Ricci Seminar (Spring)
Professor-in-charge: Simon Elegant
Simon.elegant@gmail.com; mobile: 18600620753
X:30 pm – X:15 pm
This seminar is for the Ricci scholars to conduct the Beijing portion of their Italy/China research. It
consists of:
1) several group sessions to introduce/discuss conducting research/writing about China;
2) regular one-on-one sessions with professor-in-charge to discuss progress;
3) regular meetings with mentors;
4) making presentations and receiving feedback at mid-term and final;
5) writing the research report.
Calendar
1/15
Class: Seminar Overview; Approaches to Researching China
Meet mentors (1)
Class text: The Chan’s great Continent, Jonathan Spence
1/22
Class seminar:
Writing about China: Edgar Snow and Red Star Over China
Further one on one mentor discussion
21/12/8
Shandong trip/Spring Festival holiday
2/12
Meet mentor (2)
Writing about China today: excerpts from
Red China Blues, Jan Wong
Wild Grass, Ian Johnson
Rivertown, Peter Hessler
Chinese Lessons, John Pomfret
Class: one-on-one.
2/19
No Class: one-on-one; pre-view PPT
1
2/26
Mid-term presentation, each student 15 minutes
Submit a work-in-progress report
3/5
No Class, continue research
3/19
No class, continue with your research
3/26
Shandong trip
4/2
No Class: continue research
4/9
Class one on one: review progress
4/23
Class: one-on-one; Pre-view PPT for final presentation
4/30
Final presentation, each student 30 minutes
Incorporate comments from audience and revise paper.
5/7
Final Class discussion on papers
5/14
Final paper* due: 1 copy to mentor , 1 copy to me
Meet mentor (3)
Meet mentor (4)
Mentors attend
presentation
Mentors’ evaluation
due
Core texts:
Jonathan Spence’s The Chan’s Great Continent;
Edgar Snow, Red star Over China
Rivertown, Pete Hessler
Attendance Policy
Attendance is mandatory. Only valid medical or family emergencies qualify as an absence, and
documentation of the same must be presented to the professor no later than the next class meeting.
All other absences are considered to be unexcused.
2
Academic Honesty Statement
This course adheres to Loyola University Chicago/Beijing Center policies on Academic Honesty.
The students are advised to review the policies on this website:
http://www.luc.edu/academics/catalog/undergrad/reg_academicintegrity.shtml
Grades
Class Presentations: Mar 22:
April 26
15% (includes interim report)
17.5%
Mentor’s evaluation:
22.5%
Final Paper
45%
3