Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

         1. Develop the knowledge and understanding of

             a. The cultural patterns of Japan in the context of East Asian culture

             b. The multiple aspects of the lives of individuals who inhabit Japan and neighboring regions influenced by Japan

             c. The collective mentality of Japanese society with an emphasis on cultural, historical, political, literary/artistic, and economic trends

         2. Prepare further studies in the culture and civilization of Japan as well as other East Asian countries and regions

 Globalization and Family Issues: Our Global Classroom (Japan):

            This class presents a unique opportunity to participate in an international project. We are going to work with Japanese students from Hiroshima to study global problems in the US and Japan. This work will be done via the Internet with a significant component involving online live global classroom sessions with students from Hiroshima. Briefly, this project involves:

                        ~          Reviewing and discussing the Japanese and US expressions of one of the global problems in Peterson

                         ~          Working with the Japanese students to prepare an online “paper” on the Japanese and US expressions

                         ~          “lead” a global classroom session on these problems

A more complete discussion of this process is at the end of Sociology 2220 syllabus. This is a group project so each student in the group will receive the same grade.  This a project also for the  Sociology 2220 class so students will receive this grade in the Sociology 2220 class as well. This project will count 100 points toward your final grade.

Plagiarism:

Any form of plagiarism will lead to failing the course.  (When you “Borrow” more than three words from anybody else’s writing without giving credit to that person, it burden of proof is solely on the students.  Please keep ALL your outlines and rough drafts or if you use word-processor, print a hard copy of your early drafts and retain them UNTIL you get your final grade from registrar’s office.

 Attendance:

To enhance the learning process, and to give the class a sense of common purpose and direction, class attendance is highly recommended.  Rolls will be taken for each session.  It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with other students for obtaining lecture notes of missed classes.  This class also requires registering in Sociology 2220 (by Dr. Dean Peterson). Adequate documentation includes doctors’ note which specifically states that you will not be able to attend the class on that particular day and hour; police report or court order specifying the time. 

Evaluation Procedure:

In addition to “Global Classroom Project,” there will be 2 non-comprehensive Information Festivals and a Critique of Beauty and Sadness.  No make-up festivals are available except for documented emergency cases and only with instructor’s consent BEFORE the scheduled festival time.  All make-up festivals should be completed within a week from the time the scheduled festival was given.  

Critique of Black Rain:

* Grading  (A=100, B+=90, B=80, C+=70, C=65, D+=60, D=50)

    The Critique should be no less than 1,000 words long (usually 4-page long), double-spaced, typed, stapled, documented with footnotes and a separate page of bibliography, if any.  

*Additional Study Guide for the readers will be provided for your reference.

*The submitted critique WILL NOT be returned unless you provide an additional copy of your work and requested it.

*The due date for the critique is December 4^th.  No late papers will be accepted.  Absence on the due date will not be an excuse for not turning in the paper on time unless solid documents would verify the absence.

 Grading: Global Classroom Project: 100 points (20%)   Critique: 100 points (20%)  Information Festivals: 100x2=200 points (60%)  Attendance: 50points    

     Each festival is divided into two parts, one for take-home (40%) and the other for in-class (60%).  The take-home part should be no more than 750 words long (usually 3-page long), double-spaced, typed, and stapled.  Detailed information and tidbit for the festival will be provided prior to each festival. Short optional essays will be weighed at the instructor’s discretion to upgrade your final grade at the end of the semester.

Extra Credit:

A student may earn extra credit. These points can be earned only by participating in a campus or community event (speech, workshop, play, etc.) and doing a short paper (2-3 pages) on the event.  The paper will address the following questions: 

            -           Name of the event

            -           Time and place of the event

            -           Credentials of the presenter

            -           Summary of the material presented

            -           Questions asked by the audience

            -           Theoretical perspective or bias apparent

            -           Personal critique of the event and its material

 EVENTS MUST BE CLEARED IN ADVANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTOR. At that time, the maximum points for the event’s write-up will be negotiated. 

Important Advice:

This course requires self-discipline.  It is the student’s responsibility to complete the assigned readings before each class.  The lectures will only HIGHLIGHT, BUT NOT REPEAT the information covered by your textbook.  However, questions on the festivals will be drawn from lectures, videos, presentations and assigned readings. Those who are unable to spend time on preparing and reviewing the course materials are not likely to earn the grades they desire.

 Audio Visual Support:

There are various Japan related videotapes available at the library.  Students are encouraged to take advantage of our collection.  For more information, ask your instructor. 

Japanese 1100           Tentative Daily Schedule            FALL 2008  (Under construction!!)

Aug.   23   INTRODUCTION, Source of Japanese identity                        

           30   Source of Japanese identity, The house and family system

 Sept.    6   The house and family system

            13   Socialization and classification

            20   Community and neighborhood

            27   The education system

 Oct.      4  Information Festival #1