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Unit outline_

CHNS3643: Classical Chinese Language A

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit offers an introduction to Classical Chinese, an ancient language that still plays a role in modern China and that often challenges Western notions of how languages behave. Students will develop a basic understanding of the grammar and vocabulary, thus equipping themselves for exploration of China's distinctive philosophical and literary traditions in the original language. They will undertake supplementary reading in English on a topic of their choice, thus enriching their knowledge of premodern Chinese culture.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Chinese Studies
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
Chinese native or background speakers or 12 credit points at 2000 level in Chinese Studies
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
CHNS2611
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yu Sang, yu.sang@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Yunjie Hu, lisa.hu@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Yunjie Hu, lisa.hu@sydney.edu.au
Anna Chen, anan.chen@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Essay
Reading Project Resulting in Essay
30% Formal exam period
Due date: 03 Jun 2024 at 23:00
1,500 English words (2,000 characters)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Participation Participation and Class Discussion
Classwork
10% Ongoing ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test In-Class Test 1
Written Test
15% Week 04
Due date: 11 Mar 2024 at 13:05

Closing date: 11 Mar 2024
50 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test In-Class Test 2
Written Test
15% Week 07
Due date: 08 Apr 2024 at 13:05

Closing date: 08 Apr 2024
50 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test In-Class Test 3
Final Written Test
30% Week 13
Due date: 20 May 2024 at 16:10

Closing date: 20 May 2024
100 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

Participation (10%), 3x1000wd In-class Test (60%), 1x1500wd Essay (30%)

Assessment criteria

Results 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.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Week 02 Lesson 1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Lesson 2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 In-Class Test 1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 Lesson 3 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 Lesson 4 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 In-Class Test 2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 Lesson 5 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 09 Lesson 6 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 Lesson 7 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 Lesson 8 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 12 Revision Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 13 Final In-Class Test Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

  • Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

  • Students who have timetable clashes should complete a timetable clash form and no marks will be deducted for absence if they can attend at least half of the clashed hours.  

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

Textbook for this unit:

Michael A. Fuller, An Introduction to Literary Chinese (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2004), a soft copy of which is available in the Library for free download.

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. interpret basic Classical Chinese grammar both in original context and in its frequent occurrences within modern Chinese.
  • LO2. apply skills in interpreting classical Chinese to gain firsthand access to many of the key sources necessary for the serious study of most aspects of traditional (and some aspects of modern) Chinese history, philosophy and culture.
  • LO3. develop lateral thinking abilities by practicing the flexible, creative application of grammatical principles to make sense of baffling sentences, also supported by independent reading in an individually chosen area of cultural background.
  • LO4. discriminate between full-form ('traditional') characters and simplified ones, as well as comprehending both, equipping them to decipher texts from China's mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as many other types of premodern material including inscriptions.
  • LO5. use digital tools and effective academic presentation techniques for basic research in the study of premodern Chinese texts.

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.

This unit is recoded from CHNS2611.

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.