SUNY Buffalo State
Sociology 208:
Sociology
of Contemporary China
Spring 2017 Syllabus
Dr. ZHANG Jie
Course Call No.: 2607
Class Place: CLAS C313 Class Time: 3:05-4:20pm TR
Office Location: Classroom
Building B312 Office Hours: 2:00-3:00pm TR
Office Phone: 878-6425 or
by appointment
Email: zhangj@buffalostate.edu
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
This course is
designed to introduce the contemporary China from various sociological
perspectives.
In the course students will learn the brief history of China, recent developments of social
structure, cultural values and norms in Chinese societies, comparison of China and Western
societies,
and practical outcomes of China studies. The
course will provide knowledge and insights into China’s rapidly changing
culture, economy, and political system, as well as providing information on traditional
China. Social science research techniques and student research projects are an
important component of the course. The course
will provide opportunities for students to compare China with Western societies
and to explore possible career paths. Therefore, students will be involved in hands-on research during the course. They
are to be divided into groups to study the various current issues of today’s China. Each group will
present their findings in a research paper. Towards the end of the course, students will be aware of many
aspects of the fascinating Chinese
society which they
did not notice, and they
will be able to explain many other social phenomena with the major theories that have acquired in the class.
TEXTBOOK
Zhu, Zhiqun. 2012. Global Studies: China (14th Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill.
In addition to the above textbook, some course related information such as handouts, study guides, and this syllabus is available on the course's website http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/zhangj.
READING ASSIGNMENTS
Reading the textbook is a must to earn a grade for this course. In addition to the textbook, this course also requires visiting number of web sites assigned in classes. You are promised to have no busy work beyond reading the textbook and web sites. I will occasionally check your reading the text by randomly picking up one or more of you to answer questions before I start to lecture. Your efforts in answering the questions are considered to be part of your participation of the class.
EXAMINATIONS
There will be four major evaluations on learning performance of students. Each of the first two will be exams consisting 50 multiple choice questions, and will be given on the day indicated in the course schedule. The third evaluation is on the poster presentation, and the final will be on paper presentation. The maximum score you may be able to make for each of the four evaluations is 50 points. The final is the research paper that reflects what you have learned during the semester. You will be provided with a study guide on the courses’ website http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/zhangj prior to each of the first two exams.
No early exams are allowed for any reason. If you have to miss an exam, you need to provide me before the exam with some written document as your excuse. If you want to make up the missed exam, it may be available on the last day of classes. As the instructor, I reserve the right to refuse any make-ups not approved in advance and to give you a 0 for that test. In other cases, even if the make-up was approved in advance, the instructor reserves the right to reduce your score for that test by 10 to 15 points if your reasons and/or the documentation are not satisfactory.
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
The relationship between the instructor and students is based on mutual respect. My job is to teach the course by making it as interesting as possible and help you earn a highest grade you deserve. Your duties as students include reading the textbook and the assigned web sites, attending classes, taking notes, participating in classroom discussion, and oral presentation, taking exams, and finishing a research paper. Classroom courtesy is expected of everyone in the class. Talking without permission from the instructor, reading newspapers or other materials, using cell phone and laptop for internet, doing homework, sleeping, packing up before the instructor dismisses the class, and etc. are not courteous behaviors in this class. Classroom behavior is considered to be part of your participation.
ATTENDANCE AND CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION
A good or perfect attendance record, productive participation, and courteous behaviors in classroom will help you improve your final grade. You are discouraged to miss classes. However, there are no points deducted from your final score if you have missed two or less classes in the semester. From the third class you have missed, each one will cost you three percent of your final score (final percentage). Coming late or leaving early is also discouraged. If you have committed to this class this semester, do not schedule anything, such as doctor’s appointment, academic advisement, etc. for the class time. Each coming late or each leaving early will be counted as ½ missing. As for missing classes, you do not have to present to me any excuses. All students are treated equally. For these purposes, you are asked to sit through the semester at the same place you chose at beginning, and the class roll is taken in each class period.
GRADING
The
final course grade will be based on 250 possible points:
Exam 1 = 50 Exam 2 = 50 Exam 3 = 50 Exam
4 = 50
Participation
= 50
Grades will be assigned using the following percentage scale:
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A = 94 - 100 |
A- = 90 - 93 |
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B+ = 87 - 89 |
B = 84 - 86 |
B- = 80 - 83 |
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C+ = 77 - 79 |
C = 74 - 76 |
C- = 70 - 73 |
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D+ = 65 - 69 |
D = 60 - 64 |
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E = 0 - 59 |
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If you score a certain percentage, you will be ensured to get a grade corresponding to that percentage. If you did not score a percentage you desired, you still have chance to improve your grade by showing me that you are working hard and making progress in the course.
NOTE: The policies and schedule for this class are subject to change in accordance with circumstances that may change in the quarter.
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DAY |
Month |
DATE |
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TOPIC |
READ |
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Pages |
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Tuesday |
Jan |
24 |
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Introduction
to the Course |
viii-ix |
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Thursday |
|
26 |
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China General |
x-9 |
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Tuesday |
31 |
|
Chinese New Year (Video) |
5-9 |
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Thursday |
Feb |
2 |
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The Cultural Revolution: 1966-1976 (Video) |
9-11 |
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Tuesday |
|
7 |
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Economic Reform: The Open Door Policy |
11-13 |
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Thursday |
|
9 |
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Family, Population, and One Child Policy |
13-17 |
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Tuesday |
|
14 |
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The government |
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Thursday |
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16 |
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Exam 1 |
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Tuesday |
|
21 |
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Presidents’ Day – No Class |
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Thursday |
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23 |
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Language |
17-22 |
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Tuesday |
28 |
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The Chinese Government |
23-39 |
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Thursday |
Mar |
2 |
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Human Rights and Democracy in China |
39-40 |
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Tuesday |
|
7 |
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International Relations |
40-70 |
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Thursday |
|
9 |
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Hong Kong |
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71-94 |
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Tuesday |
|
14 |
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Taiwan |
71-94 |
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Thursday |
|
16 |
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Exam 2 |
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Tuesday |
|
21 |
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Spring Recess (No Class) |
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Thursday |
|
23 |
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Spring Recess (No Class) |
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Tuesday |
|
28 |
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Religions |
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Thursday |
30 |
|
Fa Lun Gong |
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(Poster printing will take about one
week. Submit now.) |
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Tuesday |
Apr |
4 |
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Education |
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Thursday |
|
6 |
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Tibet |
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Tuesday |
|
11 |
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Chinese Holidays |
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Thursday |
|
13 |
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Exam 3: Pictorial Posters Due |
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Tuesday |
|
18 |
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(Buffalo State China Week 2017) |
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Thursday |
|
20 |
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(Buffalo State China Week 2017) |
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Tuesday |
|
25 |
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Martial Arts |
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Thursday |
|
27 |
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Food: Chinese Cuisine |
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Tuesday |
May |
2 |
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Confucius
Institutes in the World |
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Thursday |
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4 |
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Final Day (Written Projects Due) |
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Thursday |
|
11 |
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Final Exam: 3:40 – 5:30pm |
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