CHINA STUDIES IN ENGLISH
Higher 1 (2017)
(Syllabus 8817)
CONTENTS
Page
2
INTRODUCTION
AIMS
2
ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
2
SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT
3
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
4
SYLLABUS CONTENT
4
ANNEX A – GENERIC MARK BANDS FOR ESSAY QUESTIONS
5
ANNEX B – SYLLABUS CONTENT
6
APPENDIX A – READING LIST
8
Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board
 MOE & UCLES 2015
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8817 H1 CHINA STUDIES IN ENGLISH (2017)
INTRODUCTION
H1 China Studies in English is an inter-disciplinary subject that aims to promote candidates’ awareness of,
and interest in, contemporary China. The syllabus will focus on geopolitical, economic and socio-cultural
forces related to China’s development since 1978, and their role in shaping events and trends in China and
beyond.
AIMS
H1 China Studies in English aims to enable candidates to:
1.
gain a broad exposure to key issues related to the development of contemporary China
2.
deepen their understanding of the Chinese, their culture and ways of thinking
3.
develop an awareness and appreciation of diversity among the people and regions of China
4.
appreciate the geopolitical and economic implications of China’s rise as a regional and global player
5.
develop an understanding of the social and environmental implications of China’s development
6.
develop skills in evaluating diverse perspectives on China and arrive at an informed judgement of
issues
ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES
Candidates are expected to:
1.
AO1: KNOWLEDGE
•
2.
3.
select and apply relevant knowledge
AO2: CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING AND CONSTRUCTION OF EXPLANATION
•
critically examine issues and developments
•
analyse and evaluate different viewpoints and perspectives
•
construct coherent and substantiated arguments
AO3: INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION OF GIVEN INFORMATION
•
interpret, analyse and evaluate information
•
apply information and postulate outcomes and developments
•
justify recommendations/opinions
•
reach reasoned conclusions based on information
2
8817 H1 CHINA STUDIES IN ENGLISH (2017)
SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT MODE
The assessment comprises one written examination paper. The paper will consist of two sections: Section A
(Case Study) and Section B (Essay Questions).
SPECIFICATION GRID
Section
Description
Assessment
objective
Marks
Overall
weighting
Duration
3 hours
A
(Case Study)
Candidates answer the
compulsory case study
comprising three to four subquestions.
AO1 + AO2 + AO3
30
marks
37.5%
B
(Essay
Questions)
Candidates answer two essay
questions.
AO1 + AO2
50
marks
62.5%
Two questions will be set. Each
question will have an ‘either’ ‘or’
option. Questions may be set on
any of the four themes in the
syllabus. The questions will be
comparable in demand and
rigour.
Note: AO1 forms part of testing of AO2 and AO3.
DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS
SECTION A (CASE STUDY)
The Case Study will consist of a collection of material, containing three to four sources and no more than 3
A4 pages in length, on an issue related to an aspect of the syllabus content. The issue may be based on a
single theme or cross-thematic in nature and the given material will provide different perspectives and
opinions. It may include written, pictorial and statistical sources, but the interpretation of these sources will
not require specialised knowledge of a particular discipline. The Case Study will require candidates to
interpret, analyse and evaluate the given material, and make postulations on outcomes and developments
based on the given information.
SECTION B (ESSAY QUESTIONS)
Candidates are required to show depth of understanding and evidence of reading in their answers. The
answers should demonstrate critical thinking skills such as the ability to interpret and evaluate different
points of view and to present thoughtful and analytical arguments. Candidates are required to answer the
essay questions in continuous prose.
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8817 H1 CHINA STUDIES IN ENGLISH (2017)
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
SECTION A (CASE STUDY)
The Case Study questions will be assessed using the Levels of Response mark scheme (LORMS). LORMS
involves qualitative judgements and awards marks according to the level of skill or understanding in the
answer. The mark scheme will be specific to the target objective of the question set. There will be different
levels of skill or understanding, in relation to the target objective, demonstrated by the candidates in their
answers. The mark scheme will thus be question-specific, and not generic in nature.
SECTION B (ESSAY QUESTIONS)
The essay questions will be assessed using holistic band descriptors. The assessment involves qualitative
rather than quantitative evaluation. Judgements on the appropriate band of each essay assessed will be
based on the principle of ‘best fit’ determined by the descriptions within each band which has several
assessment criteria.
