Research Topics in Chinese Culture and Society I

• 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.

The course is available to students admitted to the MA programme option Chinese Culture and Society.

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.

Teaching is organized as 10 classes of 2 hours each throughout the semester plus 5 single-hour sessions to study Chinese sources. Active participation in class is expected.

Compulsory activities:

1. You are required to attend 60% of the classes. In this course, you must attend at least 6 out of 10 classes.
2. You are required to attend 60% of the primary source reading sessions. In this course, you must attend at least 3 out of 5 reading sessions.
3. One oral presentation in class.
4. A written analysis of one map (details will be given at the beginning of the semester).

You will find more information about the requirements for the compulsory assignment(s) and the submission deadline in Canvas. Oral presentations and written analysis in class are only valid for one semester. If you retake the course, you must retake them in the semester in which you are taking the exam.

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:

This course requires at least 60% attendance. This requirement is absolute.

The absence limit should cover normal absences due to illness, etc. You will therefore not be granted a valid excused absence based on a medical certificate, even if the absence is due to circumstances for which you cannot be blamed.

In special cases, for example, in the event of serious or long-term illness, you can apply for special needs accomodations. For questions about special needs accommodations, please contact [email protected]

• Here you will find information about compulsory activities at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

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:

• Common guidelines relating to compulsory activities - University of Oslo (uio.no)

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.

Term paper and adjusting oral exam.

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 English. These should include a broad selection of primary and secondary sources discussed in the course as well as additional sources.

The oral exam is a conversation lasting approximately 15 minutes. Two examiners will ask questions regarding your term paper, including research question, material, methods and theoretical concepts.

The oral exam adjusts the grade from the written examination. The final grade in the course will be given after the adjusting oral exam. Normally the grade can be adjusted one step up or down, but the entire grade scale may be used.

If you appeal your grade the appeal will be based on the written exam, and not the result after the oral adjusting exam. A new oral exam will only be given if the written grade changes.

You must submit the term paper 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.

• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Resitting an examination