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Instructor Class Description

Time Schedule:

John C. Hamm
CHIN 463
Seattle Campus

History of Chinese Literature

Chinese literature from the Yuan to recent times. Offered: Sp.

Class description

C463, the third term in a year-long chronological survey of Chinese literature in translation, traces the rise of vernacular literature from the Yuan dynasty through the 20th century. Students will be introduced to major genres, works, and authors in their historical and cultural context, and will read a variety of representative works in English translation.

Student learning goals

General method of instruction

The class meets daily in a lecture-discussion format.

Recommended preparation

There are no prerequisites for the course. The earlier courses in the three-term sequence (Chin 461-462) or other university-level courses in Chinese history or literature are recommended but not required. All lectures, readings, and discussion will be in English, though students will be required to master Chinese names and terminology.

Class assignments and grading

Students will be expected to read an average of 150-200 pages a week, write short response papers, and take two midterms and a final.

Students will be graded on the basis of preparation of the readings, participation in class discussion, response papers, and midterm and final exams. Timely preparation of the readings is necessary for participation in discussion and the completion of the response papers. The midterm and final exams require mastery of a fair amount of factual material.


The information above is intended to be helpful in choosing courses. Because the instructor may further develop his/her plans for this course, its characteristics are subject to change without notice. In most cases, the official course syllabus will be distributed on the first day of class.
Last Update by John C. Hamm
Date: 02/10/2009