GUIDELINES FOR THE FIRST MIDTERM EXAM

                  The first exam in the course will consiste of a choice of a) 40 multiple-choice questions, or b) for those of you who would prefer to write an essay, 20 multiple-choice questions and one essay out of a choice of three topics. The exam will cover the period from the earliest people in China through Buddhism in China during the Tang Dynasty.  Be sure to review a) class materials, including lectures and discussions, and b) the reading assignments.

I.     Multiple-Choice Questions:

        The multiple-choice questions will cover major themes, concepts, ideas, personalities, and events.  Try to emphasize the main ideas in your readings.  The only people and dates that will appear in the multiple-choice questions will be the ones specifically mentioned in class.  Even though the first quiz covered the Zhou Dynasty philosophers, they will be included again in the first midterm exam. 

II.      Essays:

          For the essay portion of the exam, I will give you three topics, and you will write on just one of them.  Try to be well-organized, analytical, accurate, and thorough.  Assume that the reader knows nothing about the topic.  You might practice writing essays within a 30-minute time period, so that you can become accustomed to organizing your thoughts, and writing as thorough and thoughtful an essay as possible within that time period.  Jotting down an outline before you actually write your essay can be very helpful. I will not be grading your essays on the basis of your English language ability as long as I can understand the content of your discussions.  ( I will be making corrections, however, on your papers to point out problems in grammar, spelling, etc. so that you can improve your writing in the future.)  The following are the major subjects for the essay portion of the exam.

l.        your evaluation of the successes and failures of the Han Dynasty

2.       your opinion regarding how foreign rulers, such as Xiao Wen-di, and foreign religions, such as Buddhism, generated support from the Chinese people.

3.       the major beliefs in Buddhism, and why this religion was accepted by the Chinese people.

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                GUIDELINES FOR THE SECOND MIDTERM EXAM

                  The second midterm exam in the course will consist of a choice of a) 40 multiple-choice questions, or b) for those of you who would prefer to write an essay, 20 multiple-choice questions and one essay out of a choice of three topics.   The exam will cover the period from the Sui Dynasty through the Treaty of Nanjing after the Opium War.  Be sure to review a) class materials, including lectures and discussions, and b) reading assignments.

I.  Multiple-Choice Questions:

                    The multiple-choice questions will cover major themes, concepts, ideas, personalities, and events.  Try to emphasize the main ideas in your readings.  The only people and dates that will appear in the multiple-choice questions will be the ones specifically mentioned in class.  Even though the first quiz covered the Sui through the Yuan Dyansties, they will be included again in the second midterm exam.

II.  Essays:

                      For the essay portion of the exam, I will give you three topics, and you will write on just one of them.  Try to be well-organized, analytical, accurate, and thorough.  Assume that the reader knows nothing about the topic.  You might practice writing essays within a 30-minute period, so that you can become accustomed to organizing your thoughts, and writing as thorough and thoughtful an essay as possible within that time period.  Jotting down an outline before you actually write your essay can be very helpful.   I will not be grading your essays on the basis of your English language ability as long as I can understand the content of your discussions. (I will, however, correct grammar, spelling, etc. so that you can improve your writing in the future.)  The following are the major subjects for the essay portion of the exam.

l.     a comparison of the Mongols and the Manchus.

2.    your opinion regarding the causes of the Opium War.

3.    the Song Dynasty's domestic and foreign policies.

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                       GUIDELINES FOR THE FINAL EXAM

                    The final exam in the course will consist of a choice of a) 60 multiple-choice questions, or b) for those of you who would prefer to write an essay, 30 multiple-choice questions and one essay out of a choice of three topics.  The exam will cover the overseas Chinese and the period after the Opium War.  Be sure to review a) class materials, including lectures and discussions, and b) the reading assignments.

I.   Multiple-Choice Questions:

            The multiple-choice questions will cover major themes, concepts, ideas, personalities, and events. Try to emphasize the main ideas in your readings.  The only people and dates that will appear in the multiple-choice questions will be the ones specifically mentioned in class.  Be sure to know the similarities and differences among the Taiping Rebellion, Self-Strengthening Movement, One Hundred Days of Reform, Boxer Rebellion, and Sun Yat-sen.

II.   Essays:

              For the essay portion of  the exam, I will give you three topics, and you will write on just one of them.  Try to be well-organized, analytical, accurate, and through.  Assume that the reader knows nothing about the topic.  You might practice writing essays within a 50-minute time period, so that you can become accustomed to organizing your thoughts, and writing as thorough and throughtful an essay as possible within that time period.  Jotting down an outline before you actually write your essay can be very helpful.  I will not be grading your essays on the basis of your English language ability as long as I can understand the content of your discussions. (I will, however, correct grammar, spelling, etc. so that you can improve your writing in the future.)  The following are the major subjects for the essay portion of the exam.

l.      the reform, rebellious, and revolutionary movements during the l800s and early l900s in China.

2.     the reasons for the Boxer Rebellion, what happened during the Rebellion, and its effects on China.

3.     the reasons for the decline of the Qing Dynasty in the l800s to l9l2.