Students

CHIN1057 – Contemporary China

2020 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer
Mei-fen Kuo
mei-fen.kuo@mq.edu.au
Australian Hearing Hub, Level 2, Int'l Studies
Tuesday, 10-11am
Jane Hanley
jane.hanley@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
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 core topics, including politics, the economy, international relations, the environment, ethnic relations, human rights, law and contemporary culture. 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:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary Chinese affairs and the underlying forces relevant to change in modern China.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate an ability to analyse contemporary Chinese affairs objectively and to communicate this analysis in both oral and written forms.
  • ULO3: Discover, read, and interpret written and material evidence relating to contemporary Chinese affairs with judgement, appreciation and understanding.
  • ULO4: Understand and respond to the views of staff and other students in the unit, in both oral and written form.
  • ULO5: Combine pre-selected and self-located evidence to provide a critical analysis of a major aspect of contemporary Chinese affairs.

Assessment Tasks

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Assessment Information

Indicative examples of assessment tasks will be available on iLearn.

Late Assessment Penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

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. 

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

Online Unit

Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Is my unit in iLearn?: http://help.ilearn.mq.edu.au/unitsonline/ to check when your online unit will become available.

Technology

Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

For students attending classes on campus we strongly encourage that you bring along your own laptop computer, ready to work with activities in your online unit. The preferred operating system is Windows 10.

Students are required to access the online unit in iLearn by the end of Week 1 and follow any relevant instructions and links for downloads that may be required. If applicable, students are required to download the relevant language package prior to Week 2.

Please contact your course convenor before the end of Week 1 if you do not have a suitable laptop (or tablet) for in-class use.

Unit Schedule

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Week

Topic

Lecture Readings

Tutorial Readings

Week 1

Introduction- Perspectives on China's Rise

The China Reader, "Viewing China's rise: alternative perspectives," pg. 1-4, 5-33

and

Fenby, Chapter 1

 

Week 2

Politics

The China Reader, "Politics," pg. 34-40, 40-50, 68-69

and

Fenby, Chapter 2

 

Week 3

Economics

The China Reader, "Economic Development," pg. 100-102, 102-117

and

Fenby, Chapter 3

 

Week 4

Economic growth and political change

The China Reader, "Communique on the Current State of the Ideological Sphere," 70-74, and "China's Security State," 335-336

Jonathan Unger, "China's Conservative Middle Class"

and 

James Mann- “The China Fantasy”

 

 

Week 5

The Environment

The China Reader, "China's Environmental Crisis, 144-147

and

Fenby, Chapter 4

Yan Yunxiang, "Food Safety and Social Risk in Contemporary China"

and

A documentary on garbage processing that actually led to a policy change in Beijing

Week 6

Religion 

The China Reader, ‘The Upsurge’

and 

Ian Johnson, ‘How the State is Co-opting Religion in China’

Ian Johnson, "China's Great Awakening"

and

Freedom House, "The Battle for China's Spirit"

 

Week 7

Midterm test

Midterm test (in lecture)

Midterm test (in lecture)

 

 

Mid-Semester Break 

Mid-Semester Break 

Week 8

Media and Internet

The China Reader, "Media and Culture," pg. 281-306

James Leibold, "Blogging Alone: China, the Internet, and the Democratic Illusion"

Week 9

Ethnicity

The China Reader, "Ethnic tensions," pg. 226- 232

Elliott- Source of ethnic tensions

Week 10

Hong Kong and Taiwan

The China Reader, "Hong Kong and Taiwan," pg. 459-472

Brian Fong, "One Country, Two Nationalisms: Center-Periphery Relations between Mainland China and Hong Kong, 1997-2016"

and 

Self-censorship film

and

Carrico- HK-China relations

 

Week 11

International relations and nationalism

The China Reader, "Angry Youth," pg. 196-205, "Coping with a Conflicted China," pg. 357-367

Kevin Carrico, "Seeing Sansha: The Political Aesthetics of a South China Sea Settlement"

and 

Gries, Chinese Nationalism and U.S. China Relations  

Week 12

Ways forward

The China Reader, "China Faces the Future," 473- 494

and Fenby, Chapter 5

 

Week 13

Final test

Final test (in lecture)

Final test (in lecture)

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.