ETAS (East Asia) 500 - L01
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN EAST ASIA
Fall/Winter 2007-2008
R 16:00-18:50

Instructor:	Prof. Mark Baron
Office Location:	SS 720
Office Phone:	220-4183
E-Mail:	baronm@ucalgary.ca
Office Hours:	M 10:00-12:00

Additional Information

Please be advised that this is a full-year course running F/W, 2007-2008.

Course Description

This advanced reading and research methods course is designed to assist students in the preparation of an analytically rigorous research paper on an issue that is directly relevant to the study of contemporary East Asia and that is in their particular area of interest. Issues must be chosen in consultation with the instructor and must be either disciplinary or multidisciplinary in focus.

In the Fall semester, students will undertake an extensive review of the literature and ground themselves in the intellectual debates that demarcate their respective research areas. They will also concentrate on clearly defining their individual research papers through the preparation and presentation of a research design. The Winter semester will be devoted entirely to the composition of the research paper. At the mid-term point of the semester, students will distribute copies of their draft papers to the instructor and their classmates, and present their research findings in seminar. The revised and polished final draft of the research paper will be submitted to the instructor at the beginning of the last class meeting of the Winter term.

Students are advised that they are expected to meet with the instructor on a regular basis in order to keep him up to date on the progress of their course work. They are also expected to attend the library orientation sessions that are scheduled for R, September 27, 2007, (16:00) and R, October 4, 2007, (16:00) in the university library (LL-102).

Objectives of the Course

The purpose of this course is to provide students with a solid foundation in the research tools needed to design and execute an advanced research project. In addition, it is structured to help students develop a more comprehensive background in the study of East Asia by exposing them to the specialized vocabulary, core concepts, theoretical frameworks, and intellectual debates that define not only their own research interests, but those of their colleagues as well. The course is also intended to help students enhance their analytical, writing, and oral communication skills.

Textbooks and Readings:

There are no required textbooks for this course. Readings will be determined by the students in consultation with the instructor.

Assignments and Evaluation

Preliminary Statement of Research Interests - R, October 11, 2007 - 10%

Research Design Preparation Seminar - R, October 18, 2007

Seminar Presentation of the Draft Research Design - R, November 15, 2007 and R, November 22, 2007 (if necessary) - 10%

Research Design (Final Draft) - R, December 6, 2007 - 30%

Research Paper Preparation Seminar - R, January 17, 2008

Seminar Presentation of the Draft Research Paper - R, March 6, 2008 and R, March 13, 2008 (if necessary) - 10%

Research Paper (Final Draft) - R, April 17, 2008 - 40%

Preliminary Statement of Research Interests: The preliminary title and focus of student research papers must be established in consultation with the instructor and must be approved by him no later than R, October 11, 2007. Students will inform the instructor of their research intentions in writing by providing him with a Preliminary Statement of Research Interests. The Preliminary Statement of Research Interests must not exceed three (3) typed, double-spaced pages in length (750 words) and should be no shorter than two (2) pages (500 words). A more detailed discussion of the instructions for this requirement will be provided in class on R, September 13, 2007.

Library Orientation: On R, September 27 and R, October 4, students will receive advanced and intensive library instruction in the location and selection of primary and secondary research materials. The purpose of this orientation is to assist students in the definition and refinement of their research topics, to provide them with the background needed to prepare their research presentations and research designs, to impart the specialized skills required to compile the bibliographies of their research papers, and to enhance their general proficiency in library research. NOTE: Students will need to attend these sessions in order to successfully complete their Research Designs, Research Papers, and seminar presentations.

Research Design: The text of the Research Design must not exceed twenty (20) typed, double-spaced pages in length (5000 words) and should be no shorter than fifteen (15) pages (3750 words). A detailed set of instructions for the Research Design will be distributed immediately following the library orientation session on R, October 4, 2007.

Seminar Presentation of the Draft Research Design: Instructions for the seminar presentation will be distributed in class on R, October 18, 2007.

Research Paper and Seminar Presentation: The text of the Research Paper must not exceed forty (40) typed, double-spaced pages in length (10 000 words) and should be no shorter than thirty (30) pages (7500 words). A detailed set of instructions for the Research Paper and the seminar presentation will be distributed in class on R, January 17, 2008.

Seminar Participation: Students are expected to have completed and thoughtfully considered the assigned readings by the commencement of each class, and to demonstrate that they have done so through constructive contributions to/criticisms of their colleague's Research Design and Research Paper presentations, and through informed and appropriate interventions in seminar discussions.

Seminar Presentation Schedule: A schedule with tentative titles and firm time slots for individual Research Design presentations will be distributed in class on R, October 18, 2007. A schedule with firm titles and firm time slots for individual Research Paper presentations will be distributed in class on R, January 17, 2008. NOTE: Students must present in the time slots assigned to them. The instructor will not revise the presentation schedules except in extreme circumstances that are outlined in the University Calendar and supported by appropriate documentation.

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  No

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see the U of C Research Ethics "Information for Applicants," sections 3.0 to 9.0, inclusive: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/research/html/ethics/info_undergrad.html

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

To be distributed in class.