HIST 3250

Clayton State University

HIST 3250

East Asian History

Fall 2008

CRN 87364

Schedule of Reading and Written Assignments (Note: This schedule is subject change in order to fulfill course objectives)

Instructor: Dr. Christopher J. Ward, christopherward@clayton.edu, (678) 466-4811

Class Meetings: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 12:00—12:50 p.m. in Arts & Sciences 114

Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 11:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. and 1:00—2:00 p.m. in Arts & Sciences 110K

Required Text: Ebrey et al., East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History

Course Description: This course serves as an introduction to the major political, social, and cultural traditions of East Asia from circa 2000 B.C.E. to the present. We will focus on the creation of the distinct Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cultural identities and the emergence of a comprehensive East Asian civilization.

Objectives: HIST 3250 is designed to help develop and promote certain logical and analytical skills every college graduate is expected to have. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia mandates that every college graduate must be able to think or to reason critically, and this course is intended to help teach students to learn and to think, analytically, contextually, and diachronically, regardless of your major or future vocation. Among the skills that you will acquire and/or develop this semester are:

Reading comprehension: The ability to identify the ideas in something you have read and differentiate the "thesis" or major theme being presented from the evidence supporting it.
Listening comprehension: The ability to listen to what someone has to say and identify what is important. Your primary source for this are the comments made by the instructor and your fellow students.
Identifying evidence: While it is one thing to see evidence when it is clearly labeled in a lecture or text, it is something else to analyze primary sources in which evidence is not clearly indicated. The primary source for this course is the course textbook.
Selectivity: This skill includes examining relevant material(s) and leaving out extraneous information. You will do this whenever you take notes or answer a question on an exam or quiz.
Communication skills: The ability to write in such a way that clearly communicates your ideas to others. The sources for this are exams and essays. See Clayton State University Writing Guidelines.
Viewing comprehension: This includes looking at various materials and identifying important ideas and concepts. The sources for this are the Internet, specifically the course home page, and multimedia presentations.
Computer Skills: Students will be introduced to information dealing with world history, literature, and geography by accessing the Internet.

In addition to helping students to improve and/or foster the above skills, this course either meets or exceeds the standard course objectives recommended by the Georgia Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). It also addresses Learning Outcomes 2-5, as adopted by the history faculty at Clayton State University.

Graduates of the history program at Clayton State University will:

Identify and describe basic chronologies of U.S. and world history.
Identify and critically evaluate primary and secondary historical sources.
Identify and evaluate conflicting historical interpretations of events and personalities.
Perform historical research using primary and secondary sources in libraries, archives, and other repositories of historical records.
Write in a clear, analytical, and organized manner, demonstrating appropriate professional documentation methods.
Discuss historical findings in clear and coherent oral presentations.

Course Requirements:

A. Examinations: There will be three examinations, which includes an examination to be given at the end of the semester. If you have a valid reason (to be determined by the instructor) reason for missing one of these examinations, you will be permitted to make it up at a time of the instructor's choosing.

B. Research Paper: One of this course’s objectives is to improve your ability to write and think critically. Near the end of the semester, you will submit a research paper (10 pages) that uses sources outside the course readings to examine a critical issue in East Asian history. Be aware that it is important to turn in your assignment at the beginning of the class meeting when it is due (click on the Schedule of Reading and Writing Assignments link above for the due date). Research papers that are submitted late (i.e. after the beginning of class) will be penalized by one letter grade (i.e. ten points) for each 24-hour period that the assignment is overdue. It is imperative to submit this assignment on-time.

C. Plagiarism and Misrepresentation of Work (taken from the Clayton State University Student Handbook): No student will represent the work of others as his or her own. Themes, essays, term papers, tests, presentations and other similar assignments must be the work of the student submitting them. When direct quotations are used, they must be indicated and when the ideas of another are incorporated, they must be appropriately acknowledged.

D. Academic Misconduct: Any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may constitute academic misconduct. The most common forms of academic misconduct are cheating and plagiarism. All instances of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the work involved. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life/Judicial Affairs. Clayton State University's academic misconduct policies can be found at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/studentconduct.

E. Computer Requirement: Each Clayton State University student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access. For further information on Clayton State University's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm.

Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities: Students have responsibility for the development of their academic, social, and career goals. As part of their educational experiences at Clayton State , students are responsible and accountable for their academic choices and actions. They are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and abiding by the regulations, procedures, requirements, and deadlines described in official publications including the Catalog, the Student Handbook, Class Schedules, and applicable Departmental Student Handbooks.

Interactions with Faculty, Staff and Other Students:

Each student is expected to:

understand the concept of academic misconduct as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct;
be respectful and polite to all faculty, staff, and other students;
be familiar with and abide by the University's sexual harassment policies as well as University policies regarding consensual relationships between instructors and students;
consult the Student Code of Conduct about other aspects of student conduct in and out of the classroom.

