EAS129 Gender in East Asia
20 credits; Autumn semester
Module Organiser: Dr Mark Pendleton (m.pendleton@sheffield.ac.uk)

Overview
This module explores the ways in which gender is constructed, represented and experienced in the various countries of East Asia. It will also look at how gender intersects with other categories of identity, including race, nationality and sexuality. Through the module, students will develop an understanding of key concepts and approaches to gender studies and the way in which these have been applied in the East Asian region. Topics include representations of sex/gender; bodies and biology; relationships, sex and reproduction; notions of family; and gendered work.

Skills Development
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to demonstrate:
• Knowledge and understanding – A firm understanding of key concepts in gender studies and their application in East Asia;
• Critical thinking – The ability to critically assess different explanations for how gender is constructed, represented and experienced;
• Research and Analytical skills – The ability to locate, evaluate and interpret a range of sources appropriate for university research;
• Communication skills – The ability to express your ideas in seminar discussions and develop arguments through different modes of assessment.

Assessment : Essay; examination.

Before you start:
You may like to have a look at Anne Cranny-Francis, Wendy Waring, Pam Stavropoulos, Joan Kirkby (2003) Gender Studies: Terms and Debates, London and New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

EAS137 Japanese Politics
10 credits; Autumn Semester
Module Organiser: Professor Hugo Dobson (h.dobson@sheffield.ac.uk)

Overview
This is an introductory module that is built around some of the big questions that are often asked by the outside world about politics in contemporary Japan, from the role of the prime minister to the influence of women, the media, the military and popular culture. It begins by considering the continued relevance of Japan and what we understand by politics before moving on to explore a number of domestic and international political issues.

Lectures will provide you with an up-to-date understanding of these issues and seminars will address the ideas presented in the lecture through group work and general discussion.

Skills Development
On completion of this module, as well as enhanced understanding of the module content and themes outlined above, you will also be able to demonstrate growing competence as:
• A critical, analytical and creative thinker – you will develop the ability to compare, contrast and evaluate different opinions on these issues;
• A flexible team worker – you will be able to work within and lead small groups of fellow students in completing a particular task related to these issues;
• An independent learner – you will also develop the ability to find and evaluate a range of materials through researching and writing two assessed essays by yourself;

Assessment: Essays

Before you start:
If you need to get up to speed on Japan and its political development, see Christopher Goto-Jones, (2009), Modern Japan: a very short introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

EAS138 Japanese History
10 credits; Autumn semester
Module Organiser: Dr Hiro Richard Watanabe (h.watanabe@sheffield.ac.uk)

Overview
This module is a survey course of Japanese history from the ancient period to Japan’s defeat in WWII. The main focus of each lecture is the understanding of the political development and the power shift among relevant actors in each historical period. In order to help students ‘visualise’ Japanese history, a short film or two will be shown in each week. Seminars will be conducted by forming small groups composed of a few students so that every student will be able to participate in discussion. Two sessions in one week will be allocated to students’ group presentations and another two sessions to exam preparation.

Skills Development
On completion of this module, as well as enhanced understanding of the module content and themes outlined above, you will be able to demonstrate the following attributes:
• Critical thinking – The ability to examine causal relationships of major historical events in a systematic manner;
• Independent learning – The ability to conduct required and recommended reading and evaluate different interpretations of Japanese history;
• Information literacy – The ability to identify relevant literature sources and data to provide evidence to support arguments;
• Communication skills – The ability to express your ideas in seminar discussions and present a critical argument in an assessed exam.

Assessment: Presentation; examination

Before you start:
If you need to get familiar with ancient and medieval history of Japan in advance, browse Hane, Mikiso (1991), Premodern Japan: A Historical Survey. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

EAS160 Modern Chinese History
10 credits; Autumn semester
Module Organiser: Dr Marjorie Dryburgh (m.e.dryburgh@sheffield.ac.uk)

Overview
This module explores the significance of some of the major points of change in twentieth-century China, from the first revolution of 1911 through the social changes of the 1920s to the war years, Communism and Cultural Revolution, and will consider how these have been understood by eyewitnesses and in academic and popular histories. In lectures, we will ask how historical understandings of “key events” and slower processes of change have shifted over time, and in each section of the module you will see an extract from a historical film based on the events studied. Seminars will be based on small-group work, developing key skills in the use of academic literature and primary materials such as diaries, in essay preparation, and discussing questions such as the place of feature films in popular histories, and historians’ and revolutionaries’ differing concepts of revolution.

Skills Development
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to demonstrate not only a critical understanding of the key themes covered by the module but also:
• Critical thinking – The ability to compare the histories of academic literature with other histories expressed in film, personal narratives or visual evidence, and to understand what insights can (or can not) be taken from different types of source;
• Independent learning – The ability to find and evaluate source material, both for context/background reading, as assessed in the literature search exercise, and to research a focused essay question;
• IT Literacy – You will be able to use a range of key IT tools confidently, including MOLE, for basic module tasks and information, and literature search tools such as StarPlus and JSTOR;
• Communication skills – The ability to express your ideas in seminar discussions and present an argument in an assessed essay.

Assessment: Literature search assignment; essay.

Before you start:
If you would like to brush up your knowledge of twentieth-century China before starting, Rana Mitter, (2008), Modern China: a very short introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press offers an excellent overview.

EAS168 Chinese Culture and Society
10 credits; Autumn semester
Module organiser: Dr James Coates (contact via seas@sheffield.ac.uk)

Overview
This module examines a number of key aspects of Chinese culture and society, including nationalism and ethnicity, faith, family, tradition and education, and explores how these have been understood by eyewitnesses, academics and filmmakers. Through a combination of lectures, film showings and seminars, we will explore specific themes and examine debates about some of the most talked about, and sometimes most misunderstood, aspects of Chinese culture and society.

Skills development
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to demonstrate not only a critical understanding of the key themes covered by the module but also:
• An understanding of how to research academic literature (from monographs, edited volumes and journals) and non-academic material (such as news reports, films, and personal histories) on these topics;
• An ability to analyse evidence from these sources, a skill developed through seminar discussions and your source evaluation exercise;
• An ability to present your arguments effectively in writing, a skill assessed through your individual research essay.

Assessment: Source evaluation exercise; essay.

Before you start:
If you want to start reading ahead on key module themes, see Zang Xiaowei (2011), Understanding Chinese Society, London: Routledge, available as an e-book from the University Library.