chinese affairs and the underlying forces relevant to change in modern China.

Assessment tasks

Current events presentation
Mid-session exam
Final exam

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of Chinese historical, political, philosophical and cultural systems and show how these influence the Chinese world view and contemporary Chinese affairs.
Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary Chinese affairs and the underlying forces relevant to change in modern China.
Understand and respond to the views of staff and other students in the unit, in both oral and written form.
Combine pre-selected and self-located evidence to provide a critical analysis of a major aspect of contemporary Chinese affairs.

Assessment tasks

Tutorial Participation
Current events presentation
Mid-session exam
Final exam

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary Chinese affairs and the underlying forces relevant to change in modern China.
Discover, read, and interpret written and material evidence relating to contemporary Chinese affairs with judgement, appreciation and understanding.
Combine pre-selected and self-located evidence to provide a critical analysis of a major aspect of contemporary Chinese affairs.

Assessment tasks

Mid-session exam
Final exam

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate an ability to analyse contemporary Chinese affairs objectively and to communicate this analysis in both oral and written forms.
Understand and respond to the views of staff and other students in the unit, in both oral and written form.

Assessment tasks

Tutorial Participation
Current events presentation
Mid-session exam
Final exam

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary Chinese affairs and the underlying forces relevant to change in modern China.
Demonstrate an ability to analyse contemporary Chinese affairs objectively and to communicate this analysis in both oral and written forms.

Assessment task

Current events presentation

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

Discover, read, and interpret written and material evidence relating to contemporary Chinese affairs with judgement, appreciation and understanding.

Assessment task

Current events presentation

About This Unit

This unit is an introduction to Contemporary China. It is primarily for students enrolled in the Bachelor of International Studies degree, but may be taken by all students with an interest in modern China, especially those studying Chinese and Asian studies.

Each week’s lectures will cover particular aspects of history, politics, society and culture. The tutorials will combine discussions of lectures and readings with student presentations on current affairs in China.

Students will be expected to read the relevant chapters of the textbook, David Shambaugh (ed), The China Reader, Sixth Edition: Rising Power. This textbook will serve as reference material throughout the course, and will reflect the topics covered in lectures and tutorials. Additional readings listed on the unit guide will be provided in the unit's iLearn page.

China is rarely out of the news, and all students will be expected to read items on China in the newspapers and current affairs journals, and download material from the web. It is expected that students will search and read China-related news on a daily basis, and not simply the day before the class, to stay up to date with current events.

Ultimately this unit will aim to broaden student’s knowledge and awareness of issues affecting contemporary China and by extension, the rest of the world.

Assessment Submission

All written assessment tasks will be required to be submitted only electronically via Turnitin.com, unless otherwise indicated.

Written assignments not received in e-copy via Turnitin.com by the appropriate due date will NOT be marked.

Late submission of the essays will result in a penalty of 5% of the total value of the essay towards unit assessment each day (including weekends). The essay will not be marked after a period of five calendar days of non-submission.

Electronic submission via Turnitin.com

Macquarie University's subscription to the Turnitin plagiarism detection system. All students will be required to submit all of their written work through this system.

To submit, follow the link for the required assignment on the iLearn CHN 157 home page and submit your assignment and bibliography. You do not need to submit the assessment marking rubric with the Turnitin submission.

Return of marked work

Marked work will be returned to students by the course coordinator, normally by email.

Examinations

Important: This unit has a mid-session and a final exam. These are the primary modes of assessment in this unit.

You are expected to present yourself for examination at the designated time and place.

All exams are closed book. Anyone found cheating will be asked to leave the exam and will receive an F.

The only exception to sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to consider applying for Special Consideration. Information about unavoidable disruption and the special consideration process is available under the Extension and Special Consideration section of this Unit Guide. Anyone who misses an exam and does not file an application for consideration of Disruption to Studies will receive a zero.

You are advised that it is Macquarie University policy not to set early examinations for individuals or groups of students. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, that is the final day of the official examination period.

Extensions and Special Considerations

Serious Illness and Unavoidable Disruption

If your performance has been affected as a result of serious unavoidable disruption or illness, you are advised to inform the unit convenor and tutor of the problem at the earliest possible opportunity. I cannot, however, casually approve any extensions or adjustments- I will tell you to file an application for consideration of Disruption to Studies. You must supply documentary evidence of the extended disruption in an application for consideration of Disruption to Studies. (see ask.mq.edu.au).

No assessment work will be accepted for marking unless you have submitted an application for consideration of Disruption to Studies with adequate and appropriate supporting evidence and have been granted special consideration. Please note that requests for special consideration for long term or serious reasons are not granted automatically, and are reserved for unforeseen and serious circumstances such as prolonged & chronic illness, hospitalisation or bereavement in your immediate family which have affected your performance over the course of the semester; or in cases of unavoidable disruption during the formal examination period. If you believe that you qualify for special consideration, please contact the teaching staff as soon as is practically possible and lodge the application.

Disruption to Studies process

http://ask.mq.edu.au/kb.php?record=ce7c4e38-4f82-c4d7-95b1-4e2ee8fd075f

Required Texts

Textbook: David Shambaugh (ed.) The China Reader, Sixth Edition: Rising Power. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016.

Unit Requirements and Expectations

Students will be expected to:

Review lecture materials in lectures or iLecture prior to tutorial classes.
Review assigned tutorial class readings prior to tutorial classes.
Actively participate in tutorial classes by interacting with tutors and fellow students by discussing and answering questions based on the lecture materials and tutorial readings.
Be present at stated exam times, complete assignments on time and to the prescribed standards.
Act with complete academic honesty http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://www.mq.edu.au/currentstudents/