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History of Southeast Asia

Carole Schroeder, Adjunct Faculty, Asian & Eurpean History

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Required Texts:

  1. Nicholas Tarling, ed.:  The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia, From World War II to the Present, Volume Two, Part Two (Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press, 1999);
  2. Anthony Reid, Ed.:  Sojourners and Settlers, Histories of Southeast Asia and the Chinese, (Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 1996);
  3. Le Ly Hayslip:  When Heaven and Earth Changed Places:  A Vietnamese Woman’s Journey, (New York: Plume, 1993);
  4. Andrew Marshall: The Trouser People, A Story of Burma in the Shadow of Empire, (Washington D.C.: Counterpoint Press, 2002);
  5. Paul Spencer Sochaczewski: Redheads, (Hartwell Victoria Australia: Sid Harta Publishers, 2000);
  6. Ted Lerner:  Hey, Joe, (Germany: Book of Dreams, 2000).
Egyptian painting

In this class, over the course of the semester, students will read the six assigned texts plus readings on reserve.  Next students will write (and present in class) seven, two-page minimum, three page maximum reaction papers incorporating the assigned text and the reserve reading.  I will assign two grades to each reaction paper, one for “form” (accuracy in grammar, spelling, organization and punctuation) and one for “content” (how well you analyzed and reacted to the readings.  By definition, the reaction papers are your reaction to the readings.  Several tips:  avoid the word “interesting.”  Use phrases like, “In my opinion,” “I particularly enjoyed/didn’t enjoy…”, “I believe…”, “I saw the common theme of ___ in these readings,” “My reaction was…”, “Historically I think…”  Notice that the word “I” is prominent in a reaction paper.  This also helps to ensure that you use the active voice instead of the passive voice in your writing; the active voice is much more effective.

I will divide the class into three sections, and each have different reserve readings.  On the two days assigned for paper presentations, we will randomly go around the room and have each student summarize the high points of his or her reaction paper.  Be prepared to present your reaction paper on the first of the two days set aside for this; the final paper is due the day you present it in class.  By November 25 you will need to decide which reaction paper to expand into a 5 – 7 page research paper (minimum 3 additional books and 3 additional journal articles to be incorporated as sources in the paper.)  On Wednesday, December 4 plan to turn in either a rough draft or an outline of the  5 – 7 page research paper with complete bibliography; the final research paper is due on Friday, December 13.

Grade Breakdown:  7 reaction papers 50%; final research paper 40%; attendance/class participation 10%.

Schedule of Classes and Readings

Week #1

  1. Review syllabus and course objectives
  2. Begin reading Sojourners & Settlers; Histories of Southeast Asia & the Chinese and reserve reading
  3. (No paper due on Week #1)

Week #2

  1. Finish reading & complete reaction paper (paper #1) on Sojourners & Settlers; Histories of Southeast Asia & the Chinese and reserve reading
  2. Paper presentations, Sojourners and reserve reading, Wednesday and Friday

Week #3

  1. Begin reading When Heaven & Earth Changed Places; A Vietnamese Women’s Journey and reserve reading (no paper due on Week #3)

Week #4

  1. Finish reading & complete reaction paper (paper #2) on When Heaven & Earth Changed Places; A Vietnamese Women’s Journey and reserve reading
  2. Paper presentations, Wednesday and Friday
  3. Begin reading Chapters 1 & 2, Cambridge History of SE Asia; Southeast Asia in War and Peace:  The End of European Colonial Empires & The Political Structures of the Independent States and reserve reading

Week #5

  1. Continue reading & complete reaction papers (paper #3) on Chapters 1 & 2, Cambridge History of SE Asia; Southeast Asia in War and Peace:  The End of European Colonial Empires & The Political Structures of the Independent States and reserve reading
  2. (no paper due on Week #5)

Week #6

  1. Paper presentations, Chapters 1 & 2, Cambridge History of SE Asia and reserve reading, Monday and Wednesday
  2. Begin reading The Trouser People; A Story of Burma in the Shadow of Empire & reserve reading

