STUDENT NOTICE: This syllabus is representative of the workload and the kinds of assignments you will bedoing, but specific assignments may vary in your section. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until theprofessor opens the classroom and you have access to the full course.

LSCS 3223 Cultural Geography of China

Instructor Information:

Instructor’s contact information is located under “Course Announcements” and under “Course Roster” in D2L. Thecourse instructor will be available through OU email to students. Please arrange phone appointments through OUemail.

Catalog Description:

Introduces students to the cultural geography of China, though some attention will be given to other countries as comparison.Students will be introduced to major characteristics and issues in Chinese history providing a framework for understanding theaspects of Chinese cultural geography. (F, Sp)

Course Overview:

Cultural geography is an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the dynamic relationships between people, places, historicalevents, large-scale social processes and everyday life. More than simply mapping terrain and populations, cultural geographyfocuses on the human elements of social and cultural change across space and time in China, such as rapid urbanindustrialization, unprecedented rural-urban migration, spaces of collective memory, border conflicts, themes of place found inartistic representations, transnational networks and economic globalization. As an ascendant military, geo-political and economicsuperpower, the importance of developing a multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary understanding of Chinese society cannot beunderstated. Unique in its holistic approach and unconventional methodology, our course in cultural geography will not onlyprovide rare insights into contemporary Chinese society, but also introduce new ways of conceptualizing the many worlds in whichwe live.

In all probability this will be a class unlike any other you have taken. Indeed, rather than a college course to be taken, culturalgeography courses are designed to be experienced, felt beneath your feet, and explored with all of your senses and imagination.Our “course” is quite literally a journey through time and across vast distances; our readings are intellectually stimulating becausethey are rich with visual imagery, fresh perspectives, and unlikely subject matter. We will begin the course as caravan merchantsand emissaries traveling through China on ancient trade routes to the capital of the Grand Qing empire, where we will be receivedas honored guests of the imperial court in the summer palace at Chengde. As Chinese traders we will sail, laden with goods fromacross the known world, from Mediterranean ports now flush with our caravan’s cargo of silk and porcelain, to the docksof Portuguese Macau and the great Pearl River Delta city of Guangzhou. As the course continues, our progeny will settle in theregion, slowly shed their Tibetan and Mongolian roots, to become the Chinese craftsmen building the marvelous monuments andstatuary symbolizing the slowly changing relationship between the Western world and China – from Christian domination to thecross-cultural synergy required by a global economy. Such a journey is open to us through the unique intellectual experience ofcultural geography.

Course Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course students will have gained:

The ability to apply the unique principles and methods of interdisciplinary cultural geography when analyzing local, regionaland global phenomena;A holistic understanding of socio-cultural processes in China across time and space, including politicaldevelopments, shiftingmodes of production, rural-urban migration, and transnational mobility of people, ideas and capital;In-depth knowledge and historically informed insights into three ongoing border disputes, each with unique cultural,economic, political and military dimensions: the island of Taiwan, the territory of Tibet, and the Xinjiang Uighur AutonomousRegion on the northwestern frontier;Further competence in primary and secondary research, interdisciplinary analysis and formal composition skills.

Prerequisites:

Junior standing

Textbooks:

Grading Scale:

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College of Liberal Studies Created: 28 Jan 2016 The University of Oklahoma

Grading Scale Unit 1: Concepts in Cultural Geography (8 total) = 90 Unit 1: Frontier Analysis: Taiwan = 100 Unit 2: Landscapes of History & Memory - Unit topic paper = 100Unit 2: Frontier Analysis – elective region = 100Unit 2: Concepts update (add 3 or improve 3 existing) = 35 Unit 3: “Other” Zones – Unit topic paper = 100Unit 3: Frontier Analysis – elective region = 100Unit 3: Concepts update (add 3 or improve 3 existing) = 35 Unit 4: Routes & Roots (film or novel) – Unit topic paper = 100Unit 4: Frontier Analysis: elective region or integrate 3 = 150Unit 4: Final Concepts document in formal APA style = 10 Total points: 920

Course Requirements:

Frontier Analysis

These papers analyze the differing relationships between groups living in the frontier regions and the ruling central power in Chinaacross two historical eras, or major shifts within an era. The papers will explore key transitions in frontier relations. Papers shouldbe 1,000 to 1,500 words in length, utilize at least five (5) academic publications, and incorporate core concepts of culturalgeography.

