Instructor Interview
In the pages linked below, Prof. Tristan G. Brown describes various aspects of how he teaches 21H.151 Dynastic China.
- Approach to Lecturing
- One Course, Two Languages
- Generative AI in Student Coursework
- A Typical Exam Question
- Student Research Projects
- What Video Can and Can’t Do
- Last Thoughts
Assessment
Grade Breakdown
The students’ grades were based on the following activities:
- 10% Attendance
- 20% Discussion posts (10)
- 5% Geography quiz
- 5% Classical texts quiz
- 5% Mid-semester check-in
- 15% Midterm
- 20% Timeline proposal (5%) and final project (15%)
- 20% Final exam
Curriculum Information
Prerequisites
None
Requirements Satisfied
- 21H.151 fulfills the humanities component of the General Institute Requirement (GIR) in Humanities and Social Sciences.
- The course can be applied toward a minor in Chinese, but is not required.
Offered
Most fall semesters
Student Information
Enrollment
35 registered students, in addition to some listeners
Breakdown by Year
Mostly juniors and seniors
Breakdown by Major/Minor
Students in the class were pursuing a wide range of majors; several were minoring in Chinese.
Typical Student Background
Some students arrived with Chinese language experience through family or prior study, while others had no background at all.
How Student Time Was Spent
During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:
In Class
Met 2 times per week for 1.5 hour per session; 26 sessions total; mandatory attendance
Out of Class
Outside of class, students completed assigned readings, composed discussion posts, studied for quizzes and exams, and worked on a final essay or timeline project.