Week #7

  1. Continue reading & complete reaction paper (paper #4) on The Trouser People; A Story of Burma in the Shadow of Empire and reserve reading
  2. (no paper due on Week #7)

Week #8

  1. Paper presentations, Monday and Wednesday, The Trouser People; A Story of Burma in the Shadow of Empire and reserve reading2. Begin reading Chapters 3 & 4, Cambridge History of SE Asia, Economic & Social Change & Religious Change in Contemporary Southeast Asia and reserve reading

Week #9

  1. Continue reading & complete reaction paper (paper #5) on Chapters 3 & 4, Cambridge History of SE Asia, Economic and Social Change and Religious Change in Contemporary Southeast Asia and reserve reading
  2. (no paper due on Week #9)

Week #10

  1. Paper presentations, Monday and Wednesday, Chapters 3 & 4, Cambridge History of SE Asia, Economic and Social Change and Religious Change in Contemporary Southeast Asia and reserve reading
  2. Begin reading Redheads and reserve reading

Week #11

  1. Continue reading & complete reaction paper (paper #6) on Redheads and reserve reading
  2. (no paper due on Week #7)

Week #12
By Monday, Nov. 11:
Paper presentations, Monday and Wednesday, Redheads and reserve reading
Begin reading Chapter 5, Cambridge History of SE Asia, Regionalism and Nationalism and Hey, Joe (no reserve readings)
Week #13

  1. Finish reading & complete reaction papers (paper #7) on Chapter 5, Cambridge History of SE Asia, & Hey, Joe
  2. Paper presentations, Friday, Nov. 22 and Monday, Nov. 25, Chapter 5, Cambridge History & Hey, Joe (no reserve readings)

    3. Week #14

    1. Decide on which reaction paper to expand into a 5 – 7 page research paper (minimum 3 additional books and 3 additional journal articles to be incorporated as sources in the paper.)

    Week #15

    1. No reading assignment this week except for research paper work.
    2. Either rough draft or outline due on Wednesday of 5 – 7 page research paper with complete bibliography

    Week #16
    Finish research paper

    Sources, Reserve reading: 1.  Lords of the Rim; 2.  Vietnam, An Illustrated History; 3.  Scents of Eden; 4.  The Politics of Elections in SE Asia; 5.  Merchants & Faith;  6.  In Search of Southeast Asia or Southeast Asia, Crossroads of the World or Nations and States in Southeast Asia.

    Reserve Reading Schedule

    Week 1 Begin; Paper presentation starts Wednesday, September 4
    Lords of the Rim
    Group A:  Chap. 9, pages 137-156;
    Group B: Chap. 11, pages  182-197;
    Group C: Chap. 14, pages 224-248.

    Week 3 Begin; Paper presentation starts Wednesday, September 4
    Vietnam An Illustrated History
    Group A:  Pages  69-107;
    Group B: Pages Introduction-32;
    Group C: Pages 35-67

    Week 4  Begin; Paper presentation starts Monday, September 30
    Scents of Eden
    Group A:  Chaps. 4 & 5, pages 37-63;
    Group B: Chaps. 2 & 3, pages 14-36;
    Group C: prologue & Chap. 1, pages xvii-13

    Week 6 Begin; Paper presentation
    Either In Search of Southeast Asia or Southeast Asia, Crossroads of the World or Nations and States in Southeast Asia.
    Group A:  Southeast Asia, Crossroads of the World, pages 42-46 & 95-100;
    Group B: Nations and States in Southeast Asia, pages 27-32 & 49-53;
    Group C: In Search of Southeast Asia, Chap. 27, pages 292-311

    Week 8 Begin; Paper presentation
    Merchants & Faith
    Group A:  Pages 55-76;
    Group B:  Pages  77-97;
    Group C:  Pages 46-54 & 99-106

    Week 10 Begin; Paper presentation
    The Politics of Elections in SE Asia
    Group A:  Introduction & Chap. 1 partial, pages. 1-20;
    Group B: Chap. 9, pages 201-223;
    Group C: Chap. 8, pages  184 -200