1. What is Classical Chinese? Why learn Classical Chinese?

Classical Chinese is a language shaped in the latter half of the first millennium B.C . that still persists as a living medium of expression today. Knowledge of Classical Chinese is very important to help students read and understand sophisticated modern Chinese texts, which make frequent use of Classical allusions and constructs. Moreover, the cultural values expressed in the ancient texts have played an important role in shaping Chinese families, culture and society.

2. Goals of the Course

The main goal of the course is for students to promote their skill in reading Classical Chinese and their knowledge and understanding of ancient Chinese culture, society and history. With this knowledge and training, not only will students be more comfortable reading the Chinese Classics, they will also thereby increase their proficiency in modern Chinese and their knowledge of Chinese culture.

Prerequisite: 82-332 or permission of the instructor

II. Learning Materials

1. Main Text: selected readings from Classical Chinese Primer by John Wang, Shaoyu Jiang, Sue-mei Wu and Frank Hsueh.

This text includes representative selections from ancient Chinese texts, chosen for their historical value, beauty, and influence on later writers and society. It will introduce students to the grammar of Classical Chinese, commonly used Classical Chinese vocabulary, and several well-known texts with great influence on ancient and modern Chinese society. Following are some of the texts from which the readings are taken:

-Fables from the ancient texts

-Confucius Analects

-Mencius

-Liji (Book of Rites)

- Laozi (Taoism)

2. Extended readings and multimedia aids We will supplement some popular and important ancient readings with multimedia aids to help students better understand the relationship between ancient and modern Chinese language and culture.

The extended readings with multimedia aids include:

-TV Series set in ancient China (Popular TV series in Chinese societies including China, Taiwan and Hong Kong)

-The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (currently very popular in China, Japan and Korea)

-Laughing and Proud in the Ancient Knight World (popular martial arts world fantasy novels written by)

3. Listening Materials: the sound files for the main readings and extended readings will be available on our course website:

http://ml.hss.cmu.edu/courses/suemei/82-436/

1. Class attendance and participation are VERY IMPORTANT for this course. Students are required to attend ALL classes scheduled and take an active part in classroom activities. Attendance will be recorded every day. If, for some justifiable reason, you are not able to come to class on a certain day, advance notice to the instructor is required, except for emergency cases. Supporting documents (e.g. doctor's note) should be submitted in order for an absence to be excused. Class participation accounts for 10% of your total grade. If your absences from the class exceed 10 class hours, you will get a zero for attendance and participation. Moreover, for each unexcused absence, 0.5 points will be deducted from your final grade.

2. Class format and Activities: In order to improve your modern Chinese, the class and interviews are mainly conducted in Chinese. The class activities will include reading and discussing the assigned texts, text recitation, lesson exercises, reports, essays, interviews, multimedia activities and lesson tests.

3. Homework: will be assigned regularly. (Please refer to the daily schedule for the due date). Late submission will result in a deduction of points from your grade. 5 points out of 100 will be deducted for each day the homework is late. Homework received more than one week after the due date will receive no credit. If you forget to bring your homework to class, you may leave it in the folder outside the instructor's office (BH 245A) or in her mailbox at the main office of the department (BH 160).

 

V. Teaching Staff

Dr. Sue-mei Wu (suemei@andrew.cmu.edu)

Office: Baker Hall 245A, Phone: 268-5949; Office hours: Tues. 3:30-4:20; Fri. 3:30-4:20

VI. Evaluation: The final course grade will consist of the following components:

Class participation and performance 10%

Assignments (11) 30%

Reports (2) 10% (5% each)

Essays (2) 15% (5 %, 5%, presentation 5%)

Interviews (3) 15% (5% each)

Tests (3) 20% (6%, 7%, 7%)

______________________________________________________

Total 100%

The final grade will be rounded to the nearest whole number, and then...

90 and above is an A

82-89 is a B

75-81 is a C

65-74 is a D

64 and below is an R

Have fun & good luck with your new school year!!!

Go back to Chinese 82-436 HOME