Making China Modern

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

The history of 20th century China is explored via a study of major events linked to modernizing and nation-building projects. Changes in political organisation, material culture and understandings of self and community are traced from the end of the Chinese empire through the Republican era, Liberation, the Cultural Revolution, and the Reform era, leading up to China"s successful bid for the 2008 Olympics. Through readings in primary source materials and reflective articles, students are asked to think about both internal and external influences on the trajectory of change in recent Chinese history.

• have developed a knowledge of local historical circumstances that shaped China's engagement with nationalism and modernity.
• have an understanding of recent Chinese history in light of global economic and political trends.
• have a capacity to write about Chinese history in informed comparative terms

Short review, 800 words, due Day 6 (20%); class test, one hour, on completion of the subject (20%); research essay, 2200 words, due within two weeks of completion of subject (50%); tutorial participation 10%.

Hurdle requirement: students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day; after five days, no late assessment will be accepted. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Jonathan Fenby, Modern China: The Fall and Rise of a Great Power, 1850 to the Present (Ecco: 2008)

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

• demonstrate research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources.
• show critical thinking and analysis through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument.
• demonstrate understanding of social, ethical and cultural context through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument.