Important Information s1

COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE NAME
1125-ASH3440/ASN5932 GENERAL INFORMATION•IMPORTANT INFORMATION•COURSE DETAIL•COURSE CALENDAR
PROFESSOR INFORMATION
/ Instructor: / Dr. Eric Messersmith / Email:
Office: / DM 342 C (MMC) / Office Hours: / By appointment in chat room
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course surveys the development of civilization in Japan from pre-modern times through the present. The course will begin its focus on readings associated with the struggles for unification during the Momoyama period and the eventual victory of the Tokugawa. While the intent of the course is to give students a firm basis for understanding the foundations of Japanese culture, broader questions such as the nature of civilization, cultural borrowing, and the extent to which culture and civilization can or should be distinctive or unique, will also be addressed.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course is a survey history of Japan, and is meant primarily to prepare students for a more meaningful appreciation of the development of modern Japanese history. At the same time, the course seeks to provide for students an appreciation of the fundamentals shaping Japanese culture and civilization, be they religious, philosophical, economic, literary, linguistic, or artistic. Thus, by the end of the semester students should have an understanding of the nature of Japanese geography, Shinto, varieties of Japanese Buddhism, the essential emphases of Japanese law, literature, and philosophy, as well as the key components of Japanese language. Given this broad background in the fundamentals, students who complete the course successfully should be able to more insightfully assimilate new information and studies related to Japan. Additionally, as is true with the study of any foreign culture, students should have realized significantly more about themselves and their "own" culture.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

RULES, POLICIES, & ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
Please review thepolicies pageas it contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses at FIU and additional information on the standards for acceptable netiquitte important for online courses.
Assignments from the text and other resources are listed below for each class session. Students are expected to be pace their learning according to the posted course assignments.
It is expected that interactive learning and teaching will enrich the learning experience of all students, and that each student will work in partnership with the professor to create a positive learning experience for all. Student engagement is a necessary condition for an effective learning experience, and includes contributions to debate and discussion (if any), positive interactive learning with others, and an enthusiastic attitude towards inquiry. Everyone is expected to be a positive contributor to the class learning community, and students are expected to share the responsibility of teaching each other.
Statement of Understanding between Professor and Student
Every student must respect the right of all to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students must adhere to a standard of academic conduct, demonstrating respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. As a student in the College of Business taking this class:
· I will not represent someone else's work as my own
· I will not cheat, nor will I aid in another's cheating
· I will be honest in my academic endeavors
· I understand that if I am found responsible for academic misconduct, I will be subject to the academic misconduct procedures and sanctions as outlined in the Student Handbook
Failure to adhere to the guidelines stated above may result in one of the following:
Expulsion: Permanent separation of the student from the University, preventing readmission to the institution. This sanction shall be recorded on the student's transcript.
Suspension: Temporary separation of the student from the University for a specific period of time.
By taking this online course I promise to adhere to FIU's Student Code of Academic Integrity.
NOTE: Intensive Auditing of the course will be conducted to prevent academic misconduct.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
For information about prerequisites,click here.
This online section does not require an on-campus meeting and/or exam.
TEXTBOOKs
1. The Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present, 3rd Edition
Andrew Gordon
Oxford University Press
ISBN: 978-0-19-993015-9
Click hereto buy the above textbook online at the FIU Bookstore.
2. History of Japan, Ura and Omote
To reserve or purchase this textbook, please follow the instructions below:
Step 1: Log on tohttps://students.universityreaders.com/store/.
Step 2: Create an account or log in if you have an existing account to purchase.
Step 3: Easy-to-follow instructions will guide you through the process of reserving your textbook or, if it is ready for purchase, the rest of the ordering process. Payment can be made by all major credit cards or with an electronic check.
COURSE: ASH 3440 | History of Japan
INSTRUCTOR(S): Eric Messersmith
This is an online course, meaning that all of the course work will be conducted online. Expectations for performance in an online course are the same as for a traditional course; in fact, online courses require a degree of self-motivation, self-discipline, and technology skills that can make them more demanding for some students.
Online courses are not independent study courses. You will be expected to interact online with the professor and your fellow students; to do assignments; to meet deadlines; and in many classes, to work in virtual groups. In this online course, you will NOT be required to come to campus.
Students are expected to:
· Review theHow to Get Started informationlocated in the course content.
· Introduce yourself to the classduring the first week by posting a self- introduction in the appropriate discussion forum.
· Take the practice quizto ensure that your computer is compatible with Blackboard.
· Interactonline with instructor/s and peers and keep up with all assignments.
· Reviewand follow the course calendar.

