Spring 2016 - HIST 479W D100

Contentious Problems in Modern Chinese History (4)

Tiananmen Square

Class Number: 4214

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 11, 2016: Wed, 9:30 a.m.–1:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units including nine units of lower division history, and one of HIST 255 or 365, or permission of the department.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An in-depth examination of a contentious aspect of, or period in, modern Chinese history focusing on change, conflict and resistance. For example attention may be given to the transition from revolution to reform, the Tiananmen Square protests, or the Cultural Revolution. Content may vary from offering to offering; see course outline for further information. HIST 479W may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

Change, Conflict and Resistance in Twentieth-Century China: Tiananmen Square

This course examines the Tiananmen Square protests from multiple perspectives in order to make sense of what happened in China in 1989. We will begin by addressing the following questions through analysis of primary sources: What did protesters themselves say and write at the time? Who were they and what did they want? Why did people protest? How did Chinese government officials respond? What happened outside of Beijing? During the second half of the term, we will ask how journalistic, scholarly, and literary interpretations of events help us to understand the Tiananmen protests.

Notes:
1.  If you do not meet the prerequisites for this course but really want to take it, email JB to set up a meeting.
2. For the first time, HIST479 is formally a “Writing (W)” course, but the amount of written work has not changed from the past two times I have taught this course. The “W” indicates a normal workload for a   400-level history course — it doesn’t mean extra work.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of the term, students should have:
(1) gained a better understanding of the advantages and shortcomings of different types of historical sources and scholarly approaches;
(2) improved their writing skills through a series of short assignments and through giving and receiving peer feedback;
(3) enhanced public knowledge about the Tiananmen Square protests through an original encyclopedia contribution

Grading

  • Seminar participation 20%
  • Two short essays of 800-1,000 words (each worth 15%) 30%
  • In-class writing exercise, in which you show you completed and thought about the readings assigned for the week 5%
  • Two-part Wikipedia assignment (original Wikipedia entry, 800 words, 20%; reflection essay of approximately 1,500 words, 15%) 35%
  • Peer reviews (5% for first round; 5% for second round during presentations of Wikipedia contributions) 10%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Zhang Liang, comp., The Tiananmen Papers: The Chinese Leadership’s Decision to Use Force Against Their Own People—In Their Own Words, ed. Andrew J. Nathan and Perry Link (New York: Public Affairs, 2001).

Denise Chong, Egg on Mao (Toronto: Random House of Canada, 2011 [2009]).

Louisa Lim, The People’s Republic of Amnesia: Tiananmen Revisited (New York: Oxford University Press, 2015 [2014]).

Other readings available electronically.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS