Updates and Papers

I will update the blog this weekend with a reading guide for Topic 6 and with a summary of information we went over the last two weeks which I was unable to go over in discussion section. Since this is the last series of lectures before the final I wanted to wait until I had heard them before putting up the reading guide.

I've had several students ask me about when papers will be returned. You can pick them up at the final. I had several complaints about this and since one student asked if I would return them this week I should explain a bit about grading papers. Grading papers is basically an art. To do it properly you need to be in the right frame of mind. You don't want someone who is tired or grumpy to grade your paper because then you will end up with a lower grade than you deserve! I like to grade all the papers and then go back through and recheck papers which I'm not sure about. This takes awhile to do. I could get them all back very quickly but the grades would not be fair because I would be tired while reading papers and would not be able to fully understand what students are trying to say. It's better if I take my time and only grade them when I am fresh and in a good mood. This ensures that I will grade them as fairly as possible. Thanks for your patience in waiting for your papers. Good luck with your finals!

Review Session

The Review Session for the final will be on Friday, December 15th, at 6pm (to 8 or so) in either Buchanan B 318, 320, or 322. Bring your course notes and any questions.

Themes for My Essay Question on the Final

These are the general themes upon which my questions will be based for the final. You can ask questions on them next week in discussion section or at the final review. I might give some more tips on the blog later before the test.


How states in Asia use religion to govern

Transformation of Buddhism and its relationship to people and states

The spread of ideas and trade between different states and the effects this had

The rise and fall of Chinese dynasties

Stamping Papers

When you turn in your paper you don't have to have it stamped. I was mistaken in telling you to do that last time, ,my apologies. Just put it in the little basket on the desk inside the Asian Studies office and don't worry about getting it stamped. The papers will be stamped but the secretaries prefer doing it that way so they can stamp a whole bunch at once.

Topic 5 Textbook Reading

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of information in the textbook on the periods we are studying in Topic 5. You can find some background information on India on pages 81-87 (it's probably best to ignore Murphey's statements on prostitution) and on China on pages 107 and 141.

Topic 5 Reading Guide

Topic 5 Reading Guide

Heroes, Gods and Saviors
Introduction

How did Buddhism transform as it left India?
What happened when Brahmanism was transformed into Hinduism? How did the epics play a part in this transformation?

Epics
What do you find striking about these epics? What does their purpose seem to be (for example, were they made to entertain or to teach certain values or both or something else)?
How are people described in them? In what ways is a person’s gender important in regards to how they are described? What roles do men and women play?

Hindu Synthesis
What is Arjuna’s dilemma? How does Krishna solve it?
What is the purpose of yoga? How is it practiced?
What is Krishna revealed as?

Buddhism: Wisdom and Faith
What do you think is meant by “emptiness” and statements such as “there I no decay and death, no extinction of decay and death (paragraph 5)
What benefits does the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara bring?

Beliefs and Quests in China
What does Wang Ch’ung think of popular religion and Taoism?
Why is having a teacher so important? Why must one be careful of teachers?

Manicheism: Duality and Syncretism
What other religions influenced Manicheism?

Reading Guide and Classical Topics

The reading guide for topic five will be posted sometime next week (probably Tuesday or Wednesday).

Some of the topics in assignment two mention "Classical China" or "Classical India". This refers to these civilizations after 300AD. You can find information for these topics under chapter 6 of the sourcebook. For China, don't do anything after the Tang dynasty (it will be too late). For India, the main classical period would be the "Guptas" (320-500 or so). If you aren't sure if your topic is acceptable I am happy to check it.

Office Hours to Check Papers

I will have office hours to check student papers for assignment 2 at the following times:

November 21st, Tuesday, 9am - 10:45am

November 22nd, Wednesday, 1pm - 4pm

If you can't make either of these times please email me.

Leaving Wednesday

I will be leaving for a conference Wednesday evening and so will not be at lecture on Thursday. I will most likely be unable to answer email during that time as well. If you have any questions about your paper or anything else, please contact me by Wednesday afternoon.

Reading Guide for Topic 4

The readings for topic 4 are from the sourcebook. There aren't specific textbook readings for Topic 4. Make sure though you have done the readings for Topic 3!

I think I asked too many questions in the old reading guides so I am asking fewer, more general questions now. I hope this approach helps:


Introduction
What different things began to connect Asia?
How did India and China react differently to contact?

China Reaches Outwards
Why is China interested in the outside world?
From reading these sources, what kind of information do the Chinese authors think is worth recording?

Asia and the World
In this section, what are the different ways they react to meeting people who are from different cultures? What are some of the obstacles that stand in the way of different cultures interacting with each other?

Traveling
What are some of the difficulties people faced when traveling?

Buddhism and the Ancient World
How do these sources describe the spread of Buddhism? What were some of the difficulties Buddhism faced as it left China and how did people seek to overcome these difficulties?

Updated Paper Guideliness, Required Reading!

I have updated the old Paper Guidelines for assignment two. Some of the content is the same but some has been changed. You are responsible for following these guidelines on your paper as well as those listed in the assignment 2 sheet.

Assignment Two Paper Guidelines

Supplemental Paper Guidelines

General
1) Margins should be set at one-inch top and bottom and 1.25 inches left and right.
2) Fonts for the body of the paper should be 12 point and the paper double spaced.
3) Pages should be numbered.
4) Pages should be stapled together. Folders or tape should not be used.
5) No marks should be made on the paper with pencil, pen, or other writing instrument.
6) Either on a topic page or the heading of the paper the following information must be included: Your name, your TA name (Franklin Rausch) your student number, the title of your paper, the topic you have chosen, and your discussion section number.
7) Papers are to be turned in to my Asian studies mailbox or to me in person. Assignment One is due by November 24th.
8) Failure to follow these guidelines will result in points being deducted from your grade.
9) Your paper must deal with aspects of Asia between the years of 3,000 BC to 800 AD.
10) You may only use English sources (no foreign language sources).
11) Make sure you use at least one sourcebook entry and that it is a central part of your paper.

Citations
1) Only MLA style will be accepted. Any other forms will result in a lower grade. You can find a link to a website showing how to use MLA style from the course blog.
2) You must make in text citations. If you quote someone or use ideas or information from a source you must cite that source. Failure to make sufficient citations will result in a lower grade or a 0 (or worse!) in the case of plagiarism.
3) To cite the sourcebook in your bibliography, write Converging and Diverging, Chapter X.
4) To cite the sourcebook in the text of your paper write (Converging and Diverging, Chapter X, page Y).
5) Your bibliography should be on a separate page. It does not count towards your page limit.
6) Cite E-journals as paper journals
7) You must use at least 3 sources (not including Murphy or the Sourcebook)
8) One of the sources cite must be a book.