P: grade of C or better in C501 or equivalent proficiency

This course is designed for advanced students of Chinese to 1) improve
their overall language proficiency through extensive reading of texts in
various styles and genres; 2) acquire a deeper understanding of major
issues concerning modern Chinese intellectuals as well as a fuller picture
of contemporary Chinese life and society; 3) obtain skills to be
independent and confident learners of Chinese.

Texts include 1) a course packet of selected readings ranging from prose,
short stories to plays; 2) a novel; 3) audiovisual materials including
films, TV plays, and comedic dialogues that enrich the understanding of the
texts in focus.  The class meets five hours a week.  In general, three
hours will be devoted to discussion of the text from the packet and two
hours to the novel and aural-oral materials.

Daily and active participation in class is expected.  The grade will be
based on daily performance, two oral reports (twice), writing portfolio
(three essays and a notebook with daily entry of sentences or passages
incorporating five new words of choice), and four tests.