For details on the assessment criteria, please refer to Generic Mark Bands for Essay Questions at Annex A.
SYLLABUS CONTENT
The 4 key themes in the syllabus are:
•
Theme 1: Culture and Society
•
Theme 2: Authority and Governance
•
Theme 3: Development and Challenges
•
Theme 4: China and the World
For details on the syllabus, please refer to the Syllabus Content at Annex B.
The design of the syllabus is based on essential questions pertinent to each theme. These essential questions
provoke thinking and are multilayered in nature as they facilitate the uncovering of current and complex
content matter through an enquiry-based teaching approach. Such a teaching approach is particularly
appropriate as the focus of H1 China Studies in English is contemporary, and issues related to China are
dynamic and therefore subject to change. Given the inter-disciplinary nature of the syllabus, a meaningful
understanding of contemporary China will be enhanced through an exploration of the links and
interconnectedness between issues covered under the four themes.
The reading list for the subject is attached as Appendix A.
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8817 H1 CHINA STUDIES IN ENGLISH (2017)
ANNEX A
GENERIC MARK BANDS FOR ESSAY QUESTIONS
Band
Marks
Quality of the answer
1
21–25
The approach is consistently analytical or explanatory rather than descriptive. Answers
will be fully relevant. The argument will be structured coherently and supported by very
appropriate supporting material.
The writing will be accurate.
At the lower end of the band, there may be some weaker sections but the overall
quality will show that the candidate is in control of the argument.
The best answers must be awarded 25 marks.
2
18–20
Essays will be focused clearly on the demands of the question but there will be some
unevenness. The approach will be mostly analytical or explanatory rather than
descriptive.
The answer will be mostly relevant. Most of the argument will be structured coherently
and supported by largely relevant evidence/data/examples. The impression will be that
of a good solid answer. The writing will be mostly accurate.
3
16–17
Answers will reflect a clear understanding of the question and a fair attempt to provide
an argument and evidence/data/examples to answer it. The approach will contain
analysis or explanation but there may be some heavily descriptive passages. The
answer will be largely relevant. Answers will achieve a genuine argument but may lack
balance and/or depth in terms of argument.
Most of the answer will be structured satisfactorily but some parts may lack full
coherence. The writing will be generally accurate.
4
14–15
Answers will indicate attempts to argue relevantly although often implicitly.
The approach will be more descriptive than analytical or explanatory. Analysis or
explanation may be limited to introductions and/or conclusions.
The structure of the argument could be organised more effectively. The writing will
usually be accurate.
5
11–13
Answers will offer some appropriate evidence/data/examples but there will be little
attempt generally to link these to the requirements of the question.
The approach will lack analysis and the quality of the description, although sufficiently
accurate and relevant to the topic, if not the particular question, will not be linked
effectively to the argument.
The structure will show weaknesses and the treatment of topics within the answer will
be unbalanced. The writing may show some accuracy but there will also be frequent
errors.
6
8–10
Answers will not be properly focused on the requirements of the question. There may
be many unsupported assertions and commentaries. The argument may be of limited
relevance to the topic and there may be confusion about the implication of the
question.
The writing will show significant weaknesses.
7
0–7
Answers will be characterised by significant irrelevance or arguments which do not
begin to make significant points.
The answers may be largely fragmentary and incoherent.
Marks at the bottom of this band will be given very rarely because even the most
wayward and fragmentary answers usually make a few valid points.
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8817 H1 CHINA STUDIES IN ENGLISH (2017)
ANNEX B
SYLLABUS CONTENT
THEME 1 – CULTURE AND SOCIETY
Essential Questions
•
What is ‘China’?
•
What shapes
Chinese culture and
society?
Content
Learning Outcomes
•
Understanding unity and diversity in China: Land,
people, language and historical consciousness
•
Influence of Confucianism (Ru), Buddhism (Shi)
and Daoism (Dao) on Chinese culture, social
structure and ways of thinking
Impact of modernisation on Chinese customs,
family structure and values
•
Candidates should be able to:
•
explore what constitutes
‘China’
•
develop an awareness of
Chinese philosophy and
thought, and their role in
shaping Chinese thinking,
culture and society
•
examine the impact of
modernisation on Chinese
society
Concepts
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
civilisation
identity
pluralism
Confucianism
Buddhism
Daoism
modernisation
Values/Attitudes
•
•
•
•
•
loyalty
respect
integrity
filial piety
responsibility
THEME 2 – AUTHORITY AND GOVERNANCE
Essential Questions
Content
•
How effectively is
China governed?
