HUM 2410 Asian Humanities

Texts:  HCC Custom Text: Asian Humanities and Buck, The Good Earth

The syllabus is located on the tab "Syllabi - All Courses." 

Guides for tests, quizzes, and papers will be placed on this page.

THE TEST WILL START SHORTLY AFTER CLASS BEGINS.  SINCE THERE ARE NO LATE ENTRIES, please plan to arrive on time. Please remember that there is no make-up exam.

If you must miss the test, we’ll just count it as the dropped exam.

Please begin studying as soon as possible because there is quite a bit of material on the exam- 1/3 of the course content.

The test will be given in 3 parts and will be composed of 1) image identification – on overhead, 2) objective questions (scantron), 3) general “demand” essay 4) Extra Credit- information that you learned from the class or the text that was not asked for on the exam- tell me what you know.

Bring scantron. Watch for the words “except” or “not true” in the questions. Read the question carefully and ALL the answers before choosing the correct one. Some questions may require critical thinking on your part. Concentrate on class notes, and pages pointed out in the book. Extra credit: Information found in text or class notes not asked on the objective test. Do not leave the room or answer cell phones. Do not talk to others or have notes or information visible. Put your test in my hands and wait for me to check it over before you leave the room.

PART I- IMAGE IDENTIFICATION ONLY – no paragraph required. Information on these art objects/ architecture will be covered in the Multiple Choice part of the test.  – about 10-15%

Be able to identify the following 8 images (identify as given below). You will NOT be required to write a paragraph; however, questions regarding the images will be asked on the multiple choice portion of the exam. The images will be shown on the overhead for response, then the papers will be collected and the multiple choice section of the exam will be given out.

The Great Wall- Qin 279

 Shang dynasty Bronze Ritual vessel -275

Qin (Chin) Tomb figure -279

Song Landscape Painting “Early Spring”283

Blue and White Ming Porcelain Jar with Dragon- 281

The Forbidden City – Ming/Qing 273,282

The Colossal Buddha - 281

Calligraphy  280

PART II- MULTIPLE CHOICE- Covers information since Test #1, including handouts, videos, text, and class lectures. See the study questions below. The exam will NOT cover The Good Earth. – about 75%

PART III- ESSAY- one or two general essays/ paragraphs- about 10%

 PART IV- Extra Credit- see above 

Sample Study Questions – China 

What are the 4 traditional types/formats of Chinese paintings?

“Ancestor worship”

“Literati”

Discuss Chinese poetry and name two Tang poets

Discuss the importance and symbolism of Jade

Describe the accomplishments of Qin Shih-Huang-Ti

Describe the Great Wall

Describe the Qin Tomb

Discuss Chinese writing

“calligraphy”

Discuss the pagoda

Discuss the Forbidden City

Discuss silk

“Footbinding”

Discuss Song Landscape paintings

What are the major ideas of Taoism?

“Dao de Jing”

“Yin and Yang”

Discuss Confucianism, Confucian relationships, Confucian literature, and Confucian values

What is the role of the Emperor?

“Mandate from Heaven”

Who is the “Son of Heaven?”

“Mandarins”

Name the major dynasties, the general dates, and an art form associated with each

Describe the making of and attributes of lacquerware

“Meritocracy”

What were some of the political issues during the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries?

Describe the Tang capital

Describe the Song capital

Marco Polo

“silk road”

Who was Kanxi (Qing)?

What are some symbols that are used not only in art, but in Chinese everyday life?

QUIZ 2- THE GOOD EARTH

Hi everybody,

                This is a reminder that this Wednesday is the day to submit your paper and take Quiz #2. Bring your paper with you to class. Please arrive on time so that you do not miss the quiz.

                If you have printing problems you may want to come to the campus early to print or you may want to e-mail the paper to me. You may want to e-mail yourself a copy when you finish writing the paper so you will be able to retrieve it if you forget to bring your copy to the campus.

                Please take time to review my directions for the paper located in your syllabus. I have given some tips in previous classes, too. If you “don’t know what Prof McClung wants” or “don’t know what to write about” AFTER you read the syllabus, you may benefit from the use of the writing center/ tutorial center/ student success center located in the first floor of the LRC building. Bring the syllabus instructions for the paper and your notes with you and ask for help organizing your paper. If you have not written a reaction paper before, and/or you do not have confidence in your writing ability, you may also want to take your paper to the center. Smarthinking is another source for help. These two sources are free tools provided by HCC to help you with writing assignments.

See you Wed 

TEST #1- India

THE TEST WILL START SHORTLY AFTER CLASS BEGINS.  SINCE THERE ARE NO LATE ENTRIES, please plan to arrive on time. Please remember that there are no make-up exams.

If you must miss the test, we’ll just count it as the dropped exam.

Please remember that this exam covers 1/4 of the course material, so please allow enough study time.

The test will be given in 3 parts and will be composed of 1) image identification and discussion 2) objective questions (scantron), 3) possible paragraph/or essay – optional 4) extra credit.

Bring scantron. Watch for the words “except” or “not true” in the questions. Read the question carefully and ALL the answers before choosing the correct one. Some questions may require critical thinking on your part. Concentrate on class notes, and pages assigned out in the book. Do not leave the room or answer cell phones. Do not talk to others or have notes or information visible. Put your test in my hands and wait for me to check it over before you leave the room.

PART I- IMAGE IDENTIFICATION / DISCUSSION --ABOUT –25%

PART I- IMAGES FOR IDENTIFICATION AND/OR DISCUSSION.

Shiva, Lord of the Dance- Hindu - 255

Hindu Temple (do not need to know name) 253

Ganesha- Hindu -244

Great Stupa - Buddhist -249

An image of the Buddha- Buddhist -250,252

Lion Pillar – Buddhist 248

The Taj Mahal – Islamic  -254

YOU WILL BE SHOWN ONE OF THE ABOVE IMAGES FOR IDENTIFICATION AND /OR DISCUSSION: Identify the work- title and culture (Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic). For discussion, identify, then write a paragraph; consider everything, but concentrate on the pertinent characteristics. You may want to consider the function, medium, location; point out features characteristic of a style; what makes this work characteristic of the culture? What makes the work significant?  Write a paragraph of about 50 words or more.

EXAMPLE of  a “Bad” answer when shown the Great Stupa at Sanchi:

“This is a masterpiece in India. The people who built this circle building did a great job. The surface is smooth for a building so old. The people still use this building. Some of the gates and fences are missing, but that doesn’t change the value of the building. This is still a good place to worship the gods”

A “Good” answer would provide factual information (size, elements), describe the origin and use of the structure, specify it as Buddhist,  include symbolic components. . .

PART II OBJECTIVE - ABOUT  60-70%----MULTIPLE CHOICE,  MATCH,  T/F

Test questions will come from class notes, handouts, the film, and readings from the text. Concentrate on information covered in class.

--SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

Which statement is not true of Buddhism?

A. The Aryans brought Buddhism with them into India

B. Buddhism spread into China from India

C. The Buddha promoted the “Middle Way”

D. Buddhists practice non-violence

“Ahimsa”

A. Indian stringed instrument

B. non-violence

C. the law of righteous living

D. religious scripture

 Which statement is NOT TRUE? In the Kamasutra, the girl to be married:

A. must be a virgin

B. must be from a good family

C. must be from within the same family as the groom

D. must possess good hair, teeth, eyes, and breastsE.. must be of the same caste 

Who founded Buddhism? When?

Discuss the Bagavad Gita.

Discuss the Laws of Manu.

What are some Buddhist or Hindu practices? . . .

Describe Buddhist art/ Hindu art

Discuss Indian music tradition...

PART III - The (possible) paragraph or essay will be broad, giving you another opportunity to display your knowledge of the subjects (worth about 6-10%).

EXTRA CREDIT- Information found in text or class notes not asked on the objective test (only exception is the information on the above images).