Students

JPS 121 – Japan - Past and Present

2018 – S1 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer + Tutor
Tom Baudinette
tom.baudinette@mq.edu.au
AHH North Wing Level 2
Wednesday 2pm-4pm, or by appointment
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit aims at providing students with a general knowledge of the historical tradition and transition of Japan. The unit begins in ancient Japan and continues through the major periods of Japanese history until the present day. For each period, the key individuals, groups, events and developments, along with the important issues and concepts, will be introduced. Topics covered include the Japanese imperial court and emperors, the rule of the samurai, Japan's national isolation and subsequent modernisation, and WWII and its related events and issues. The underlying theme of the unit will be to examine the links between Japan's history and the Japan of today. The unit also focuses on understanding Japan's place in the wider world. This unit is conducted in English and is open to students from any Faculty interested in Japan.

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 detailed knowledge of Japanese history and its relevance to contemporary Japan and the wider world
  • Generate reasoned historiographical analysis of Japanese history, drawing upon an explicitly transnational approach to understanding key events and individuals
  • Present information in a clear, focused, well-structured manner, displaying academic rigour, both orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrate initiative and competence in research, including locating relevant and appropriate resources, and use of correct referencing procedure.
  • Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills through class participation.

General Assessment Information

Indicative examples of assessment tasks will be available on iLearn.

Assessment tasks are compulsory and must be submitted on time. Assessment tasks handed in early will not be marked and returned before the due date. If you anticipate unavoidable difficulty in completing an assessment task (in class and/or online), contact the convener or your tutor as soon as possible. 

If a student is prevented by serious and unavoidable disruption from completing unit requirements in accordance with their ability, they may apply for support under the Special Consideration Policy. To access this support, students must notify the university via ask.mq.edu.au. Students should refer to the Special Consideration Policy for further information (see the link provided in the 'Policies and procedures' section of this unit guide).

PLEASE NOTE:

It is always best practice to communicate directly with your unit convenor at the first instance, as sometimes decisions can be made with greater speed and flexibility.

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
Participation 15% No Weekly
Article Research & Review 15% No 13 April
Online Quiz 1 15% No 29 April
Online Quiz 2 15% No 3 June
Essay 40% No 8 June

Participation

Due: Weekly
Weighting: 15%

Participation refers to much more than simply being in attendance. Students must consistently demonstrate their commitment to the course by being punctual and well prepared for all classes. Participation marks are also gained through active involvement during the class, demonstrated by asking and answering questions, participating constructively in activities as required, and showing consideration for the teaching staff and other students by behaving in a mature and co-operative manner. The assessment rubric for Participation is available in iLearn.

Note: Tutorial discussion will be heavily based on unit readings and the lecture content, so it is imperative that students read all of the required reading and prepare notes and questions for further discussion BEFORE each tutorial EVERY WEEK.

Internal Students: Participation grades are assessed through physical attendance and engagement during weekly tutorials, except in Week 5 when internal students will participate in the external students' online discussion activity (since there are no physical classes in Week 5). Internal students will also be required to show your tutor a copy of your notes each week, with failure to do so leading to forfeiture of that week's participation grade.

External Students: Participation grades are assessed through online engagement with the weekly discussion forums, where students are to post responses to the questions found within tutorial slides and any comments made by teaching staff and/or other students made to their posts. Actively commenting and respectfully discussing other students' ideas forms part of assessment, with failure to do so leading to forfeiture of that week's participation grade.

Each week, the weekly discussion forum will open at 9am Wednesday and close at 5pm Monday. External students must also be available for Zoom conference calls with teaching staff if asked throughout the semester, including the semester recess, which may be assessed at the discretion of the unit convenor.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate detailed knowledge of Japanese history and its relevance to contemporary Japan and the wider world
  • Generate reasoned historiographical analysis of Japanese history, drawing upon an explicitly transnational approach to understanding key events and individuals
  • Present information in a clear, focused, well-structured manner, displaying academic rigour, both orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills through class participation.

