Students

CHIN3001 – Social Issues in China Today

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

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Mei-fen Kuo
Contact via Email
The Arts Precinct
Wenesday 10-11am (by appointment)
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides an overview of social change in China since 1949, with a major focus on popular culture and gender. There will be a focus upon not only understanding local social issues, such as contentious politics, the environment, ethnic relations, and urbanisation, but also thinking through these issues in a broader comparative perspective. Through critical analysis of the readings and discussions, students will be able to evaluate the different perspectives toward Chinese society today.

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: Analyse the social-cultural forces driving contemporary China.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate an understanding of critical perspectives toward contemporary social and cultural theory in relation with Contemporary China.
  • ULO3: Evaluate social issues objectively and to communicate this evaluation with written and oral form.
  • ULO4: Develop critical reading and writing skills, including the ability to distil key arguments from a text and summarize them succinctly.

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
Active participation 20% No Cumulative
Research essay 40% No Week 13
Research plan 20% No Week 7
Reading Responses 20% No Week 6 and week 12

Active participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 26 hours
Due: Cumulative
Weighting: 20%

 

Active participation in class discussion is a critical part of your learning in this unit. All students will be expected to have read the readings prior to attending class. The instructor will look for evidence of student knowledge of set readings; analysis of those readings and questions expressed in verbal form; ability to complete set tasks; ability and willingness to work with and respond to the views of the tutor and other students in verbal form.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse the social-cultural forces driving contemporary China.

Research essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 40%

 

A final research paper is to be approximately 1,000 words in length (or equivalent) on a topic developed in consultation with the convenor. Your final research essay is expected to integrate your primary research with judicious use of secondary literature, including scholarly books and journal articles. It should demonstrate research tasks and high-quality written expression. The paper is submitted via Turnitin.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop critical reading and writing skills, including the ability to distil key arguments from a text and summarize them succinctly.

Research plan

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 20%

 

Students are required to submit a research plan of approximately 300 words plus a bibliography/list of sources. The proposal will be marked and returned to you in time to complete the project based on the feedback received. The Project Proposal should contain: • a clear statement of your final research question • a clear statement of rationale - why is this important? • an outline of your research strategy • an outline of your intended argument • a statement of your proposed platform • an annotated bibliography of your key sources. The paper must be submitted via Turnitin.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate social issues objectively and to communicate this evaluation with written and oral form.

Reading Responses

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 6 and week 12
Weighting: 20%

 

In the first and second half of the session, each student will write a critical reading response to one of our readings (of their choosing). Each response will count for 7.5% of the final grade. Each response must be submitted via Turnitin.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of critical perspectives toward contemporary social and cultural theory in relation with Contemporary China.

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

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.

Electronic Copy via Turnitin.com

Macquarie University subscribes to the 'Turn It In' 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 iLearn to the IT helpdesk http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

Assessment Marking Rubrics 

Assessment Marking Rubrics are required for each assessment task (see Assessment Tasks in General).  They can be downloaded from iLearn.

 

Unit Schedule

Week 1 Introduction 

I Social risk in Contemporary China 

Week 2 Kinship, family and the politics of patriliny 

Week 3 household registration, migration and urban-rural relation

Week 4 Guanxi under reform     

Week 5 “Women questions” and gender inequality 

Week 6 Environmental crisis 

Week 7 Proposal discussion 

II Cultural diversity   

Week 8 Media and popular culture   

Week 9 Ethnic minority and religion  

Week 10 Ritual, food and regionalism    

III China and the World 

Week 11 ‘Made in China’ and globalisation  

Week 12 Being Chinese outside China 

Week 13 Chinese in Australia 

 

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.

Classes

For lecture times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetable website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au. This website will display up-to-date information on your classes and classroom locations.

Tests

 

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

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

The only exception to sitting a test at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption, approved through an application for Special Consideration in accordance with university policy.

You are advised that it is Macquarie University policy not to set early tests for individuals or groups of students. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester.

Unit Requirements and Expectations

 

Students will be expected to:

1. Review lecture materials in lectures prior to tutorial classes.

2. Review assigned tutorial class readings prior to tutorial classes.

3. Actively participate in tutorial classes by interacting with staff and fellow students and by discussing and answering questions based on the lecture materials and tutorial readings.

4. Complete assignments and tests according to schedule and the prescribed standards.

5. Act with a high level of academic integrity.

6. Have a functional level of language competence. This is a language-intensive course, which includes heavy reading, considerable writing and classroom interaction. A good grasp of English grammar and syntax is essential. Students for whom English is a second language are strongly advised to ensure that their level of English proficiency is adequate before taking this course. Even for native speakers, academic reading and writing is not always simple or straightforward. Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://www.students.mq.edu.au/support/learning_skills/