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Full Description

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This class is presented around current topics crucial to an understanding of the relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China for the past fifty-seven years. The course focuses primarily on the bilateral relationship, but multilateral issues, such as U.S.-China cooperation in persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear program -- the Six Party Talks-- are also addressed as the topics arise during the semester. The historical context for each topic is addressed at the beginning of each unit.

The course covers the eleven topics that represent the most contentious issues in a relationship that has had its ups and downs for nearly six decades. Despite the ups and downs, the relationship has survived, if barely sometimes.

READING MATERIALS

There is no required textbook for this course. The primary text for this course is a reader with selected readings. Reading materials topics will be made available in hard copy as we go from topic to topic. Each topic is presented through a balanced selection of Chinese and U.S. official documents, speeches, interviews, press releases, and the ubiquitous “white paper” (government position papers). In effect, the chapters are a “he said, she said” set of arguments. A brief background note introduces each chapter.

Students will also be given a CD with important secondary sources, including scholarly articles and reports from the news media; in effect, your own “library” with materials drawn from the Internet.

CLASS ATTENDANCE AND BEHAVIOR

Class attendance is mandatory. Students will be permitted three unexcused absences, but each unexcused absence will deduct points off the final tally for determining class grades.

First unexcused absence: deduct 1 point.
Second: deduct 2 points.
Third: deduct 3 points.
Fourth, conference with teacher to determine whether or not to continue in the class. If the decision is to continue, deduct 4 points.
Fifth, automatic withdrawal from class

Tests missed because of unexcused absences will not be made up, and the points will be deducted from the overall point tally that determines the class grade. Falling asleep in class will be treated as an unexcused absence. The class attendance system described above applies to sleeping in class.

CLASS PARTICIPATION

Class participation is highly encouraged, and will be rewarded positively. Entries on class participation are made at the conclusion of each class denoted by a “+” sign if the student has participated actively (class attendance in itself is not considered a positive sign of participation). Class participation may influence the outcome of the course grade where applicable. For example, class participation may increase a student’s grade who has a borderline score between a “B+” and “A-.”

GRADING

There are twelve (12) assignments in all: eleven (11) written assignments and an oral final presentation. The written assignments—persuasive essays no longer than 750 words--are due one week after the completion of a topic. The essays will be graded for content, persuasiveness, and grammar (a writing tutorial will be offered before the first writing assignment is due). A 10-minute oral presentation constitutes the final examination. I will provide you with information on the format and content of this exercise upon completion of the 11th topic.

Each assignment is worth 10 points totaling 120 possible points.

A = 108 points and above

B = 96-107 points

C = 84-95 points

D = 72-83 points

F = 82 points and below

Students may earn extra points through class participation. I note the frequency and relevancy of class participation after each class period.