Universität Wien

150081 UE Foundations of Academic Research and Writing in Chinese Studies (2025S)

2.00 ECTS (1.00 SWS), SPL 15 - Ostasienwissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work

Summary

1 Salino , Moodle
Tu 24.06. 09:45-11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
2 Salino , Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
Registration information is available for each group.

Groups

Group 1

max. 25 participants
Language: German, English
LMS: Moodle

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

The first class takes place on Tuesday, 4 March 2025, for BOTH GROUP 1 AND GROUP 2.
Attendance of the first meeting is mandatory.
In the second meeting, a visit to the Library of East Asian Studies is planned.
The course takes place every 14 days. All dates are as stated.

  • Tuesday 04.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 18.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 01.04. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 29.04. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 13.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 27.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 10.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05

Assessment and permitted materials


1) Active participation 10%
2) Individual assignments 30%
3) Group assignments 20%
4) Final annotated bibliography 40%

Detailed information about the individual and group assignments will be given during the first meeting.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria


The course is conducted in English and all core readings are in English. The working languages for the course are English and German. Students can use written and oral English and/or German in assignments and discussion sessions.

Attendance of the first meeting on 4 March 2025 is mandatory (Group 1 + Group 2). Regular participation is required. Students are allowed to have ONE unexcused absence.

All assignments need to be fulfilled to attain a positive overall grade. The final annotated bibliography must be passed to pass the course, regardless of the partial grades achieved in the other assignments.

100% -90% of the total number of points: grade 1
89% -80% of the total number of points: grade 2
79% -70% of the total number of points: grade 3
69% -60% of the total number of points: grade 4
59% -0% of the total number of points: grade 5

AI Policy: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for editing, proofreading, and improving the quality and clarity of writing is permitted and encouraged (e.g. for checking spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, word choice, language polishing and revision). The use of generative AI tools (text generation tools) in the final annotated bibliography is not permitted as it is against the principles of academic integrity and considerable as a form of plagiarism.

Group 2

max. 25 participants
Language: German, English
LMS: Moodle

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

The first class takes place on Tuesday, 4 March 2025, for BOTH GROUP 1 AND GROUP 2.
Attendance of the first meeting is mandatory.
In the second meeting, a visit to the Library of East Asian Studies is planned.
The course takes place every 14 days. All dates are as stated.

  • Tuesday 04.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 11.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 25.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 08.04. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 06.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 20.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 03.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05
  • Tuesday 17.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum Ostasienwissenschaften 1 UniCampus Hof 5 2I-O1-05

Assessment and permitted materials


1) Active participation 10%
2) Individual assignments 30%
3) Group assignments 20%
4) Final annotated bibliography 40%

Detailed information about the individual and group assignments will be given during the first meeting.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria


The course is conducted in English and all core readings are in English. The working languages for the course are English and German. Students can use written and oral English and/or German in assignments and discussion sessions.

Attendance of the first meeting on 4 March 2025 is mandatory (Group 1 + Group 2). Regular participation is required. Students are allowed to have ONE unexcused absence.

All assignments need to be fulfilled to attain a positive overall grade. The final annotated bibliography must be passed to pass the course, regardless of the partial grades achieved in the other assignments.

100% -90% of the total number of points: grade 1
89% -80% of the total number of points: grade 2
79% -70% of the total number of points: grade 3
69% -60% of the total number of points: grade 4
59% -0% of the total number of points: grade 5

AI Policy: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for editing, proofreading, and improving the quality and clarity of writing is permitted and encouraged (e.g. for checking spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, word choice, language polishing and revision). The use of generative AI tools (text generation tools) in the final annotated bibliography is not permitted as it is against the principles of academic integrity and considerable as a form of plagiarism.

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

AIMS

In this course, we will identify, discuss and practice the processes and strategies that characterize academic research to build a foundation that will allow students to succeed in their studies of China. Being able to engage with the complex language that distinguishes scientific work in Chinese Studies is important not only to the study at university but may also be relevant to life outside the university, to daily thoughts and actions in professional and community contexts.

CONTENTS

The course covers the fundamental aspects of academic research and writing in Sinology such as research topic, research problem, research method, state of the field, rules of academic language, critical reading and writing, primary and secondary sources, citations and referencing, and literature review.

In addition, general advice on academic writing will be discussed. For example, how to structure a paper, how to avoid generalization and essentialism, how to support a view with relevant evidence, and how to avoid plagiarism.

These aspects will be identified in the context of academic research in Sinology but are valid in other disciplines too.

METHOD

- Input from the course leader
- Fulfilment of a range of tasks (generate questions, identify key concepts and terms, underly problems, add titles, etc.)
- Brainstorming and discussion
- Peer-to-peer learning
- Independent research

Examination topics

Reading list

Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup, and William T. FitzGerald. The Craft of Research. 5th edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2024.

Eco, Umberto. How to Write a Thesis. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2015.

Graff, Gerald and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. 4th ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2018.

Getzels, J.W. "Problem Finding: A Theoretical Note." Cognitive Science: A Multidisciplinary Journal No. 167 (April 1979), pp. 167-172.

Mullaney, Thomas S. and Christopher Rea. Where Research Begins: Choosing a Research Topic that Matters to You (and the World). Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 2022.

Further readings will be announced in the course and made available on Moodle. Based on the interests of the participants, additional material will be recommended.

Association in the course directory

WA GG

Last modified: Tu 04.03.2025 20:06