Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Gunner Mikkelsen
Contact via gunner.mikkelsen@mq.edu.au
W6A 522
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
39cp or (6cp in AHIS or AHST or MHIS or HIST units at 200 level)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit is a study of selected topics in early Chinese history and archaeology, including: Shang oracle bones and bronzes; the unification of China and the tomb complex of the First Emperor; the rise of the Han empire; the influence of nomadic peoples of the steppes; the Historical Records of the Grand Historian Sima Qian; the Silk Road; the cosmopolitan civilisation of the Tang; Confucianism; Daoism; Buddhism and other foreign religions in China.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Assessment criteria
The Tutorial Paper will be marked against the following criteria: (1) analysis of the primary source(s), (2) use of secondary works, (3) structure of argument, (4) formal presentation, including correct referencing, English language grammar, spelling and punctuation.
The Essay will be marked against the following criteria: (1) knowledge of the relevant subject matter, (2) the range of primary sources used and their analysis, (3) the range of secondary works consulted and the depth of engagement with them, (4) correct citation of sources, (5) structure of argument, (6) formal presentation including correct referencing, English language grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Submission of assessment tasks
The Essay and Tutorial Paper must be submitted in print with cover-sheet. The former should be dropped in the designated box on Level 1 in W6A, and the latter handed directly to the tutor at tutorials.
Extensions and penalties
Extensions can only be granted in exceptional cases and may only be sought in consultation with the unit convenor and before the assignment is due.
Assessment tasks / assignments are compulsory and must be submitted on time. As a general rule, extensions will not be granted without a valid and documented reason (e.g. medical certificate). Late submissions will be penalised by 2% for each day (including weekends) the assignment task is late. No assignments will be accepted after assignments have been corrected and feedback has been provided.
Assignment tasks handed in early will not be marked and returned before the due date.
For Disruption to Studies Policy see under Policies and Procedures.
Completing the unit
To complete the unit satisfactorily, students must listen to the lectures and reflect on them and do the set weekly readings. Regular attendance at lectures is strongly recommended. Students must submit all items of assessment and hand in work which is formatted in accordance with Department of Ancient History guidelines, spell-checked, written in good English, and demonstrating both an understanding of the material in the lectures and readings and independent reflection on the subject of the assessment.
An overall mark of 50% or above must be achieved to complete the unit satisfactorily.
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Tutorial Participation | 10% | Week 2 onwards |
Tutorial Paper | 10% | Monday Week 5 |
Essay | 40% | Friday Week 9 |
Exam | 40% | TBA |
Due: Week 2 onwards
Weighting: 10%
One 1-hour tutorial each week. Tutorials start in Week 2. Tutorial participation is compulsory.
Due: Monday Week 5
Weighting: 10%
One tutorial paper of maximum 500 words. This should answer one of the (sets of) tutorial questions given for the first half of the session. You must submit it with cover-sheet directly to your tutor at the tutorials. Feedback for tutorial papers will usually be given within two weeks after submission.
Due: Friday Week 9
Weighting: 40%
One major essay of approximately 2,500 words on a topic selected from a list of essay titles which will be distributed in Week 3. The essay must be supplied with footnotes and a complete bibliography of primary and secondary sources recorded according to one of the accepted conventions (see www.anchist.mq.edu.au under Teaching Materials). Feedback and a mark for the essay will be given two or three weeks after submission.
Due: TBA
Weighting: 40%
One 2-hour exam. This written examination will take place in the examination period.
Lectures and tutorials: 2-hr lectures are on Mondays 9-11am in W6B/345, and tutorials on Mondays 12-1pm in W5C/309 and 4-5pm in C5A/310. For up-to-date information on times and locations: http://timetables.mq.edu.au/
This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/. All lectures will be recorded and made available here via the Echo360 system.
Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient. For technical support go to: http://mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/informatics/help For student quick guides on the use of iLearn go to: http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/guides.htm
Materials are available for the unit in the Library's e-Reserve and Reserve; see further the Detailed Bibliography for the unit in iLearn.
Required texts:
EBREY, Patricia B.: The Cambridge illustrated history of China (Cambridge & New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996; 2nd ed. 2010).
HANSEN, Valerie, The open empire: a history of China to 1600 (New York & London: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000).
Recommended texts:
DE BARY, William Theodore & Irene BLOOM, Sources of Chinese tradition, 2nd ed., vol. 1 (New York: Columbia University Press, 1999).
GERNET, Jacques: A history of Chinese civilization, 2nd ed. (Cambridge & New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996).
LEWIS, Mark E., The early Chinese empires: Qin and Han (Cambridge, Mass. & London: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2007).
PORTAL, Jane (ed.), The first emperor: China’s terracotta army (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2007).
Week | Date | Lecture | Tutorials | Assessment |
1 | Week starting 4 August | Introduction | No tutorials in Week 1 | None |
2 | Week starting 11 August | Neolithic Period & Shang dynasty | Shang oracle bone divination | Participation |
3 | Week starting 18 August | (1) Eastern Zhou; (2) Warring States | Eastern Zhou warfare | Participation |
4 |
Week starting 25 August |
Philosophical foundations: Confucius, Mencius, Laozi |
Analects (Lunyu) and Laozi / Daodejing |
Participation Tutorial Paper due |
5 | Week starting 1 September | Unification of China: the First Emperor and the Qin dynasty | Jia Yi, Faults of the Qin (Guo Qin lun) | Participation |
6 | Week starting 8 September | Tomb complex of the First Emperor | Sima Qian's description of the tomb complex | Participation |
7 | Week starting 15 September | (1) Rise of the Han empire; (2) Sima Qian, the Grand Historian | Sima Qian's account of the Xiongnu | Participation |
Mid-session break (20 September – 6 October) | ||||
8 | Week starting 6 October | No teaching - public holiday | ||
9 | Week starting 13 October | Restoration and demise of the Han | Uprisings |
Participation Essay due on Friday |
10 | Week starting 20 October | Introduction of Buddhism into China | Chinese reactions to Buddhism | Participation |
11 | Week starting 27 October | Between the Han and the Tang | North and South China | Participation |
12 | Week starting 3 November | Cosmopolitan empire of the Tang | Cosmopolitan nature of the Tang | Participation |
13 | Week starting 10 November | Christians and Manichaeans in China | Revision | Participation |
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.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.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.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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