Article Research & Review

Due: 13 April
Weighting: 15%

Length: 500 words plus bibliographical data

Format: Times New Roman 12 point font, typed A4, double-spaced

In this task, students are required to use the university library online research databases to locate a small number of relevant journal articles. The list of journal articles (title only) will be provided in iLearn. Once the articles have been located, students are required to submit:

1.    The full bibliographical details of each article, using the prescribed referencing style for JPS121.

2.    A 500 word review of one of the articles.

Detailed information, including a workshop in tutorials that will be recorded, on how to complete this task will be provided in tutorials and iLearn. The assessment rubric for this task is available in iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate detailed knowledge of Japanese history and its relevance to contemporary Japan and the wider world
  • Generate reasoned historiographical analysis of Japanese history, drawing upon an explicitly transnational approach to understanding key events and individuals
  • Present information in a clear, focused, well-structured manner, displaying academic rigour, both orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrate initiative and competence in research, including locating relevant and appropriate resources, and use of correct referencing procedure.

Online Quiz 1

Due: 29 April
Weighting: 15%

This quiz is designed to assess your understanding of the unit content, as well as your critical thinking and academic writing skills. Questions will be based on the unit content from Week 2 to Week 7. You are advised to revise the content of the lectures, tutorials, and essential readings. The quiz may include the following question types: multiple choice, true/false, short response and medium response.

This quiz will be completed via iLearn. It will be available for the two weeks of the Session Recess. The quiz will open from 9:00am Monday 16th April, 2018 until 11:59PM, Sunday April 29th 2018 (this is during Session 1 recess). Once you start the quiz you must complete and submit it within two hours. There is only one attempt.

Further information on this quiz will be provided in tutorials and iLearn. The assessment rubric for this task is available in iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate detailed knowledge of Japanese history and its relevance to contemporary Japan and the wider world
  • Generate reasoned historiographical analysis of Japanese history, drawing upon an explicitly transnational approach to understanding key events and individuals
  • Present information in a clear, focused, well-structured manner, displaying academic rigour, both orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrate initiative and competence in research, including locating relevant and appropriate resources, and use of correct referencing procedure.

Online Quiz 2

Due: 3 June
Weighting: 15%

This quiz is designed to assess your understanding of the unit content, as well as your critical thinking and academic writing skills. The quiz will cover the content of lectures, tutorials and essential readings from Weeks 2-12, and may include the following question types: multiple choice, true/false, short response, and medium response. The quiz will be two hours in length.

This quiz will be completed via iLearn. It will be available for from 5pm Tuesday 29th May, 2018 until 11:59pm Sunday 3rd June, 2018. Once you start the test you must complete and submit it within two hours. There will be only one attempt.

Further information on this test will be provided in tutorials and iLearn. The assessment rubric for this task is available in iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate detailed knowledge of Japanese history and its relevance to contemporary Japan and the wider world
  • Generate reasoned historiographical analysis of Japanese history, drawing upon an explicitly transnational approach to understanding key events and individuals
  • Present information in a clear, focused, well-structured manner, displaying academic rigour, both orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrate initiative and competence in research, including locating relevant and appropriate resources, and use of correct referencing procedure.

Essay

Due: 8 June
Weighting: 40%

Length:  1500 words

Format:  Times New Roman 12 point font, typed A4, double-spaced

You will be required to respond to one question in essay format. The essay question will be provided to you in class and iLearn.

Detailed information, including two workshops during tutorials that will be recorded, on how to complete this task will be provided in tutorials and iLearn. The assessment rubric for this task is available in iLearn.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate detailed knowledge of Japanese history and its relevance to contemporary Japan and the wider world
  • Generate reasoned historiographical analysis of Japanese history, drawing upon an explicitly transnational approach to understanding key events and individuals
  • Present information in a clear, focused, well-structured manner, displaying academic rigour, both orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrate initiative and competence in research, including locating relevant and appropriate resources, and use of correct referencing procedure.

Delivery and Resources

Required Resources

The required textbook for this unit is:

Morton, W. Scott and J. Kenneth Olenik. 2005. Japan: Its History and Culture. 4th ed. New York: McGraw Hill.

This text is available from the Co-Op Bookshop on campus. A limited number of copies are also available for loan from the short-term Reserve section of the university library.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE TEXTBOOK WHICH WILL BE REQUIRED FROM WEEK 1.

