KIN4550 – Research Topics in Chinese Culture and Society I
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course supplements KIN4510 – How to study Chinese Culture and Society by introducing you to a specific research topic within the study of Chinese culture and society. It offers an advanced-level introduction to a research topic within the realm of Chinese culture and society and additional academic development tools. Participants will become familiar with debates and literature at the frontier of the research field. They will study the selected topic through different theoretical and methodological approaches.
The course provides an introduction to theoretical and methodological approaches essential for the study of China. Each iteration of the course centers on a different topic that is closely aligned with the coordinator’s research interests and background.
Topic Autumn 2024: The history of mapping in China
Previous years:
Topic Autumn 2023 and Autumn 2022: Emotions in Early China - a course in slow reading
Topic Autumn 2021: The Sociology of China
Topic Autumn 2019: China’s eco-environmental challenges and society’s responses
Learning outcome
- You will learn how to identify a research topic, narrow down its focus, and formulate research questions related to a specific research topic within the study of Chinese society and culture
- You will learn how to develop a research paper and how to work with various forms of sources, how to develop a consistent methodological framework, and how to integrate theory
- You will learn to read extensively, and to critically analyse sources in Chinese and English
- You will learn to present and discuss academic knowledge in oral and written form
Which skills relevant for your work life will you learn?
In this course, you will practice:
- collecting information and summarize it
- evaluating the credibility of sources
- speaking in front of other people
- independently writing in English
Digitization
In this course:
- You will learn how to identify and use online databases of libraries and collections that contain digital versions of scanned Chinese maps and books
- You will learn how to academically assess online map services such as Baidu maps
- You will practice using online databases to identify place names
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Admission to the MA programme option Chinese Culture and Society.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
The course presupposes competence in modern Chinese and basic reading competence in classical Chinese.
Teaching
Teaching is organized as 10 classes of 2 hours each throughout the semester plus 10 single-hour conversational sessions held in Chinese.
Compulsory activities:
- Active participation in class and at least 80 per cent attendance
- Active participation in the conversational sessions and at least 80 per cent attendance
- One oral presentation in class
- A short written analysis of one map (details will be given at the beginning of the semester)
All compulsory activities must be approved to qualify for the exam. It is your responsibility to verify that you have obtained approval for all compulsory activities.?
Absence from compulsory activities:?
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.?
More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo:?
Oral presentations and written analysis in class are only valid for one semester.
Access to teaching:?
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.?
Examination
The exam is a term paper consisting of one individually written paper on a subject approved by the teacher, 3200-3500 words plus a list of references. The paper should be based on primary sources in Chinese and secondary sources in Chinese and/or English. These should include a broad selection of primary and secondary sources discussed in the course as well as additional sources.
You must submit the exam in Inspera - see guides for digital exams.?
You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.?
All compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam.?
You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.?
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.