Unit Topics

These papers focus on a specific subject chosen by the student in the context of the general topics covered in the assignedreadings. Papers should be 1,000 to 1,500 words in length, utilize at least five (5) academic publications, and incorporate coreconcepts of cultural geography.

Concepts in Cultural Geography

These definitions discuss the core analytical ideas and sources of data related to cultural geography appearing in our coursereadings. Entries will be in the form of brief (150-200 words) essays drawing upon assigned readings. Each concept will bediscussed in terms of the overarching ideas, and the way the concepts have been applied to China.

Computer Availability

Internet access is required for use of D2L to receive course information and submit course materials. All assignments will besubmitted through D2L. Internet access will also be required to view web links and videos related to course materials as well as topost and reply to the Discussion forum. This does not apply to NCPACE.

Software

Microsoft Office Products. Adobe Acrobat Reader or Professional. Students will need to be able to open pdf files.

Participation

Each student will submit assignments according to instructions located within each unit in D2L. Each student also should beprepared to discuss each unit’s content through dialogue in the discussion forum. Each student is expected to be courteous,professional, and considerate in all discussion posts.

Attendance

Class attendance is important. On campus, students are required to attend class on a regular basis and arrive on time. In thisonline course, attendance will be taken according to submission of assignments and participation in the discussion forum for eachunit. Due to the flexibility of schedule with an online class, excused absences are rarely a necessity. Students who are militarysoldiers who are activated are encouraged to notify the instructor in advance.

Submission of Assignments

Students will submit assignments to the appropriate dropbox in D2L. No assignments should be submitted by email. Studentsshould retain a copy of any assignments that are submitted for the course. Writing assignments should be submitted as (MS Word(doc./docx) WordPerfect, PostScript, Adobe PDF, HTML, RTF, or Plain Text). Instructors may have other assignments that need to

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be submitted such as PowerPoint, Keynote, Pages, MyMedia, etc.

Feedback

The instructor will provide comments on assignments as needed and appropriate. Feedback will be available through the dropboxfor assignments and can also be viewed under grades. Grades can also be viewed as feedback as they reflect students’ ability tofollow assignment guidelines and apply critical thought and analysis to the content.

Grading Procedures

Grades will be posted in D2L under grades. To protect the privacy of student grades, all grades, whether for individual assignmentsor the overall course, will NOT be provided via email, but can be viewed in D2L. The professor is solely accountable for evaluatingand determining grades, and is the final decision-maker on grading issues. Questions about grades should be addressed to theprofessor, using your University of Oklahoma e-mail account.

Use of Turn-It-In

Students understand and agree that all required papers are subject to submission to Turn-it-In. This is a service that providestextual similarity review for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the applicablereference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. All submissions are compared to University ofOklahoma documents, the general Internet, journal databases, and other schools’ submissions. While students retain copyright totheir original work, faculty can and do submit students’ documents to the Plagiarism Checker to protect the academic integrity ofthe university environment, which is a permissible academic use of students’ work.

Late Work

If the student knows he or she will miss an assignment or exam deadline, it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangementsPRIOR to that deadline. You must receive permission in advance from the instructor. In the case of an emergency or illness, thestudent must contact the instructor no later than the day of the assignment. In such cases, documentation of the emergency mustbe presented to the instructor. Excuses for illness and emergencies will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Students missing adeadline without a prior arrangement or a legitimate emergency may receive an ’F’ for that assignment.

