Overview
This unit will present you with an in-depth study of the major themes in modern Japanese history from the Tokugawa period to contemporary times. It will begin with a discussion of Japanese cultural traditions, followed by an overview of the Tokugawa period. In the rest of the unit you will explore: Meiji Japan, the era of Taisho and Showa democracy, the rise of militarism, World War II and the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, the American Occupation, contemporary Japanese politics, economy, society, environment and foreign policy. You will learn, for example, why Japan invaded China, attacked Pearl Harbour and occupied Southeast Asia, and what explains Japan's economic 'miracle'. This unit provides you with an insight into Japan from a historical perspective and will enhance your cultural understanding of one of Australia's most important trading partners.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-Req admission to CC10 or completion of 90 credit points in CA10, CB94, CC13, CG85, CC24 or CC43.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2024
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
- Review, analyse and synthesise knowledge concerning major themes in modern Japanese history as well as significant issues related to contemporary Japanese politics, economy, society (including minorities), environment and foreign relations
- Demonstrate competency in delivering an oral presentation on a significant Japanese history question with a clear, cogent and convincing argument
- Critique historical interpretations of Japanese history and their applications to contemporary global issues.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Research Assignment - 30% | |||
| 2 - Presentation - 30% | |||
| 3 - Research Assignment - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||
| 2 - Communication | |||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||
| 4 - Research | |||
| 5 - Self-management | |||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||
| 7 - Leadership | |||
| 8 - First Nations Knowledges | |||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Turabian
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.collins2@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 04 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Introduction
Chapter
One
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online 'drop-in' session on Thursday from 1300-1400. Meeting link on Moodle.
Week 2
Begin Date: 11 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Tokugawa Japan to the Black Ships
Chapter
Two
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online 'drop-in' session on Thursday from 1300-1400. Meeting link on Moodle.
Week 3
Begin Date: 18 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Imperial restoration and constitutional government: the Meiji era to 1889
Chapter
Three
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online 'drop-in' session on Thursday from 1300-1400. Meeting link on Moodle.
Week 4
Begin Date: 25 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Enriching and strengthening: the Meiji era from 1890
Chapter
Four
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online 'drop-in' session on Thursday from 1300-1400. Meeting link on Moodle.
Week 5
Begin Date: 01 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Foundation or facade? Political crossroads: 1912-1932
Chapter
Five
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online 'drop-in' session on Thursday from 1300-1400. Meeting link on Moodle.
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 08 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 15 Apr 2024Module/Topic
The rise of militarism: 1930-1941
Chapter
Six
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online 'drop-in' session on Thursday from 1300-1400. Meeting link on Moodle.
Week 7
Begin Date: 22 Apr 2024Module/Topic
The Pacific War
Chapter
Seven
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online 'drop-in' session on Thursday from 1300-1400. Meeting link on Moodle.
Week 8
Begin Date: 29 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Defeat and occupation: 1945-1952
Chapter
Eight
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online 'drop-in' session on Thursday from 1300-1400. Meeting link on Moodle.
Week 9
Begin Date: 06 May 2024Module/Topic
Economic Japan
Chapter
Nine
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online 'drop-in' session on Thursday from 1300-1400. Meeting link on Moodle.
Annotated bibliography Due: Week 9 Friday (10 May 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Oral presentation Due: Week 9 Friday (10 May 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 10
Begin Date: 13 May 2024Module/Topic
Affluent Japan
Chapter
Ten
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online 'drop-in' session on Thursday from 1300-1400. Meeting link on Moodle.
Week 11
Begin Date: 20 May 2024Module/Topic
Postwar politics and society
Chapter
Eleven
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online 'drop-in' session on Thursday from 1300-1400. Meeting link on Moodle.
Week 12
Begin Date: 27 May 2024Module/Topic
Japan and the world
Chapter
Twelve
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly online 'drop-in' session on Thursday from 1300-1400. Meeting link on Moodle.
Essay Due: Week 12 Friday (31 May 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 03 Jun 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 10 Jun 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Research Assignment
Students are required to produce an annotated bibliography that demonstrates critical engagement with a total of 7 scholarly journal articles chosen from the learning materials across 7 different weekly topics. Each article requires 5 annotations, with the format of the bibliography detailed in the supplementary material for this assessment task on the Moodle site. The purpose of this assessment task is to provide the research foundation for the essay, which is due in week 12.