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, although this particular unit will not require internal students to complete online activities within tutorials. For internal students, tutorials will be primarily discussion-based, with laptops being a useful way to bring your pre-prepared notes from home as well as to take notes during tutorial discussions. 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. ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO REGULARLY ACCESS ILEARN EACH WEEK TO ACCESS LEARNING MATERIALS.

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

Week (class date)

Topic (and assessment schedule)

1: Feb 27

Unit overview

2: Mar 6

Ancient Japan

3: Mar 13

Heian Period

4: Mar 20

Kamakura Period

5: Mar 27

Muromachi Period

*No physical classes this week, see iLearn for details. Internal students are to complete an online discussion activity instead. External students will complete their usual participation assessment.

*There is a pre-recorded lecture to which all students must listen.

6: Apr 3

Azuchi-Momoyama Period
7: April 10

Edo (Tokugawa) Period

*Journal Article Research and Review task due 11:59PM, Friday April 13th

RECESS

Session 1 Recess (April 16 - April 29)

*Online Quiz 1 due 11:59PM, Sunday April 29th

8: May 1

Meiji Period I

9: May 8

Meiji Period II

10: May 15

Taishō Period

11: May 22

Early Shōwa Period

12: May 29

Postwar Japan - "Bubble" collapse

*Online Quiz 2 due at 11:59PM, Sunday June 3rd

13: June 5

Present day Japan

*Essay due 5pm, Friday June 8th
   

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:

Undergraduate 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 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.

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 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

  • Generate reasoned historiographical analysis of Japanese history, drawing upon an explicitly transnational approach to understanding key events and individuals
  • Present information in a clear, focused, well-structured manner, displaying academic rigour, both orally and in writing.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Article Research & Review
  • Online Quiz 1
  • Online Quiz 2
  • Essay

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 initiative and competence in research, including locating relevant and appropriate resources, and use of correct referencing procedure.
  • Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills through class participation.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Article Research & Review
  • Online Quiz 1
  • Online Quiz 2
  • Essay

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 outcomes

  • Demonstrate detailed knowledge of Japanese history and its relevance to contemporary Japan and the wider world
  • Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills through class participation.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Article Research & Review
  • Online Quiz 1
  • Online Quiz 2
  • Essay

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 detailed knowledge of Japanese history and its relevance to contemporary Japan and the wider world
  • Generate reasoned historiographical analysis of Japanese history, drawing upon an explicitly transnational approach to understanding key events and individuals
  • Present information in a clear, focused, well-structured manner, displaying academic rigour, both orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrate initiative and competence in research, including locating relevant and appropriate resources, and use of correct referencing procedure.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Article Research & Review
  • Online Quiz 1
  • Online Quiz 2
  • Essay

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 detailed knowledge of Japanese history and its relevance to contemporary Japan and the wider world
  • Generate reasoned historiographical analysis of Japanese history, drawing upon an explicitly transnational approach to understanding key events and individuals
  • Present information in a clear, focused, well-structured manner, displaying academic rigour, both orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrate initiative and competence in research, including locating relevant and appropriate resources, and use of correct referencing procedure.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Article Research & Review
  • Online Quiz 1
  • Online Quiz 2
  • Essay

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

  • Generate reasoned historiographical analysis of Japanese history, drawing upon an explicitly transnational approach to understanding key events and individuals
  • Present information in a clear, focused, well-structured manner, displaying academic rigour, both orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrate initiative and competence in research, including locating relevant and appropriate resources, and use of correct referencing procedure.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Article Research & Review
  • Online Quiz 1
  • Online Quiz 2
  • Essay

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

  • Generate reasoned historiographical analysis of Japanese history, drawing upon an explicitly transnational approach to understanding key events and individuals
  • Present information in a clear, focused, well-structured manner, displaying academic rigour, both orally and in writing.
  • Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills through class participation.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Article Research & Review
  • Online Quiz 1
  • Online Quiz 2
  • Essay

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 detailed knowledge of Japanese history and its relevance to contemporary Japan and the wider world
  • Generate reasoned historiographical analysis of Japanese history, drawing upon an explicitly transnational approach to understanding key events and individuals
  • Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills through class participation.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Article Research & Review
  • Online Quiz 1
  • Online Quiz 2
  • Essay

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

  • Demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills through class participation.

Assessment task

  • Participation