COURSE DETAILS

GRADUATE STUDENT COMPONENT
All graduate students enrolled in this course will be responsible for all the coursework listed in the undergraduate syllabus. In addition, you will submit a short research paper of 8-10 pages including a bibliography on a topic of your choosing (with my prior approval).
These papers must be submitted to turnitin.com and then placed in the assignment drop box at any time during the course (please send me a note when you submit) but no later than week 6.
QUIZZES, EXAMS, Current Event Journal (CEJ) & GRADING
There will be two quizzes, one each in preparation for the midterm and final exams. The last exam will be given on the last day of class during the regular semester. Each quiz will be 10% and the midterm and final exam will count 20% each of the final grade. The exams will not be cumulative in the strict sense of the term, though students will be expected to demonstrate mastery of the earlier information as is necessary to compare and contrast the material studied insightfully.Exams will typically include both "objective" ( true/false; multiple choice; fill in the blank, etc) . They will be taken from the course textbook and material provided in the "Content" section.
Brief quizzes will be given, and cumulatively will count as 20% of the final grade. The quizzes are designed to ensure that students master the details of Japanese history on a regular basis. Given that much of the information integral to the study of Japanese history is utterly foreign to beginning students, it is essential that students attempt to digest it in reasonable increments. The quizzes, testing geographic details, familiarity with names, events, etc., will typically be "objective" in nature. Those who attend and participate meaningfully in class, read carefully and reflect upon assigned readings, and review class lectures, discussions, and assigned readings with an eye toward meaningful integration of the material, should haveno difficultieswith the quizzes.
CURRENT EVENT JOURNAL: (One page including source citation)
This assignment is meant to keep students up to date with current news events regarding Japan. In order to fully understand the impact that Japan has on the rest of the world today, each student will post and comment on one news article per week (not including week one) that relates to a contemporary issue dealing with Japan.
For every journal entry, a series of essential questions will need to be addressed that examine the student's awareness of local, global, international and intercultural issues, trends and systems along with suggestions by the student on how to take action within the context of their own lives or engage in a shared solution regarding the news article. The student will also be expected to comment on each article as well as provide internet based research regarding the issue brought up in the news article.
ONLINE ENVIRONMENT
The objective of the online environment is to be collaborative, NOT combative. Remember, even an innocent remark in the on-line environment can be misconstrued. Therefore, proofread your responses carefully before you post them to make sure that others will not take them as personal attacks.
Be positive in your approach to others and careful about your words. Since we cannot see each other, it is difficult to tell if you are shy, bored, sarcastic, or just kidding. I expect you to be kind to one another and excel. You are not in competition for grades. Do not confuse winning a competition with meeting a standard of excellence. They definitely are not the same thing here. Use discussions to develop your skills in collaboration and teamwork. In order for you to get as much as possible from the online medium, it is important that an environment is created where each of you can feel comfortable enough to open up and make statements. It is important that you experiment with your ideas. Take risks!
DISABILITY NOTICE
I understand that there isOffice of Disability Servicesavailable to me should I need it. It is my responsibility to contact them to process my request to have my needs met. I need to follow their procedures as to proper notification to the instructor.
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
The University's policy on religious holy days as stated in the University Catalog and Student Handbook will be followed in this class. Any student may request to be excused from (on-line) class to observe a religious holy day of his or her faith.
GRADING
COURSE REQUIREMENTS / WEIGHT
Participation in Discussion Forum (min. req. 3 x 6 weeks=18 total) / 25%
2 Quizzes (10% each quiz) / 20%
Midterm & Final Exam (20% each) / 40%
Current Event Journal (x5) / 15%
Total / 100%
LETTER
GRADE / RANGE / LETTER
GRADE / RANGE / LETTER
GRADE / RANGE
A / 95-100 / B- / 80-83 / D+ / 67-69
A- / 90-94 / C+ / 77-79 / D / 64-66
B+ / 87-89 / C / 74-76 / D- / 60-63
B / 84-86 / C- / 70-73 / F / 0-59

COURSE CALENDAR

WEEKLY SCHEDULE
DATE / TASKS
Week 1
6/23-6/29 / MODULE 1
Introduce yourself (include a picture)
Take Practice quiz
Readings: Gordon Part 1. Crisis of the Tokugawa Regime
Ura and Omote Chapter 1-3
Begin discussions in Main Forum (You are required to submit 3 posts per week)
Week 2
6/30-7/6 / MODULE 2
Readings: Gordon Part 2. Modern Revolution 1868-1905
Ura and Omote Chapter 4-5
Continue discussions in Main Forum
Submit CEJ #1 by deadline 7/6 11:59 pm
Take quiz 1 7/4 6:00 am – 7/6 11:59 pm
Week 3
7/7-7/13 / MODULE 3
Continue discussions in Main Forum
Submit CEJ #2 by deadline 7/13 11:59 pm
Take Midterm exam 7/11 6:00 am – 7/13 11:59 pm thru page 342 in Gordon
Week 4
7/14-7/20 / MODULE 4
Readings: Part 3. Imperial Japan from Ascendance to Ashes
Ura and Omote Chapter 6-7
Continue discussions in Main Forum
Submit CEJ #3 by deadline 7/20 11:59 pm
Week 5
7/21-7/27 / MODULE 5
Readings: Part 3. Imperial Japan from Ascendance to Ashes
Ura and Omote Chapter 6-7
Continue discussions in Main Forum
Submit CEJ # 4 by deadline 7/28 11:59 pm
Readings: Part 4. Postwar and Contemporary Japan 1952-2000
Ura and Omote Chapter 8-9
Continue discussions in Main Forum
Take Quiz # 2 7/26 6:00 am – 7/27 11:59 p,m
Final Week
7/28-8/1 / MODULE 6
Finish reading Gordon, Ura and Omote
Continue discussions in Main Forum
Submit CEJ #5 by deadline 8/1 11:59 pm
Take Final Exam (Cumulative 7/31- 6:00 am – 8/1 11:59 pm
Graduate Student research papers due by deadline 8/1 11:59 pm but can be turned in any time during the last week of classes.