Syllabus for HIS-261-OL

COURSE DESCRIPTION

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

• Identify and discuss the major geographic regions of China.
• Discuss the cultural diversity of China.
• Identify and explain the Chinese political and legal systems.
• Analyze the structures of political dissent and unrest in the 1980s.
• Discuss the scope of economic reform in China, focusing on agriculture, industry, and trade in imperial and Communist China.
• Discuss the Chinese family, as a social and economic unit, its traditional moral values, customs, and rituals.
• Compare and contrast literary, artistic, scientific, and technological trends in modern Chinese culture.

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COURSE MATERIALS

The following materials are required to do the work of the course. The materials are available from the textbook supplier, MBS Direct.

Textbook

Buoye, Thomas, et al., editors, The Chinese: Adapting the Past, Confronting the Future, 1st ed. (University of Michigan: Center for Chinese Studies, 2002).




Study Guide

Buoye, Thomas, A Study Guide for The Chinese: Adapting the Past, Facing the Future, 1st ed. (University of Michigan: Center for Chinese Studies, 2003).




Video Programs

The Heart of the Dragon (26 half-hour programs)

Note: The video programs are being offered via streaming video technology through this course site. Each study assignment includes the necessary links for accessing the video stream, using either Windows Media™ Player or RealPlayer_®.

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COURSE STRUCTURE

Introduction to Chinese History and Culture is a three-credit, 12-week course consisting of six modules, six written assignments, and two examinations. Weekly study assignments include reading designated parts the Study Guide and textbook together with viewing associated video programs. During each module you are also required to take part in a class discussion.

At the end of each module you will complete a written assignment and send it to your mentor for correction and grading. In addition, the course requires you to take two examinations: a proctored midterm exam and a proctored final exam.

For details on the course assignments (reading and viewing assignments, online discussions, and written assignments), click Assignment Modules in the navigation bar to the left of your screen. That will take you to a list of the individual modules that you can then click for the relevant assignments. (See also the course Calendar.)

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ONLINE PARTICIPATION

In addition to an ungraded "Introductions" forum in module 1, you are required to participate in six (6) graded online class discussions (one for each module in the course).

Communication with your mentor and among fellow students is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online class discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a discussion question and subsequent comments on classmates' responses.

Meaningful participation is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate or your mentor, state and support your position.

You will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of your participation, including your use of relevant course information to support your point of view, and your awareness of and responses to the postings of your classmates. Remember, these are discussions. Responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, professional, and respectful.

For additional information on online discussions, see Online Discussions in the Online Student Handbook.

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WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

Introduction to Chinese History and Culture requires you to complete six written assignments. Each assignment generally consists of three or more questions, from which you should choose two (2) to answer. The questions may deal with text material, video material, or information from the Study Guide.

Take the time to familiarize yourself with the Written Assignments section of each module, and read through the assignment questions before you begin each that module. Your answers to the assignment questions should be well developed and convey your understanding of the course materials. Formulate responses in your own words citing text materials where appropriate and in an appropriate manner. Consult the course Calendar for due dates.

Prepare your written assignments using whatever word processing program you have on your computer. Include your name at the top of the paper, as well as the course name and code and the semester and year in which you are enrolled.

Before submitting your first assignment, check with your mentor to determine whether your word processing software is compatible with your mentor's software. If so, you can submit your work as you prepared it. If not, save your assignment as a rich-text (.rtf) file, using the Save As command of your software program. Rich text retains basic formatting and can be read by any other word processing program.

When satisfied that your assignment represents your best work, submit it to your mentor by means of the

>>View/Complete Assignment

link provided at the bottom of the respective assignment page. Use the Browse button within this link to locate and attach your assignment file. Click to turn in the assignment.

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EXAMINATIONS

You are required to take two proctored examinations: a midterm and a final. See the Calendar for the official dates of your midterm and final exam weeks.

For the both of these online examinations you are required to use the College’s Online Proctor Service. Please refer to the "Examinations and Proctors" section of the Online Student Handbook (see the General Information area of the course Web site) for further information about scheduling and taking online exams and for all exam policies and procedures. You are strongly advised to make your scheduling arrangements for both exams within the first week of the semester.

Online exams are administered in the Tests & Quizzes area of the course Web site.




Midterm Examination
The midterm is a closed-book, proctored exam. It is two hours long and covers material in Modules 1, 2, and 3. It consists of identification questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. If you have concerns about the format and/or content of the examination, please contact your mentor at least a week in advance of the scheduled test.




Final Examination
The final is a closed-book, proctored exam. It is two hours long and covers material in Modules 4, 5, and 6. It consists of identification questions, short answer questions, and essay questions.




Statement about Cheating
You are on your honor not to cheat during the exam. Cheating means:

• Looking up any answer or part of an answer in an unauthorized textbook or on the Internet, or using any other source to find the answer.
• Copying and pasting or in any way copying responses or parts of responses from any other source into your online test. This includes but is not limited to copying and pasting from other documents or spreadsheets, whether written by yourself or anyone else.
• Plagiarizing answers.
• Asking anyone else to assist you by whatever means available while you take the exam.
• Copying any part of the exam to share with other students.
• Telling your mentor that you need another attempt at the exam because your connection to the Internet was interrupted when that is not true.

If there is evidence that you have cheated or plagiarized in your exam, the exam will be declared invalid, and you will fail the course.

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GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

Written Assignments (6)	30 percent
Online Class Discussions (6)	20 percent
Midterm Examination	30 percent
Final Examination	20 percent

To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of D or higher on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings, etc.). You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted.

Letter grades for online participation, written assignments, and examinations are based on the following numerical grades:

A	=	93–100	C+	=	78–79
A–	=	90–92	C	=	73–77
B+	=	88–89	C–	=	70–72
B	=	83–87	D	=	60–69
B–	=	80–82	F	=	Below 60

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STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

1. Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.



2. Take the time to read the entire Online Student Handbook General Information area of the course Web site. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course, how to schedule exams, and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.



3. Arrange to take your examinations by following the instructions in this Syllabus and the Online Student Handbook.



4. Familiarize yourself with the Blackboard environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.



5. If you are not familiar with Web-based learning, or specifically with the Blackboard platform, be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.



Study Tips
Consider the following study tips for success:

1. To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the course Calendar. The calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, and scheduling and taking examinations. For details on each assignment module and a complete listing of learning activities, go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site.



2. Check the Announcements page and class Discussion Board regularly for new course information.

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