Building on the foundations of conversational and colloquial Chinese, this course introduces the uses of literary Chinese in traditional and contemporary writings, enhances linguistic and reasoning abilities through comparative analysis of grammar, and advances skills in speaking, reading, and writing advanced modern Chinese.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students: In addition to undergraduate course assignments, graduate
students will be assigned an oral presentation and a substantive
final research paper. The oral presentation will provide an
integrated, synthetic and critical review of secondary materials
bearing on topics or texts covered in the course. The final
research paper will use primary documents in classical Chinese
and will demonstrate mastery of the course materials as well as a
critical and synthetic grasp of issues and fields in traditional
Chinese writings.
Athena Title
Advanced Chinese III
Undergraduate Prerequisite
Experience and ability to speak, read, and write Chinese at the intermediate or advanced level.
Graduate Prerequisite
Experience and ability to speak, read, and write Chinese at the intermediate or advanced level.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Through reading, translation, and discussion of Chinese literary texts in both Chinese and English, students will develop and effectively express ideas in written and oral form using language with clarity and precision.
With weekly translation, writing, and oral presentation assignments analyzing and critiquing Chinese literary works in both colloquial Chinese and English, students will be able to tailor language register and communication strategy, style appropriately for different audiences and contexts.
In discussion and analysis of language structure, semantic range, and historical and cultural contexts, students will analyze opposing arguments and support their own interpretive conclusions with credible information and sound reasoning.
Through focused reading, writing, and oral presentation of ideas and insights, students will be able to interpret, evaluate, and critique Chinese literary works within their historical and cultural contexts, and to debate the role and impact of literary productions on period and local understandings of the human condition.
Topical Outline
The use of formal language elements in contemporary language: review of news articles, popular song, and professional writing.
Formal and colloquial forms for topic comment sentences and narrative sentences.
Word forms in literary and colloquial expression.
Readings in pre-modern poetry and song.
Historical and cultural background of core texts and major authors.
Origins of four-character phrases (chengyu) in historical, philosophical, and anecdotal writings.
Grammatical particles and their uses in pre-modern and contemporary expression.
