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Unit outline_

ASNS2011: A Survey of Buddhism

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit provides a survey of the major issues and developments in Buddhism's 2500 year history from its beginnings in India to subsequent developments in other parts of Asia, such as Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, and its transmission to the West in the modern era. Students will be introduced to Buddhist thought, practices, literature, and artistic expressions, as well as academic approaches to the study of Buddhism.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 Junior credit points in units of study listed in Table A
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
BDST1602
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Chiew Hui Hui Ho, chiewhui.ho@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Chiew Hui Hui Ho, chiewhui.ho@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Chiew Hui Hui Ho, chiewhui.ho@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Tutorial Leadership
Presentation/Performance
15% - 500wd equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Essay
Long Answers/essays
30% -
Due date: 18 Jun 2020 at 23:00
1500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Written Assignment
Essay
40% -
Due date: 14 May 2020 at 23:00
2000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Small continuous assessment Quiz
Short Answers
15% Multiple weeks 500wd equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

Assignment (essay 1500wds); Students will write a major essay (approx. 1500 words) to be submitted in CANVAS. The questions (on topics covered from lectures 8–12 /tutorials from weeks 9–13; to be will be provided later) must be on a topic other than the topic of tutorial leadership. Your essay must be fully referenced with footnotes and a full bibliography including publisher, date and year of publication. If you draw on tutorial readings, use full publication details.

Tutorial Presentation: Each student will lead a tutorial discussion by presenting on the week’s tutorial readings in relation to tutorial questions provided, asking relevant questions, drawing responses from your tutorial mates, and answering them. No more than two students should lead in any one week. You may discuss relevant questions other than those provided. Presenters of the week will submit a handout consisting on a summary of their presentation/the readings as an email attachment the day before the tutorial. Please sign up for a tutorial presentation in the first tutorial (week 2).

Quiz: Students will take a quiz during lecture (week 3-13).

Written Assignment: Students will write a major essay (approx. 2000 words) to be submitted in CANVAS. The questions (on topics covered from lectures 1–7 /tutorials from weeks 2–8; to be will be provided later) must be on a topic other than the topic of tutorial leadership. Your essay must be fully referenced with footnotes and a full bibliography including publisher, date and year of publication. If you draw on tutorial readings, use full publication details.

Assessment criteria

Result name Mark Range Description
High distinction 85–100 Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction 75–84 Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit 65–74 Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass 50–64 Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail 0–49 When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.
Absent Fail 0–49 When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.
Cancelled No mark When your enrolment has been cancelled.
Discontinued not to count as failure No mark When you discontinue a unit after the relevant census date but before the DC deadline.
Discontinue-fail No mark When you discontinue a unit after the DC deadline but before the DF deadline
Withdrawn No mark When you discontinue a unit before the relevant census date. WD grades do not appear on your academic transcript

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per university/faculty policy.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Unit Introduction & Background Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 The Buddha and His Story Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 What the Buddha Taught Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 The Institutionalization and Spread of Buddhism Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Mahayana Buddhism Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 Buddhism in East Asia: China Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Buddhism in East Asia: Japan & Korea Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Tibetan Buddhism Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Buddhism in Southeast Asia Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Buddhist Cosmology and Pantheon Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 11 Theory and Practice Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Buddhism in the Modern World Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Conclusion and Review Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

Two-hour ZOOM lecture per week One-hour ZOOM tutorial per week

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. - gain an overview of the history of Buddhism and its development, as well as a basic grasp of its ideas and practices
  • LO2. - be able identify the presuppositions that underlie the social and political structures in traditional and modern Buddhist societies
  • LO3. - relate the interaction between literary, philosophical, contemplative, social and artistic expressions of Buddhism to their broader historical and doctrinal traditions
  • LO4. - understand and articulate the impact of Buddhism on the cultural, social and political developments in Asia and beyond
  • LO5. - articulate aspects of Buddhism as a cross-cultural phenomenon, with specific reference to its transmission, modification and reinterpretation across Asia and beyond
  • LO6. - situate and analyse contemporary issues in Buddhism in their historical and cultural contexts

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Lecture order has changed; new readings introduced.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.