The total word count for the annotated bibliography is 1750 words (+ or - 10%). This total is comprised of approximately 250 words of reflection per journal article. A list of several journal articles is provided in the learning materials for each of the weekly topics from week 2 through to week 9 and students are required to choose 1 article per week for a total of 7 weeks to include in the bibliography.
This assessment task is worth 30% of the total grade.
Further details on this assessment are included in the Moodle site and guidelines for how to approach the task will be discussed at length in seminar 1 as well as in learning resources made available on the Moodle site.
Week 9 Friday (10 May 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 11 Friday (24 May 2024)
Assessments will be returned to students within 2 weeks after submission
The bibliographies will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
1. Comprehension - has the student demonstrated comprehension of the key thesis articulated in the article as evident in their choice of quotations?
2. Critical engagement - has the student engaged critically with the key claims in the article as evident in their annotations attached to at least 5 quotations per journal article?
3. Clarity of exposition - has the student exercised discretion in their choice of quotations as evident in the concise and succinct annotation attached to the quote?
- Review, analyse and synthesise knowledge concerning major themes in modern Japanese history as well as significant issues related to contemporary Japanese politics, economy, society (including minorities), environment and foreign relations
2 Presentation
Students are required to deliver an oral presentation of no more than 20 minutes responding to one of the seminar questions listed for discussion in seminars 2-9. The purpose of this task is to generate class discussion that will inform the preparation of the essay assessment task, which is due in week 12.
The presentation will be assessed according to the following criteria:
1. Clarity - how clearly have the ideas that inform the argument articulated in the presentation been expressed?
2. Coherence - the presentation should entail at least 3 key points that relate to a key thesis, which is to be developed iteratively over the course of the presentation. This assessment criteria evaluates the extent to which the thesis and the 3 key points are logically consistent and coherent.
3. Concision - has the presentation articulated a coherent thesis, constituted by at least 3 key points, using precise language and in an engaging manner with brevity.
This assessment accounts for 30% of the overall grade for this unit. Grades will be awarded in the week the presentation is delivered.
Week 9 Friday (10 May 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Students are required to nominate a weekly topic on which they will deliver a presentation. Once all presentation weeks have been allocated, online seminars will be scheduled at a time convenient for the class so that the presentations can be delivered in the week corresponding to the chosen topics.
Week 10 Friday (17 May 2024)
Feedback and grades will be returned to students 1 week after their presentation.
1. Clarity - how clearly have the ideas that inform the argument articulated in the presentation been expressed?
2. Coherence - the presentation should entail at least 3 key points that relate to a key thesis, which is to be developed iteratively over the course of the presentation. This assessment criteria evaluates the extent to which the thesis and the 3 key points are logically consistent and coherent.
3. Concision - has the presentation articulated a coherent thesis, constituted by at least 3 key points, using precise language and in an engaging manner with brevity.
- Review, analyse and synthesise knowledge concerning major themes in modern Japanese history as well as significant issues related to contemporary Japanese politics, economy, society (including minorities), environment and foreign relations
- Demonstrate competency in delivering an oral presentation on a significant Japanese history question with a clear, cogent and convincing argument
3 Research Assignment
Students are to choose one essay question from the list of questions corresponding to weekly topics and write a 2500 word essay in response (+ or - 10%).
Students are expected to follow the essay-writing and Turabian referencing guides provided in Moodle, in addition to the format and style of the sample essay. 2 weeks of essay workshops in weeks 10 and 11 are designated for class discussion whereby the research material furnished by the annotated bibliography exercise and the feedback from the oral presentation are synthesised to inform the preparation of the essay.
This essay will be graded on the CREW principle (Content, Research, and Essay Writing). Further details on this assessment, including the list of essay questions and guidelines for essay writing, are included on the Moodle site under assessment details.
Week 12 Friday (31 May 2024) 11:59 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (14 June 2024)
Essay frades and feedback will be returned within 2 weeks of submission
The essays are marked on a three principle criteria that can be summarised as CREW. This stands for: Content, Research, and Essay Writing.
Content:
• presentation of accurate, relevant and unbiased historical evidence
• evidence that the relevant(s) lecture has been listened to
Research (and referencing):
• evidence drawn primarily from scholarly texts
• acknowledgement of all sources of ideas/evidence (footnote) and any quotations
(footnote and quote marks)
• correct use of the Turabian referencing style
Essay Writing:
• meeting the required number of words, the bulk of which should be own wording
• logical structure/organisation of ideas
• clear, concise and correct written English
• presentation in formal essay style and layout
- Critique historical interpretations of Japanese history and their applications to contemporary global issues.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
