JPNS 411: 1
COURSE SYLLABUS
JPNS 411: Modern Japanese Writers and Thinkers
Manuscript page from a short piece by Mori Ōgai (d. 1922)
Classroom: LA 243 MWF 3:10 – 4:10pm
Instructor: Prof Janice Shizue Kanemitsu
Office: LA 320
Office Hours: TBA Phone: 243-5101
Email: janice.kanemtsu@mso.umt.edu
This course, designed to follow Jpns 302 (or
the equivalent), introduces the advanced
Japanese second-language student to the
literary writings of some of the most
important thinkers and writers of Japan’s
modern age. Through the close reading of
articles, essays, short stories, and poems by
leading writers from the Meiji period to the
present day, students will improve their ability
to comprehend a range of styles of twentiethcentury Japanese prose, including some late-nineteenth and early twentieth-century semi-literary styles that
contain remnants of classical grammar and usages, kana and kanji orthography, and other literary features.
Japanese will be used to discuss the readings; English and/or bilingual treatments may be used for some
instructional purposes, including translation. Translation from Japanese into English will be an area of
particular emphasis. We will begin with readings of recent short stories, then gradually work back to the
beginning of modern literary writing in the Meiji period. We will observe language, stylistic and
orthographic, changes, thematic concerns, and many other features of modern literary writing, while also
enjoying the rich lyricism and often surprising content of the modern novel and essay. Students will gain
insights into the intellectual, artistic, and human concerns of leading writers and have the opportunity to
discuss the texts under study, using Japanese as much as possible. Our progression through the selected
writers will be mainly chronological.
Students will acquire much new vocabulary and master several hundred additional kanji, while having
opportunities to review previously learned graphs assigned in earlier years. Composition (sakubun) will
also be practiced in various forms, both in Japanese and (sometimes) English. There will be weekly
homework assignments and quizzes on kanji and new vocabulary.
Students will be provided with a range of tools and techniques to facilitate their continued reading of
Japanese literature, whether for research or for pleasure, in future years.
It is anticipated that most students enrolling in the class as seniors will have already taken one or perhaps
even several Japanese culture and literature courses. As cultural and historical background, please read
either the relevant chapters (TBA) of Paul Varley’s Japanese Culture on the modern age (starting with
Meiji). If you have completed the Montana university system Japanese history or culture course (for
example, UM’s Jpns 150 or Dr West’s History 381), you may have already read these (or similar studies),
but a review is strongly recommended.
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Learning Objectives: Students taking this course can expect to~
1) increase their range of Japanese vocabulary (and idiom)
2) master advanced grammatical constructions and gain more confidence in grasping overall syntax
and following the ordering of prose content across paragraphs) acquire a grasp of some of the forms
of ‘classical’ grammar still used in the modern period
3) augment their knowledge of kanji, both passive and active
4) better understand the ways in which the logical exposition of events--and literary effect--are
achieved in Japanese prose
5) improve their translation skills and their Japanese/English written expression
6) gain more confidence in using dictionaries and online resources
7) receive opportunities to express themselves creatively in Japanese, using the learned vocabulary
8) learn about Japanese society and culture in the modern age
9) and find the inspiration to continue to study literature independently
Course Requirements
Students are expected to arrive on time to class and be well-prepared every time, so that they can contribute
thoughtfully to class readings/discussions. Students will be asked to make presentations in Japanese,
approximately 3-5 minutes in length, related to the readings or related topics of interest, including the
background of writers, their literary corpus and/or style, and other aspects of their craft. Students are
expected to take notes during each class.
Required Texts for Purchase
Emmerich, Michael, ed. Read Real Japanese Fiction: Short Stories by Contemporary Writers. Tokyo:
Kodansha International, 2008.
Rubin, Jay. Making Sense of Japanese: What the Textbooks Don’t Tell You. NY: Kodansha America, 2002
(1992).
Later in the semester, all readings for this class will be posted on Moodle; some readings will be provided
in class. All Moodle materials must be printed out and brought to class each time.
Recommended Texts:
New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary
Assessment Percentages
Final Exam, 25%: The final examination (two hours) may include a translation assignment to be done at
home, open book (worth 20% of the final exam).