Course Policies and Requirements

Professor policies, procedures, and course requirements are posted in the in course resources, and within "Content" for each unit.Any updates or changes will be made available under "Course Announcements" on the course homepage. Policies and courserequirements are subject to change. Read the course announcements at the beginning of the course and each week throughoutthe course.

University of Oklahoma and College of Liberal Studies Policies

Read the University of Oklahoma and College of Liberal Study Policies including policies on receiving an "I" (Incomplete Grade) foryour course and the special accommodation policy on your home page in D2L. These policies are subject to change and should bereviewed before each new class.

Religious Holidays

It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide withoutpenalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays.

Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues

Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related orchildbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss. Generally, modifications will be made where medicallynecessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Please seewww.ou.edu/content/eoo/pregnancyfaqs.htmlfor commonly asked questions.

Title IX Resources

For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partnerviolence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24.7, counseling services, mutual no contactorders, scheduling adjustments and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office405-325-2215 (8-5) or the Sexual Assault Response Team 405-615-0013 (24.7) to learn more or to report an incident.

Academic Misconduct Policy

Integrity in all aspects of scholarship is essential to the University’s mission. The Academic Misconduct Code sets forth the rightsand responsibilities of all students on the Norman Campus regarding academic integrity, and provides the procedures to befollowed in cases of suspected misconduct. Academic misconduct is defined as any act which improperly affects the evaluation ofa student’s academic performance or achievement. It specifically includes cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, fraud, destruction ofproperty, and bribery or intimidation, as well as assisting others or attempting to engage in such acts. It is the responsibility of eachstudent to be familiar with the definitions, policies and procedures concerning academic misconduct; unfamiliarity with the codealters none of a student’s rights or responsibilities thereunder. The Academic Misconduct Code is printed with the Student Code

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and is also available at Academic Misconduct Code (PDF).

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

The University of Oklahoma will reasonably accommodate otherwise qualified individuals with a disability unless suchaccommodation would pose an undue hardship, would result in a fundamental alteration in the nature of the service, program oractivity, or would create undue financial or administrative burdens. The term “reasonable accommodation” is used in its generalsense in this policy to apply to employees, students and visitors. Student requests for reasonable accommodation should beaddressed to the Disability Resource Center, Goddard Health Center, 620 Elm Avenue, Suite 166, (405) 325-3852, TDD (405)325-4173, FAX (405) 325-4491, or ods@ou.edu

A student must self-identify as an individual with a disability and provide appropriate diagnostic information that substantiates thedisability. Disability includes two elements: (1) a physical or mental impairment which (2) substantially limits one or more of themajor life activities of the person in question. Major life activities include but are not limited to walking, breathing, seeing, hearing,performing manual tasks, caring for oneself, learning and working. Disability has both medical and functional elements, and both ofthese elements must be explicitly documented for the Disability Resource Center. The Disability Resource Center will then assessthe impact of the disability on the student’s academic program and record the required academic accommodations in a memo tothe instructor. All diagnostic information is confidential and therefore memos can be sent only at the student’s request. Studentsare required to provide appropriate documentation of disability prior to the provision of services. Accommodations cannot beretroactive and can begin only after documentation is received and a reasonable time for accommodation development has beenallowed. Individuals who have complaints alleging discriminations based upon a disability may file them with the University’s EqualOpportunity Officer in accordance with prevailing University discrimination grievance procedures.

Copyright

Copyright © 2015 by University of Oklahoma Board of Regents. All rights reserved. Visit OU Public Affairs for more information andfor the complete Terms of Use.

College of Liberal Studies Mission Statement

Our Mission is to provide the highest quality interdisciplinary education to non-traditional students, promote lifelong learning, andencourage the work of active citizenship.

Syllabus Created By: jrb

Syllabus Last Updated: 2016-01-28 14:41:29

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College of Liberal Studies Created: 28 Jan 2016 The University of Oklahoma