Responsibilities in the Classroom:

Each student is expected to:

attend class regularly unless other arrangements are made;
arrive for class on time and leave the classroom only at the end of class;
engage in class discussions and activities when appropriate;
exhibit classroom behavior that is not disruptive of the learning environment;
make arrangements so that any children or other non-enrollees for which the student is responsible are not brought into classroom buildings during class time;
secure and turn off all electronic communications and entertainment devices during class time unless otherwise directed by the course instructor. Any use of a cell phone or other unauthorized electronic device during an examination may lead to an accusation of academic misconduct, which may ultimately lead to expulsion from the University.

Course Responsibilities:

Each student is expected to:

observe the prerequisites, co-requisites and other requirements for the course;
obtain and understand the course syllabus;
keep up with the coursework, complete all course requirements, submit all assignments, and take all scheduled examinations;
address any conflicts in scheduling with the instructor as soon as possible and in accordance with course policies concerning scheduled course activities;
review all graded material and seek help if necessary;
register any disabilities with the Office of Disability Services prior to the beginning of classes, and notify the instructor of any documented disabilities that might interfere with completion of course work prior to the end of the drop-add deadline;
fairly and thoughtfully complete the course and instructor evaluation form(s);
check for emails regularly at the university-issued email address;
have ready access to a notebook computer with software that is appropriate to each course.

Academic Progress: Each student is expected to take an active part in assessing his or her academic progress each semester, and to monitor progress towards completion of graduation requirements.

Each student is expected to:

review academic policies and procedures described in the current Catalog as well as in applicable Departmental Student Handbooks and other official advisement materials.
know basic University, school or college, and departmental admission, progression, and graduation requirements in his or her chosen majors and minors in order to plan completion of these requirements;
communicate regularly with the assigned academic advisor to review academic progress, program plan and continuing enrollments.
maintain personal copies of a tentative degree plan, progress reports, general educational material, and transfer credit evaluations until after graduation;
see that any academic records from other colleges and universities are transferred and received by all the appropriate offices for evaluation.

University Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students’ ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades. The purpose of the new policy is to increase retention. Students who have poor class attendance records often do poorly in our courses. The new policy is designed to emphasize to students that attending class is important and expected.

Attendance will be taken by means of a sign-in sheet that will be distributed during class meetings or a call of the roll by the instructor. Taking good notes is necessary but not sufficient for doing well in the course. Thus, if you do miss class, you must get the notes from another student. You are also encouraged to visit me during office hours to clarify material.

Course Policies: Students must abide by the policies found in the Clayton State University Student Handbook and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities document, which include, but are not limited to, the following:

Students have responsibility for the development of their academic, social, and career goals. As part of their educational experiences at Clayton State University , students are responsible and accountable for their academic choices and actions. They are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and abiding by the regulations, procedures, requirements, and deadlines described in official publications including the Catalog, the Student Handbook, Class Schedules, and applicable Departmental Student Handbooks. In addition, you should refrain from the use of cellular telephones, pagers, PDAs, and other electronic devices (excluding appropriate laptop use), and not engage in behavior that disrupts the learning atmosphere—this includes leaving before the class is dismissed. Please do not eat in class and do not drink in classrooms where the consumption of liquids is prohibited.

Center for Academic Assistance (CAA): The CAA offers a variety of personalized academic services including staff and peer tutoring and multimedia instruction to all Clayton State University students. Standardized testing is offered through the Testing Center. The CAA develops and coordinates online instructional resources, workshops, courses, and external labs teaching interdisciplinary academic skills. The Learning Support Program (COMPASS Testing Program, Regents Testing Program, and Learning Support and Regents Test Remediation courses) is also facilitated by the CAA.

The Americans with Disabilities Act: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted into law, July 26, 1992, guarantees individuals with disabilities in the United States protection form discrimination on the basis of disability. ADA extends civil rights protection for individuals with disabilities to employment in the private sector, transportation, public accommodation, services provided by state and local governments, and telecommunications relay services. Clayton State University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable accommodations for students and employees with disabilities. Information on ADA for students is available through the Disability Resource Center.

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.

The content of this course syllabus correlates to education standards established by national and state education governing agencies, accrediting agencies and learned society/professional education associations. Please refer to the course correlation matrices located at the following web site: http://a-s.clayton.edu/teachered/Standards%20and%20Outcomes.htm.

Regents’ Courses and Testing: The University System of Georgia requires that each student receiving a degree must have successfully demonstrated competence in reading comprehension and writing by passing two courses: Regents’ Writing Skills and Regents’ Reading Skills. Students can satisfy course requirements through examination. The Regents’ Testing Program of the University System of Georgia is administered by the Testing Center at Clayton State University for three days each semester. Testing dates and registration procedures are in the Class Schedule and Registration Guide each semester under REGE 0001.

Midterm Progress Report: The midterm grade in this course, which will be issued after Exam #1, reflects 25% of the course grade. Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course without academic accountability and receive a grade of W. Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, before the last day to withdraw without academic accountability, which can be found at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/calendar/academiccalendar.htm.

Grading: Grades will be determined as follows:

Exam #1 25%

Exam #2 25%

Research paper 25%

Final examination 25%

Grading scale: A, 100%-90% of total

B, 89%-80%

C, 79%-70%

D, 69%-60%

F, 59% and below