Mid-Term, 20%: The mid-term exam (50 minutes) will include a take-home question, due one week after
the exam.
Written assignments in various forms, including translations, 15%
Written assignments (about 12) will be varied to develop different skills and will be graded out of 4 points;
most all of these will be due on Fridays, either the same week or (most often) the next week, as
indicated in the syllabus. These assignments will include translations, short response papers or answers to
comprehension questions; alternatively, these may sometimes involve analyses of vocabulary items, literary
elements, biographical information, or other activities designed to be written up as homework, in Japanese
or (where appropriate for pedagogical reasons), in English. Please keep all of your homework. It may be
collected one final time at the end of the term, so that I may assess your overall effort and improvement.
Your single lowest homework score or a missed item will be dropped. I will allow one late assignment, on
account of illness or comparable unusual circumstances, if it is handed in within a day of when it was due.
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Quizzes, 15% Short quizzes (about 10) on vocabulary, kanji [reading and writing], new expressions, and
possibly a small extract from the text most recently completed. These will be given at regular intervals (on
Monday, usually), covering all material read since the last quiz. Your lowest single quiz score (or missed
quiz) will be dropped. Please consider the review of past kanji from earlier lessons part of your daily kanji
study. Do retain all of your quizzes for review.
Preparation, participation, brief oral presentations, 15% Your performance grade will assess the
degree to which you came to class prepared, your level of engagement during class, the quality of your oral
presentations, and the effectiveness of your interaction with your fellow students and the instructor during
class.
Students will also be assigned occasional short presentations on topics helpful to the class or will be asked
to serve as discussants for assigned textual readings (although other students will be asked questions
pertaining to the reading as well). Presentations will be very short, around 3 minutes in length. For assigned
presentations, speakers will be asked to give a short vocabulary list to their classmates. This activity will
constitute a reasonable proportion of the preparation grade (around 1/4~1/3), depending upon the number
of presentations that can be reasonably included during the fifteen-week span of the course.
Final Translation project, 10% Students will be asked to translate one story from among a selection of
micro-fiction stories which will be distributed around the ninth week of term. Students are asked to work
independently. The translations are likely to be approximately 3 pages in English, typed. Please provide an
introduction of about one-two pages aimed at a general reader and provide any footnotes, page references,
documentation, or annotations required or desirable to assist the reader. This project will be due on the first
day of the last week of class, week 15.
Grading: only traditional grades can be assigned in this course. We use the UM +/- scheme, as follows.
A: 93-100 A-: 90-92 B+: 88-89
C-: 70-72 D+: 68-69 D: 63-67
B: 83-87
D-: 60-62
B-: 80-82 C+: 78-79
F: below 60
C: 73-77
Note on grades for Japanese majors/minors: All Japanese majors and minors must take Jpns 411 for a
traditional grade and earn a 2.0 or higher in the course in order for it to count for major credit. Credit/no
credit enrollment is not allowed in this course. The university requires that Japanese majors earn a
cumulative 2.5 GPA or better for all upper division Japanese coursework completed for the major at the
UM campus.
Final Exam: The Final Exam will take place at the time posted by the University at the Registrar’s exam
schedule site. Details to follow. Please make arrangements now to take the final exam at the time scheduled
by the University, as make-ups or alternative arrangements are not permitted for any reason.
Class Policies and Expectations
(1) Please note that there will generally be no make-up assignments, quizzes, tests, or homework.
(2) Lateness and Absence Policy
You are expected to attend class all the time. Please keep track of your own attendance faithfully. Two
absences for any reason will be excused as will be up to two (slightly) late arrivals. For each missed class
after the first, for whatever reason, including illness or emergencies, one point will be deducted from your
final score for the course. Two late arrivals will be counted as one absence, and points will be deducted
accordingly. More than four absences [or the equivalent in late arrivals (more than 5 minutes late) will
constitutes an automatic failure (F) in the course.
In the unlikely event that you become seriously ill for many days or have a major family catastrophe, you
must contact me immediately. I will be happy to advise you on how you might try to catch up.