•
•
What are the
challenges of
governing China?
•
Role of political institutions:
–
Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
–
State bureaucracy
–
People’s Liberation Army (PLA)
Challenges to governance:
–
political reforms
–
cross-strait relations
Learning Outcomes
Candidates will be able to:
•
examine the influence of
ideology in the governance of
China
•
explore the role of political
institutions in the governance
of China, and its impact
•
analyse the different
challenges to governance in
contemporary China
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Concepts
•
•
•
•
•
•
authority
ideology
Communism
Maoism
nationalism
unification
Values/Attitudes
•
•
•
•
•
accountability
integrity
incorruptibility
adaptability
loyalty
8817 H1 CHINA STUDIES IN ENGLISH (2017)
THEME 3 – DEVELOPMENT AND CHALLENGES
Essential Questions
•
•
How has China
transformed from a
planned economy to
a market economy?
How serious are the
problems faced by
China in managing
its development?
Content
•
•
Learning Outcomes
Economic reforms since 1978:
– transition from a planned economy to
market economy
– economic growth and its impact
Issues and challenges:
regional disparities
rural-urban migration
environmental management
Candidates should be able to:
•
examine the reasons for
China’s rapid development
and its impact
•
explore the challenges faced
by China in managing its
development
Concepts
•
•
•
•
•
open-door policy
planned economy
market economy
capitalism
sustainability
–
–
–
Values/Attitudes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
entrepreneurial
spirit
dynamism
pragmatism
accountability
resilience
equality
responsibility
THEME 4 – CHINA AND THE WORLD
Essential Questions
•
How important is
China’s emergence
as a global power?
•
Content
Learning Outcomes
China’s foreign relations since 1978:
– China as a global power
– China and major powers – US and Japan
Candidates should be able to:
•
analyse the rise of China as a
global power
•
examine China’s foreign
relations with major powers
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Concepts
•
•
•
•
nationalism
multi-polarity
globalisation
diplomacy
Values/Attitudes
•
•
•
•
•
•
national pride
harmony
equality
adaptability
respect
cooperation
8817 H1 CHINA STUDIES IN ENGLISH (2017)
APPENDIX A
READING LIST
CORE REFERENCES
Anderson, Jennifer (1997). The Limits of Sino-Russian Strategic Partnership, Chapters 1 and 2. Oxford, UK:
Oxford University Press.
Blecher, Marc (2003). China Against the Tides: Restructuring through Revolution, Radicalism and Reform
(2nd Edition). London, UK: Continuum.
Chi, Lo (2004). The Misunderstood China: Uncovering the Truth Behind the Bamboo Curtain. Singapore:
Pearson.
Dillon, Michael (Ed.) (1998). China: A Cultural and Historical Dictionary. Surrey, UK: Curzon Press.
Donald, Stephanie Hemelryk & Benewick, Robert (2005). The State of China Atlas: Mapping the World’s
Fastest Growing Economy. Sydney, Australia: University of New South Wales Press Ltd.
Edmonds, Richard Louis (Ed.) (2000). The People’s Republic of China After 50 Years. Oxford, UK: Oxford
University Press.
Edmonds, Richard Louis (Ed.) (2000). Managing the Chinese Environment. Oxford, UK: Oxford University
Press.
Gamer, E Robert (2003) (Ed.). Understanding Contemporary China. Colorado, USA: Lynne Rienner
Publishers.
Gries, Peter Hays and Rosen, Stanley (Eds) (2004). State and Society in 21st Century China: Crisis,
Contention and Legitimation. New York, USA: RoutledgeCurzon.
Harada, Chikahito (1997). Russia and North-east Asia, Chapter 2 (China). Oxford, UK: Oxford University
Press.
Ho, Khai Leong and Ku, Samuel C Y (2005). China and Southeast Asia: Global Changes and Regional
Challenges. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
Hsieh, Chiao-Min and Lu, Max (2004). Changing China: A Geographical Appraisal. Colorado, USA:
Westview Press.
