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Unit outline_

ASNS3002: Modern Japan

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

You will learn the story of the changing life of the Japanese people since the mid-19th century until today, from the momentous Meiji reforms to the emergence of new social forces in the twentieth century, from the devastation of the Second World War to the trauma of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Asian Studies
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Asian Studies or 12 credit points at 2000 level in History
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
Online task Essay
Written essay
30% Formal exam period
Due date: 14 Nov 2022 at 23:59
1x1500wd
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO4 LO3
Presentation Tutorial Presentation
Oral presentation
30% Multiple weeks 1x1000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Final Test
Take-home exam
40% Week 13
Due date: 01 Nov 2022 at 23:59
1x2000wd
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

Tutorials will focus on the analysis and presentation of historical documents related to the subject of the week. Each week, a group of students will choose documents to present and questions to debate. Registration for these tutorial presentations and student-led discussions should be done on Canvas.

The Essay questions will be posted on Canvas during the semester. The essay will focus on a critical presentation of a historical question, with the help of primary and secondary sources. The primary sources to be used will be made available on Canvas along with the essay questions.

The Final test will take the form of a general reflexive question. It will provide students an opportunity to demonstrate their analytical thinking and how well they have understood the development of Japanese modern history.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

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:

Work not submitted on or before the due date is subject to a penalty of 5% per calendar day late. If work is submitted more than 10 days after the due date, or is submitted after the return date, the mark will be 0.

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 Modern Japan: An overview Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 02 Tokugawa Japan Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
How to read a document Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 The mid-19th century crisis and the early Meiji revolution Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
An energetic society Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 The 1880s and 1890s: Defining a national identity Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Nationalism and expansionism Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Late Meiji: An end and a beginning Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
A modern, urban society Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 The 1910s and 1920s: An emerging mass society Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Democracy and diversity Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Contesting the modern in the 1930s Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Reining in diversity Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 1930s-1945: The 'dark valley' Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Militarism and war Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Postwar Japan: 'Out of the ashes' Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
An occupied land Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 The 'economic miracle' Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Affluence Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 The 'rich country' Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Surmounting crises Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 The 'lost decade(s)' and the future Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Japan in the 21st century Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Take-home exam Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

 

  • Attendance: Students are expected to attend every class meeting and participate actively.
    For Zoom classes, students should have their cameras turned ON when possible.
    Students currently residing in a different time zone will need to plan accordingly, and contact the coordinator with any questions or concerns. 
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.
  • Assessments: All assessments are compulsory. Failure to attend or submit any of the following assessments: Tutorial Presentation, Essay, Final Test will lead to an Absent Fail grade for the whole unit, whatever your other marks are.

See Canvas for more details. 

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

1. Tipton, Elise K., Modern Japan: A Social and Political History (Third Edition) Routledge, 2016.

2. Huffman, James L., Modern Japan: A History in Documents (Second Edition) Oxford University Press, 201.

Library links will be provided on Canvas.

 

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. understand the major social, political, economic, and cultural transformations that changed Japan since the mid-nineteenth century until today: from a relatively isolated agrarian state to an internationally expansionistic industrialized society before 1945, and into a post-industrial economic world power since then.
  • LO2. read, analyse and use historical documents in oral presentations.
  • LO3. sharpen your research skills by writing an essay based on historical primary sources.
  • LO4. consider the meaning of history, historical perspective, and historical objectivity.
  • LO5. 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 regularly updated, 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.