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Unit outline_

ASNS2672: Japan in East Asia

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit places the modern and contemporary history of Japan within its East Asian context. We will examine a number of key events and subjects pertaining to the relations between Japan, China and Korea. Doing so we will touch sensitive and controversial topics, become aware of differing views of history prevalent in these countries and understand why the historical question constitutes a major political issue in East Asia.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Asian Studies
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Lionel Babicz, lionel.babicz@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Tutorial quiz Quiz 1
Multiple Choice
5% Week 05
Due date: 24 Mar 2023 at 15:00
250 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Tutorial quiz Quiz 2
Multiple Choice
5% Week 12
Due date: 19 May 2023 at 15:00
250 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Small test Final Test
Final Test
30% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2023 at 23:59
1500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Essay
Analytical essay based on primary sources
30% Week 13
Due date: 28 May 2023 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Presentation Tutorial Presentation
Group presentation
30% Weekly 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

TUTORIAL PRESENTATION
Tutorial presentations will be done in group, but each student will receive a separate mark. Your main task will be to answer the main question of the tutorial and, if relevant, to introduce the primary sources, their context and meaning.

QUIZZES
The quizzes will consist of factual questions (true/false, multiple choice) aimed at testing your basic knowledge. The two quizzes will be held in Week 5 and Week 12.

ESSAY
The essay questions will be posted on Canvas during the semester. The essay will focus on a critical presentation of a question with the help of primary and secondary sources.

FINAL TEST
The Final Test will be held in week 13. Instructions will be posted on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

High distinction 85-100 Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a 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   When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.

 

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.

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 1. What is East Asia? 2. Japan in East Asia during the Edo Period Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 02 1. Japan and the Opium War; 2. The Meji Restoration and East Asia Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Tutorial W2 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 03 1. The Sino-Japanese War and the annexation of Taiwan (1894-95); 2. The Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Tutorial W3 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 04 1. The annexation of Korea (1910); 2. Colonial Korea Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Tutorial W4 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 05 1. Colonial Taiwan; 2. Japan and the 1911 Chinese Revolution Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Tutorial W5 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 06 1. Japan in Manchuria; 2. The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Tutorial W6 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 07 1. The Japanese Wartime Empire; 2. Japan and East Asia after WWII Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Tutorial W7 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 08 Tutorial W8 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 09 Japan and South Korea since WWII Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Tutorial W9 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 1. Japan and North Korea; 2. Koreans in Japan (Zainichi) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Tutorial W10 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Japan and China since WWII Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Tutorial W11 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 12 1. Pan-Asianism; 2. Apologies and Divided Memories Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Tutorial W12 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 13 Japan in East Asia in the 21st Century Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend all the lectures and participate actively in all the tutorials, with cameras turned ON when possible for Zoom classes.
Students currently residing in a different time zone will need to plan accordingly, and contact the coordinator with any questions or concerns.

PREPARATION
You must be well prepared for each class (lectures and tutorials).
Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (readings and videos, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

TUTORIALS
Tutorials consist of tutorial presentations and class discussions.
Each week, every student must read all the tutorial readings.
Each week, every student must bring to the class at least one point (comment or question) linked to the reading(s) of the 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.

Required readings

Readings and videos will be made accessible through Web links and Library links on the unit’s Canvas site.

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. define the major events which shaped the relations between Japan, China and Korea from the mid-nineteenth century until today
  • LO2. compare key developments in the modern and contemporary history of Japan, China and Korea
  • LO3. state the major historical issues at stake in contemporary East Asia and discuss their differing interpretations
  • LO4. become aware - through the use of primary and secondary sources, points of view, and frames of reference - of the differing views of history prevalent today in Japan, Korea (ROK and DPRK), and China (PRC and Taiwan), as well as of the various interpretations of history existing inside some of these countries
  • LO5. analyse primary and secondary historical sources, synthesise information, identify an argument and evaluate it
  • LO6. consider the meaning of history, historical perspective, and historical objectivity
  • LO7. develop your generic skills of oral and written communication and critical thinking

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.

The content of the Unit of Study is updated each time it is offered, and student feedback is taken into account.

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.