Hunter, Alan & Sexton, John (1999). Contemporary China. London, UK: Macmillan Press.
Jin, Canrong (2001). ‘The US Global Strategy in the Post-Cold War Era and Its Implications for China-United
States Relations: A Chinese Perspective’. Journal of Contemporary China. 10(27), pp. 309–315.
Lawrence, Alan (2004). China Since 1919: Revolution and Reform – A Sourcebook. London, UK: Routledge.
Ogden, Suzanne (2005). Global Studies: China (Eleventh Edition). Connecticut, USA: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin.
Saich, Tony (2001). Governance and Politics of China. New York, USA: Palgrave.
Shambaugh, David (2004). ‘China Engages Asia: Reshaping the Regional Order’. International Security. Vol.
29, No. 3 (Winter 2004–05), pp. 64–99.
Sheng, Lijun (2001). China’s Dilemma: The Taiwan Issue. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
Sheng, Lijun (2002). China and Taiwan: Cross-strait Relations under Chen Shui-bian. Singapore: Institute of
Southeast Asian Studies.
Teather, David C B and Yee, Herbert S (Eds) (1999). China in Transition: Issues and Policies. London, UK:
Macmillan Press Ltd.
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8817 H1 CHINA STUDIES IN ENGLISH (2017)
Yee, Herbert and Storey, Ian (2002). The China Threat: Perceptions, Myths and Reality. London, UK:
Routledge Curzon.
Zhao, Suisheng (Ed.) (2004). Chinese Foreign Policy: Pragmatism and Strategic Behaviour. New York, USA:
M. E. Sharpe.
OTHER REFERENCES
Baranovitch, Nimrod (2003). ‘From the Margins to the Centre: The Uyghur Challenge in Beijing’. The China
Quarterly 175: 726–750.
Bhalla, A S (1995). ‘Recent Economic Reforms in China and India’. Asian Survey 35(6): 555–72.
Brodsgaard, Kjeld Erik and Zheng, Yongnian (2004). Bringing the Party Back In: How China is Governed.
Singapore: Eastern Universities Press.
Chow, Gregory C (2004). Knowing China. Singapore: World Scientific.
Christensen, Thomas J (1996). ‘Chinese Realpolitik’. Foreign Affairs. 75 (Sep–Oct): 37–52.
Dittmer, Lowell (2003). ‘Leadership Change and Chinese Political Development’. The China Quarterly 176:
903–925.
Ewing, Richard Daniel (2003). ‘Hu Jintao: The Making of a Chinese General Secretary’. The China Quarterly
173: 17–34.
Fairbank, John and Reischauer, Edwin. (1989). China: Tradition and Transformation. Sydney, Australia:
Allen and Unwin.
Fairbank, John (1992). China: A New History. Cambridge, Mass., USA: Harvard University Press.
Fewsmith, Joseph (1999). China Since Tiananmen: Politics of Transition. New York, USA: Cambridge
University Press.
Fewsmith, Joseph (2003). ‘The Sixteenth National Party Congress: The Succession that Didn’t Happen’. The
China Quarterly 173: 1–16.
Grasso, June, Corrin, Jay and Michale, Kort (2001). Modernisation and Revolution in China. New York, USA:
M. E. Sharpe Inc.
Hsu, Immanuel (2001). The Rise of Modern China. (5th Edition). Hong Kong: Oxford University Press.
Huang, Ray (1990). China: A Macro History. New York, USA: M. E. Sharpe.
Lee, Kuan Yew (2000). From Third World To First: The Singapore Story: 1965 – 2000, Chapters 34–40.
Singapore: Singapore Press Holdings.
Lewis, John W and Xue, Litai (2003). ‘Social Change and Political Reform in China: Meeting the Challenge
of Success’. The China Quarterly 176: 926–942.
Li, Lianjiang (2002). ‘The Politics of Introducing Direct Township Elections in China’. The China Quarterly
171: 704–23.
Liu, Kang (2004). Globalisation and Cultural Trends in China. Honolulu, USA: University of Hawaii Press.
Mackerras, Colin, McMillen, Donald H. & Watson, Andrew (Eds) (2001). Dictionary of the Politics of the
People’s Republic of China. London, UK: Routledge.
