East Asian Economies Workshop
| Numbering Code | U-ECON00 30923 LE43 | Year/Term | 2022 ・ Second semester |
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| Number of Credits | 2 | Course Type | Lecture |
| Target Year | From 2nd to 4th year students | Target Student | |
| Language | English | Day/Period | |
| Instructor name | HISANO SHUJI (Graduate School of Economics Professor) | ||
| Outline and Purpose of the Course | This workshop is for undergraduate students interested in economic, social, cultural, and political issues in Asia and exploring these issues in English. In addition to advancing students’ knowledge on various topics and improving English-language skills, this workshop is also for students who seek to strengthen their critical thinking and argumentative skills. | ||
| Course Goals | Upon completing this workshop, students should be able to communicate more confidently on complex issues in English, be more aware of important and pressing issues and the various ways of understanding and interpreting them, and construct and deconstruct an argument with more ease. | ||
| Schedule and Contents |
In the first part of the course (roughly week 1 to 6), each session will begin with a presentation that will be given by a junior scholar (such as a graduate student or post-doctoral fellow) from Kyoto University. The presentation will be about his/her own research or another topic that he/she is interested in and that is related to Asian economies. In the second part of the course (week 7 to 15), it will be the workshop participants’ turn to prepare for and give a presentation on a topic of their choice but related to Asian economies. Before each presentation, students will be asked to prepare a Reading Response. After the presentation, a group of students will be expected to summarize the presentation and raise two or three questions to the class for discussion. All participants are expected to engage in the discussion actively. Details about the course schedule, content, expectations, etc., will be covered during the first session. Also, instructions about how to undertake a Reading Response, prepare comments as a discussant, and effectively participate in a discussion will be given during the class. |
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| Evaluation Methods and Policy |
The following grading system will be applied: Participation: 20 pt. Presentation: 30 pt. Discussant (for a minimum of two presentations): 30 pt. Essay (1,500 words maximum): 20 pt. About the essay, participants will be assigned an article to read for which they will address the following: - What is the purpose of the article? What does the author seek to show? - What is the author’s central thesis? - How does the author defend his/her argument? - What do you think about the article? Do you agree with the author? Why or why not? Do you think the author makes a convincing case? Why or why not? Note: About attendance, absences for legitimate reasons, such as medical reasons and employment interview, will not be counted. If such a case arises, students will be expected to submit supporting documentation, e.g., a physician's note. Remember that coming more than 45 minutes after the class starts is counted as a full absence. Arriving 16 to 45-minute late is counted as a half absence. Also, no credit will be allocated for a student with four or more absences. |
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| Course Requirements | None | ||
| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) | Preparation is key: it is the only way to contribute to discussions in an active and meaningful way and to advance students’ own knowledge and skills as well as their peers. | ||
| References, etc. | Relevant materials may be distributed during the course. | ||