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(3) Please prepare for class by doing the following each time:
a) reading carefully through all assigned reading and looking up any unknown words and characters
(extensive vocabulary lists will also be provided for all readings)
b) re-reading and reviewing all completed materials and the vocabulary/kanji found therein.
c) translating (as a general principle) materials assigned, or at least the trouble spots. This is a good way
to test your comprehension and build skill in translation.
(4) Many questions will be posed in class about the readings under study. No one is expected to be able to
answer every question. The important thing is to take the time to read/prepare/respond in class as best as
you can; you are expected to make mistakes. You may bring an electronic or conventional dictionary to
class, but it should not be used in class to read the text for the first time.
(5) Come to class having identified areas of difficulty. Your ability to formulate your own questions and
identify areas of difficulty demonstrates your engagement and preparation for class and will reflect
favorably on your participation score.
(6) One of the most effective ways to benefit from this class is to take good notes. Taking notes helps you
keep track of class discussions and hones your comprehension skills by forcing you to actively process
information aurally acquired. Your notes will also help your to review for exams and to remember the
content of works you have read.
(7) Please take the responsibility to see me during office hours whenever you have questions or need help.
GENERAL POLICIES OF THE JAPANESE SECTION
Most of the information found below will already be familiar to you. But please read through this section
carefully.
1. This course is not for students who identify Japanese as their first language, nor is it aimed at
bilingual heritage learners who have considerable experience speaking Japanese at home or who
have attended Japanese schools for years. Please contact the instructor if you need to have your
language level assessed.
2. Most students will need to do a minimum of at least two hours of homework and review daily.
3. Make-up homework/quizzes will not be given; there will be no exceptions.
4. Homework is generally due upon your arrival to the classroom. Please do not attempt to complete
your homework after class has started or ask to submit it after class or by email.
5. Quizzes start about 5 minutes after the hour. If you are late, missed portions of quizzes cannot be
repeated nor can the allotted time extended.
6. Please speak only Japanese in class (and with your speaking partner), unless you seek, and are
granted, permission to speak English for a particular purpose.
7. Please do not eat or drink during class or chew gum. Please turn off all of your digital devices.
Recording or videotaping the class is not permitted.
8. Academic honesty is your responsibility. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated
and will be dealt with according to University regulations. The Student Conduct Code is available
for review online at: www.umt.edu/SA/vpsa/indec.cfm/page/2585.
9. If you are a student with a disability and wish to discuss reasonable accommodations for this
course, please meet with an advisor in Disability Services for Students (DSS) in Lommasson 154
for assistance in developing a plan to address reasonable modifications. If you are already
working with DSS, arrange to meet with your instructor during his/her office hours to discuss
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modifications that may be reasonable and necessary. For more information, visit the DSS website
at www.life.umt.edu/dss.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT UNIVERSITY POLICIES
1. The last day to drop the course is the 45th instructional day of the semester. If you with to receive
a drop with a refund, however, you will need to meet an earlier deadline. Please consult Griz
Central. After the 45th day, the Japanese section will not sign petitions to drop (W/P or W/F)
except in cases of documented unforeseen hardships, illness, or other bona fide emergencies. Poor
performance or insufficient time for study are not considered reasons for approving course drops
after the 45th day.
2. This course is offered only on a TRADITIONAL GRADE basis. It is not possible to switch to
credit/no credit later, no matter your circumstances (according to university regulations).
3. Students who are registered for a course but do not attend the first two class meetings may be
asked to drop the course to make room for attending wait-listed students, as per the UM calendar.
4. Students restarting Japanese after a gap of more than one semester or else transferring to UM
from another university should ask to be evaluated by the instructor. In most cases, a placement
test will be given.
5. Students majoring or minoring in Japanese must follow the Japanese BA requirements as listed in
the relevant UM catalog (please consult the catalog that was in effect during your first semester at
the university). Students enrolled from earlier years have the option of following either the old or
the new requirements. Students wishing to declare a major or minor in Japanese can pick up a
major/minor declaration form from their instructor. Please note that the form can be changed or
revoked at any time without a fee. Declaration locks in the current (2012-2013) curriculum
requirements; any changes arising in future years will not apply to your program of study.