CHNS3000 Chinese for Native Speakers 1 Guidelines for Research Project This research project requires you to conduct a mini-study through library research, developing logical arguments supported by detailed evidence.
CHNS3000 Chinese for Native Speakers 1
Guidelines for Research Project
This research project requires you to conduct a mini-study through library research,
developing logical arguments supported by detailed evidence. You will begin by selecting a
high-quality Chinese literary or non-literary work that you have enjoyed and wish to explore
further. The next step involves analyzing specific aspects of the chosen work in depth,
applying critical perspectives while maintaining coherence and consistency throughout your
project. As part of this process, you are responsible for selecting a research topic that
interests you, identifying the exact work or works to focus on, and reviewing prior research
using a variety of academic sources, particularly the Chinese database provided below.
Based on your findings, you will develop and present your own arguments, integrating
scholarly insights with your unique perspective. This project offers an opportunity to engage
critically and thoughtfully with a work that resonates with you, blending personal interest
with academic inquiry.
To complete this project, you need to do three assessment tasks on the same piece of
Chinese literary or non-literary work:
1) a research proposal (5%) (due in Week 5)
2) an oral presentation (15%) (due in multiple weeks from Week 6-13)
3) a research project report (40%) (due in Week 13)
You have the option to complete this research project in either Chinese or English.
However, it is important to use the same language consistently for all three assignments. If
you choose to complete the assignments in English, please inform your tutor as early as
possible. Switching to English only for the final research project report may result in a failing
grade for the project.
Detailed requirements for each task are listed below.
Research proposal
In Week 5 of the semester, you are required to submit a brief proposal for the research
project in 200 English words (ie, about 300 Chinese characters). Prior to your research on
the chosen topic, your proposal must be approved by the teachers, who will provide
detailed feedback to and suggestion for your project. You need to list your primary and
possible secondary data in the proposal.
Primary data: the text/s to be analyzed for this project. In this unit, only literary or non-
literary work originally published in Chinese language after the May 4th Movement (1919)
can be used as primary data. Please be noted that any texts discussed in the lectures and
tutorials should not be used as primary data for this project. Also, translated works from
other languages or works published earlier than 1919 should not be used for this project.
Secondary data: the previous research literature on the topic or the texts to be analyzed.
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The following database that is fully available via the Fisher Library website would be
extremely helpful for developing this project as the source of secondary data.
CAJ: China Academic Journals Full-text Database via CNKI
https://www.library.sydney.edu.au/browse/databases
The proposal should include:
1) preliminary title of the project
2) primary data
3) possible secondary data
4) possible research focus or research question.
All the contents in the proposal can be amended or changed based on your further reading
and thinking, but major changes of the primary data should be re-approved by the teacher.
Samples of research proposal can be found in the Canvas site.
Oral presentation
This is the opportunity for you to share your research in progress with your teachers and
peer classmates and to seek their feedback and suggestions. A 10-minute oral presentation
plus 5-minute Q & A with preparation of around 10-12 PPT slides will start from Week 6
tutorial. Everyone needs to do it on time according to the registered schedule. Any
rescheduling needs to be applied for at least two weeks in advance of your presentation and
late penalty might apply.
In the presentation, you are NOT expected to present a complete research project. You just
need to present your work in progress and let us know what you have done so far for this
project.
In the presentation, you are expected
• to present clearly the major aim or research focus of your project,
• to demonstrate ability to establish and develop an argument based on your critical
analysis of the primary data,
• to provide support to the argument by exploring relevant references from CAJ (China
Academic Journals) Full-text Database and/or other sources (ie, the secondary
data),
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• to illustrate clearly the key distinctions between your own arguments and those in
the previous research, and
• to do their presentation in an effective manner, especially in terms of delivery skills
and audience engagement skills.
The presentation will be followed by a brief Q & A session with comments and discussions
provided by all the students and the teacher.
Four presentations will usually be scheduled for each session.
The presentation slides must be submitted online via Canvas on the same day of your
presentation. The due date/time of oral presentation on Canvas is just for the design of the
assignment and is not applicable to any student.
Late penalty will apply with 5% per calendar day.
Research project report
The research project report needs to be completed in Week 13 with 2,000 English words or
about 3,000 Chinese characters. Sample reports are available on the Canvas site.
Subheadings can be added for each section. Possible sections can include
1) introduction
2) analysis
3) discussion
4) conclusion
5) bibliography
The reference style should be APA 7th. A complete guideline for APA 7th is available on the
Canvas site.
Possible primary data You can choose one piece of
literary or non-literary work from the following list or from the
Reading List on Canvas to work on for the project.
work beyond these lists, subject to the teacher's approval. You are encouraged to
find your own interest and develop the research by reading and thinking around your own
interest.
Wang Zengqi "Taking the Precepts", "Notes on Da Nao", "Famous Chicken and Duck Masters", "Strange Talent", "One Night in the Sheep Shed", "
Flowing Water ", "Pu Bridge Collection", "Deep in the Solitary Pu", "Grass and Trees in the World", "Travel and Food Sketches", "Dwarf Paper
Collection", "Wang Zengqi Sketches"
Wang Xiaobo "The Golden Age", "The Silver Age", "The Bronze Age", "My Spiritual Home", "The Silent
Majority", "The Black Iron Age",
"Eternal Love" Lin Yutang "Moment in Peking", "The Wind and the Cry", "Lai Baiying", "The Red Gate", "Both Laughing and Tearing",
"Chinatown Family", "Escape to Liberty City", "Red Peony", "My Country and My People", "
The Art of Living"
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Yu Guangzhong "Yu Guangzhong Classics" Poetry Collection: "Selected Poems of Yu Guangzhong (1949-1981)"
Ah Cheng "Chess King, Tree King, Child King", "Romance Everywhere", "Common Sense and General Knowledge", "Ah Cheng Literature ASSESSMENT
CRITERIA This unit
uses standards-based assessment for award of assessment marks. Your assessments will be evaluated solely on the basis of your individual performance. Assessment criteria for Written
Assignment A: Understanding of the Text - How well has the student understood the thoughts and feelings expressed in the text? B: Interpretation of the Text - How well has the student understood the thoughts and feelings expressed in the text? C: Interpretation of the Text - How well has the student understood the thoughts and feelings expressed in the text? D: Interpretation of the Text - How well has the student understood the thoughts and feelings expressed in the text? D : Interpretation of the Text - How well has the student understood the thoughts and feelings expressed in the text? relevant are the student's ideas about the text? - How well has the student explored those ideas? - How well has the student illustrated claims?
- To what extent has the student expressed a relevant personal response?
C: Appreciation of Some Literary Features
- To what extent is the student aware of the presence of literary features in the text,
such as diction, imagery, tone, structure, style, technique? -
To what extent
does the student appreciate the effects of the literary features? - How well has the student supported claims about the effects of literary features? to what extent are supporting examples integrated into the body of the commentary