Students

CHIN2012 – Traditional Chinese Thought

2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
A/Prof. Shirley Chan
Contact via shirley.chan@mq.edu.au
Room B342 Level 3, 25B Wally's Walk
Tuesday 1:00-2:00pm Thursday 12:00-1:00pm by appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Traditional Chinese thought has an enduring influence on Chinese culture and that of other east Asian countries. The aim of this unit is to introduce students to the development of the major schools of thought, Confucian, Daoist and Legalist in ancient China. On completion of this unit students have an overview of key notions in Chinese traditional thinking together with an appreciation of their relevance to contemporary beliefs and practices. Students of contemporary Chinese culture and society also benefit from the unit as it provides a relevant historical background. Classes and readings are 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: Apply knowledge of traditional Chinese thought to develop problem solving skills in cultural diversity context.
  • ULO3: Demonstrate, through assessment tasks, the ability to work independently as well as a team member.
  • ULO4: Apply interpretative and analytical skills through assessing and responding critically to ideas in traditional Chinese thought and representative philosophers in early China.
  • ULO2: Identify, examine and evaluate key notions, theories and concepts in early Chinese philosophy by drawing on shaping Chinese culture, people and their ways of living by drawing on a range of written texts and sources.

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.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Weekly Active Engagement with Discussion 20% No Weeks1-12
Presentation 35% No Weeks 4-12
Final Test 45% No Week 13

Weekly Active Engagement with Discussion

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weeks1-12
Weighting: 20%

Responding to questions and/or presenting ideas during discussion


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply interpretative and analytical skills through assessing and responding critically to ideas in traditional Chinese thought and representative philosophers in early China.
  • Identify, examine and evaluate key notions, theories and concepts in early Chinese philosophy by drawing on shaping Chinese culture, people and their ways of living by drawing on a range of written texts and sources.

Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Weeks 4-12
Weighting: 35%

Presentation comprising of oral presentation and written report


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate, through assessment tasks, the ability to work independently as well as a team member.
  • Apply interpretative and analytical skills through assessing and responding critically to ideas in traditional Chinese thought and representative philosophers in early China.
  • Identify, examine and evaluate key notions, theories and concepts in early Chinese philosophy by drawing on shaping Chinese culture, people and their ways of living by drawing on a range of written texts and sources.

Final Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 43 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 45%

There is a final test to cover both translation and short answer questions.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge of traditional Chinese thought to develop problem solving skills in cultural diversity context.
  • Apply interpretative and analytical skills through assessing and responding critically to ideas in traditional Chinese thought and representative philosophers in early China.
  • Identify, examine and evaluate key notions, theories and concepts in early Chinese philosophy by drawing on shaping Chinese culture, people and their ways of living by drawing on a range of written texts and sources.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

This unit will have lectures and tutorials.

Recommended readings (some of the titles have more than one edition and print, feel free to use any copy you can get hold of):

Chan, Wing-tsit, A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy. Princeton University Press, 4th printing, 1973.

Fung Yu-lan, Bodde, Derk (ed.,) A Short History of Chinese Philosophy. The Macmillan Company, 1962.

Lau, D.C. (transl.) The Analects (Paperback). Penguin Classics, 1979.

Lau, D.C. (transl.) Mencius (Paperback). Penguin Classics, 1983.

https://multisearch.mq.edu.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_crossref10.1017%2FS0041977X00134639&context=PC&vid=MQ&lang=en_US&search_scope=Online&adaptor=primo_central_multiple_fe&tab=books_more&query=any,contains,Lau,%20D.%20C.%20penguin&offset=0

Lau, D. C. (transl.) Lao Tsu: Tao Te Ching, Penguin Classics, 1963.

https://multisearch.mq.edu.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=TN_crossref10.1017%2FS0035869X00123238&context=PC&vid=MQ&lang=en_US&search_scope=Online&adaptor=primo_central_multiple_fe&tab=books_more&query=any,contains,Lau,%20D.%20C.%20penguin&offset=0

Leys, Simon, (transl.) The Analects of Confucius. W.W. Norton & Company, 1997.

Schwartz, Benjamin I., The World of Thought in Ancient China. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1985.

https://multisearch.mq.edu.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=MQ_ALMA51124095770002171&context=L&vid=MQ&lang=en_US&search_scope=Online&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=books_more&query=any,contains,world%20of%20Chinese%20thought&offset=0

Van Norden, Bryan, Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.; UK ed. edition (March 4, 2011)

Watson, Burton, Chuang Tzu, Basic Writings. Columbia University Press, 1996.

https://multisearch.mq.edu.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=MQ_ALMA51178755510002171&context=L&vid=MQ&lang=en_US&search_scope=Online&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&isFrbr=true&tab=books_more&query=any,contains,Burton%20Watson&offset=0

Watson, Burton, Mo Tzu, Basic Writings. Columbia University Press, 1963.

Watson, Burton, Hsun Tzu, Basic Writings. Columbia University Press, 1963.

https://multisearch.mq.edu.au/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=MQ_ALMA51178712730002171&context=L&vid=MQ&lang=en_US&search_scope=Online&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=books_more&query=any,contains,Burton%20Watson&offset=0

Online Unit Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/ Is my unit in iLearn?:https://unitguides.mq.edu.au/ilearn_unit_status/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 beforethe end of Week 1if you do not have a suitable laptop (or tablet) for in-class use. For central technical support go to: http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/ For student quick guides on the use of iLearn go to: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/tools-and-resources/ilearn/ilearn-quick-guides-for-students

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.