Muni, S D (2002). China’s Strategic Engagement with the New ASEAN. IDSS Monograph No. 2. Singapore:
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies.
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8817 H1 CHINA STUDIES IN ENGLISH (2017)
Naughton, Barry (1993). ‘Deng Xiaoping: The Economist’. The China Quarterly 135: 491–514.
Overmyer, Daniel L (2003). ‘Religion in China Today: Introduction’. The China Quarterly.
Pan, Lynn (Ed.) (1998). The Encyclopedia of the Chinese Overseas. Chinese Heritage Centre: Archipelago
Press.
Panitchpakdi, Supachai, Wang, Gungwu, Evan, Paul M and Pernia, Ernesto M (2002). ‘Outlook for China
and the Region’. Trends in Southeast Asia, No. 3, February. Singapore: ISEAS.
Pye, Lucian W (1993). ‘An Introductory Profile: Deng Xiaoping and China’s Political Culture. The China
Quarterly 135: 412–43.
Rawski, Thomas G (1995). ‘Implications of China’s Reform Experience’. The China Quarterly. 144:
1150–1173.
Sheng, Lijun (2001). ‘A New U.S. Asia Policy?: Air Collision, Arms Sales and China-US Relations’. Trends in
Southeast Asia No. 8, June. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
Roy, Denny (1998). China’s Foreign Relations. London, UK: Macmillan.
Solinger, Dorothy J (2003). ‘State and Society in Urban China in the Wake of the 16th Party Congress’. The
China Quarterly 176: 943–959.
Spence, Jonathan (1991). The Search for Modern China. New York, USA: W. W. Norton Company.
Stuart-Fox, Martin (2003). A Short History of China and Southeast Asia: Tribute, Trade and Influence.
Sydney, Australia: Allen and Unwin.
Sutton, Alan (2004). ‘The Three Gorges Project on the Yangtze River in China’. Geography. Vol 89 (2),
pp. 111–126.
Teather, David C B and Yee, Herbert S (Eds) (1999). China in Transition: Issues and Policies. New York,
USA: St. Martin’s Press.
Thuno, Mette (2001). ‘Reaching Out and Incorporating Chinese Overseas: The Trans-territorial Scope of the
PRC by the End of the 20th Century’. The China Quarterly 168: 911–28.
Wang, Gungwu (1992). China and the Chinese Overseas. Singapore: Times Academic Press.
Wang, Gungwu (2003). Ideas Won’t Keep: The Struggle for China’s Future. Singapore: Eastern Universities
Press.
Wang, Gungwu and Wong, John (Eds) (1999). China: Two Decades of Reform and Change. Singapore:
Singapore University Press.
Whyte, Martin King (1995). ‘The Social Roots of China’s Economic Development’. The China Quarterly 144:
999–1019.
Wong, John and Lu, Ding (2002). China’s Economy – New Century: Structural Issues and Problems.
Singapore: World Scientific.
Wong, John and Zheng, Yongnian (Eds) (2001). The Nanxun Legacy and China’s Development in the PostDeng Era. Singapore: Singapore University Press.
Wu, Yu-shan (1999). ‘Taiwanese Elections and Cross-Strait Relations: Mainland Policy in Flux’. Asian
Survey 39 (4): 565–87.
Yang, Mayfair Mei-hui (2002). ‘The Resilience of Guanxi and its New Deployments: A Critique of Some New
Guanxi Scholarship’. The China Quarterly 170: 459–76.
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8817 H1 CHINA STUDIES IN ENGLISH (2017)
Yong, Deng and Wang, Fei-Ling (Eds) (1999). In the Eyes of the Dragon: China Views the World. Lanham,
Madison, USA: Rowan and Littlefield.
Yong, Pow Ang (1995). ‘Singapore’s Investment in China’. In Suryadinata, Leo (Ed.), Southeast Asian
Chinese and China – The Politico-Economic Dimension. Singapore: Times Academic Press, pp. 249–254.
RECOMMENDED JOURNALS
China: An International Journal: East Asian Institute, Singapore.
International Security: The MIT Press.
Journal of Contemporary China: Routledge.
The China Quarterly: Cambridge University Press.
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