King AC7
Shi Huangdi: Two Texts
Description:
For this task you will be considering the bias of two texts about the same topic: Shi Huang Di.
You will be looking specifically for omission and emphasis. You will also be asked to explain
WHY you think the writer omitted or emphasized those things.
omission: 省略, 생략
emphasis: 重点, 중요성
Grading:
This task will be graded based on completeness and how thorough your answers are. See the
example below for a model of an A response.
thorough: 彻底, 철저한
Example:
Text: Ancient Civilizations by Stanley M. Burnstein and Richard Shek
Topic: The Warring States Period
Omission: A lot of information about the Warring States period was not included in the text book. It does
not even say who was fighting (Chu, Qin, Wei, etc.).
Why?: I think this was omitted because it is very complicated with many states and many kings/generals.
This book is for American students, and it would be difficult to remember for students who do not know
much about Chinese history.
Emphasis: The text puts on emphasis on the philosophies and religions that started and grew around this
time in China rather than writing about the political (government) situation.
Why?: I think the philosophies of Ancient China were the emphasis because these ideas and writers had a
lasting impact on China and Chinese culture. If you didn’t know about the Warring States Period you
could still understand China, but if you know nothing about Confucius or Daoist thought it would be very
difficult to understand.
Chinese Speakers:
The two texts you will compare will be our textbook Ancient Civilizations by Stanley M.
Burnstein and Richard Shek and History of China edited by Wang Shuang Shuang(王双双).
Korean Speakers:
The two texts you will compare will be our textbook Ancient Civilizations by Stanley M.
Burnstein and Richard Shek and a Korean language source we will find today in class.
Text:
Topic:
Omission:
Why?:
Emphasis:
Why?:
Text:
Topic:
Omission:
Why?:
Emphasis:
Why?: