HST

Spring, 2020 – HST/AAS 233 – The Rise of Modern China – Instructor: Ryan Yokota

Midterm Take Home Essay Prompts

The midterm essay is worth 30% of the total grade for the class. Please follow these standards:

1) Include student name, name of class, and instructor name single-spaced at top of first page.

2) Use a double spaced 12-point Times/Times New Roman font for body with 1-inch margins.

3) Use footnotes according to the Chicago Manual of Style (preferred)

(http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html) or MLA style.

Answer both of the following essay questions in two separate essays, for a minimum of three pages each,

and a grand total of at least six pages for the midterm. Both essays together should be no longer than eight

pages in length. Please refer specifically to class readings and lectures, including The Search for Modern

China textbook. Outside readings are neither allowed nor are necessary for completing this exercise.

Please run a spelling/grammar check before uploading your essay to D2L. Plagiarism is prohibited and will

result in a failing grade on the assignment and university administrative action.

Essay Prompt 1

The Boxer Rebellion of 1899-1901 represented a significant development in the organizing of the masses of

the Chinese people against the threat of foreign encroachments. But did it represent a new stage in the

development of Chinese nationalism? In taking your position on this question, first 1) define your

understanding of what nationalism is, based upon class lectures and the SFMC text; 2) Describe the differing

positions held by intellectuals such as Wei Yuan, Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, and Zhang Binglin in urging a

new, more expansive role for both intellectuals and the broad masses in Chinese government and political

affairs; and 3) Discuss the Paul Cohen reading on the Boxer movement and their myriad motivations and

goals in answering the question of whether they can be considered as nationalists or not.

Essay Prompt 2

Erez Manela, in his book, The Wilsonian Moment, deals with the question of self-determination, and how

Chinese delegates grappled with these views at the Versailles Conference. Using the assigned chapters from

Manela’s book, discuss 1) the differences in Lenin’s and Wilson’s views on self-determination; 2) the

reception of Wilson’s declarations by Chinese intellectuals and activists in their push for a recovery of

Chinese sovereignty; and 3) Describe the betrayal they felt in the Wilsonian liberal moment and its

implications for the Chinese revolutionary movement. When possible, include references to reformers and

revolutionaries mentioned in class lectures and in the Search for Modern China textbook.

In assessing this midterm, the following criteria will constitute a rubric for grading these essays:

1) What is the main thesis of the essay? This should be clearly stated in the first paragraph.

2) What are the main points used to support this thesis? Provide concrete examples and judiciously

use selected quotes from the readings. Back up all assertions with evidence.

3) What conclusion is reached by this evidence? What does it say about Chinese history?

4) The best essays show strong control over the readings and make them speak to each other.

5) Do not use “I” statements in the essay, and refrain from casual language or passive voice.

The midterm essays must be uploaded to the D2L dropbox by noon on Monday, April 27, 2020. No late

papers will be accepted.