Format

This course is taught in the form of a seminar (werkcollege). Therefore attendance and preparation are mandatory for all participants.

Texts and other materials are assigned on a weekly basis. These have to be read and prepared by each participant before class.

On the basis of these materials, online assignments are set for each session. All assignments will be discussed in class.

Participants are required to prepare these assignments in writing and bring their notes to class.

Course materials

Texts and other materials are distributed online, on Blackboard or in class.

During term, information about the course will be update weekly on the webpage of this course, http://www.wiedenhof.nl/ul/sgfx1920.htm.

Contents

Milestones and recurrent themes in the study of Chinese scripts will be explored, with a keen eye on their import for the field of linguistics. We trace developments in the Chinese character script, review its influence on other writing systems, and study the impact of printing and digital revolutions. We will also investigate alternative written modes in the sinophone world, including Chinese calligraphy, ludic writing, alphabetical orthographies and linguistic systems of transcription.

Course objectives:

• To increase the students skills in evaluating pertinent texts in Chinese and English;

• to increase systemic knowledge about Chinese scripts and transcriptions and assess their linguistic import

• to expand relevant technical vocabulary in Chinese and in English;

• to analyze complex scholarly arguments;

• to compare different positions and traditions with original observations;

• to present oral and written summaries in English of (parts of) the texts;

• to actively participate in group discussions in English.

After the necessary groundwork has been covered in class, part of the materials and assignments can be geared to special group interests. Your suggestions are most welcome!

Assessment

• In-class participation & contributions (15%)

  • No more than three sessions may be missed for this course
  • See our attendance requirements; in case of absence, you must state a reason
  • You must make up for a missed session by (1) handing in all assignments set for that day and (2) copying classroom notes from a classmate
  • During term, each student will receive three separate marks for in-class participation & contributions, graded on a five-point scale
  • In case you wish to review or discuss these assessments, please make an appointment

• Oral presentation (15%)

• Three written assignments (30%)

  • Format requirements for written assignments:
    • No digital hand-ins accepted: please print your work on paper
    • Always include your full name, student number, and the hand-in date
    • Use double line spacing throughout
    
    
  • Processing & logistics:
    • For each deadline during term, hand in your work at the beginning of class
    • Alternatively, you may hand in your work prior to class time in my pigeonhole (see directions); please send me a heads-up by email
    • I will return your work with my remarks
    • This list of proofreaders' marks may assist you in reading my comments
    • All hand-in assignments will be graded on a ten-point scale
    • In case you wish to discuss my comments or assessments, please make an appointment

• Term paper (40%)

  • The term paper grade must be minimally 5 to pass the course
  • The final version of the term paper has to be handed in both on paper in my pigeonhole (see directions) as well as digitally (PDF only, ) before the deadline
  • The deadline is Friday 5 June 2020 at 5u00pm. Please consult the exam schedule for updates.

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Pigeonhole directions: in the Vrieshof #2 building, climb the central wooden staircase, then turn right. On the landing, in a metal rack of pigeonholes, you will find one marked "Wiedenhof".

Feedback

We need your feedback in order to maintain and improve the quality of teaching. Any comments and suggestions about the format and contents of this course are most welcome.

A formal student evaluation may be part of the last session of the course.

In that case, participants will be asked to fill out an course evaluation form in the absence of their teacher(s). These written assessments are anonymous and confidential.

Completed forms will be stored in a sealed envelope at the program's administration department. Teachers are not informed of its contents before the final marks of the course have been administrated.