Assessment

(This page will be finalised in September 2025)

• Seminar contribution (10%)
• 1500 word policy brief or news analysis essay (10%)
• 3000 word applied tasks (40%)
• 3000 word essay (40%)
• NB Each assessed element will be marked according to the standard assessment criteria of History Department.Link opens in a new window 
• As a third year student, you are expected to play a central role in finding your own topic and sources and coming up with a title for each assignment. You can use seminar question as your starting point, and start planning your assessed work early.

For assessment deadlines, plagiarism, extensions, and penalties see the Undergraduate Handbook.Link opens in a new window

Seminar contribution 10%

Seminar is a good time to practice your verbal communication skills. The best way to prepare this is to read the required readings. You are expected to attend each seminar. If for any reason you cannot attend a seminar, you should email the tutor asap. If you have not read the required readings, you are most welcome to attend; actually, you are better off attending the seminar. The design of the seminar is that everyone has at least one opportunity to speak each week. I will actively provide the opportunity for each student. You can stay silent throughout the seminar if you wish, but it would be great if you can email and let me know in advance that you do not wish to speak throughout the seminar, or for a particular seminar. The 10% of mark is based on the quality of your contributions during the seminar but I will be taking into account individual circumstances that include your efforts and improvements over the course. You need to submit the Participation Self-Evaluation Form via Tabula.

1500 word policy brief or news analysis essay 10%

We will go through a few policy briefs, and in the process, you will learn how to write them. For the news analysis essay, choose a recent news event and provide your analysis of the underlying causes, explaining how it helps us understand the political and economic structure.

3000 word applied history assignment 40%

The aim of this assignment is to allow the student to practice a new skill of communication or to further develop an existing one by combining it with the essay writing skills to produce a work that convey their knowledge of this module to a broader audience. The assignment can take the following formats, and each needs to be submitted along with an “explanation note”:

• A blog essay of 1800-2400 words and an explanation note of 500-600 words (explain what is your "analysis" in the explanation note). The style of the blog is expected to be communicative and engaging, presented with images and captions. The blog needs to be online live and to be submitted on Tabula in Word format containing footnotes and the hyperlink. So, you write footnotes as you would for a traditional essay. When you publish it online as a blog you remove the footnotes. There are many platforms hosting blogs, just Google "blog" you will find them. The single file that you submit on Tabula should contain: 1) the blog pasted into Word (including footnotes and bibliography), 2) the explanation note, and 3) the hyperlink.
  • The Explanation Note should contain the thesis, the purpose of the work (what do you want to communicate to the educated readers), any additional explanation on the use of sources in producing the work, a bibliography, what is your analysis (if this has not been explained in the main work), and your experience (skills learnt, difficult? fun in doing it? challenging but rewarding?...).
• A journalistic article of 1800-2400 words and an explanation note of 500-600 words (explain what is your "analysis" the explanations). The writing is in journalistic style (informative, educational and with an editorial opinion) but properly referenced with footnotes, no need to publish it online but it can be. This is expected to be presented with images and captions. The single file that you submit on Tabula should contain: 1) the article pasted into Word (including footnotes and bibliography), 2) the explanation note, and 3) the hyperlink, if applicable.
  • Example: BBC StoriesLink opens in a new window
  • The Explanation Note should contain, the thesis, the purpose of the work (what do you want to communicate to the educated readers), any additional explanation on the use of sources in producing the work, a bibliography, what is your analysis (if this has not been explained in the main work), and your experience (skills learnt, difficult? fun in doing it? challenging but rewarding?...).
• A short story of 1800-2400 words based on the world's two China problems in the genre of historical fiction, and an explanation note of 500-600 words (you explain what is your "analysis" in the explanations). You can choose to explain your sources in the explanations or as footnotes in the short story. Either way the reference needs to be in the proper reference style. You are welcome to add explanations to each footnote on how you use the sources to create the plot, should you wish. Note, this is historical fiction, you shall try your best to research and base the fiction on history. In setting the scenes and planning your plot, you need to think the question: would this be authentic to this period and this environment?
  • Jonathan D. Spence's books are good examples of narrative history, especially The Question of Hu

  • Are historical novels misleading? (Hilary Mantel, BBC radio 4, Reith Lectures)Link opens in a new window

  • The single file that you submit on Tabula should contain: 1) the short story, 2) the explanation note, footnotes and bibliography in either short story or in the note, and 3) the hyperlink, if you choose to publish it online .
  • The Explanation Note should contain the thesis, the purpose of the work (what do you want to communicate to the educated readers), any additional explanation on the use of sources in producing the work, a bibliography, what is your analysis (if this has not been explained in the main work), and your experience (skills learnt, difficult? fun in doing it? challenging but rewarding?...).
• A series of 2-5 posters of 1800-2500 words (excluding references and captions) and an explanation note of 500-600 words (you explain what is your "analysis" in the explanation note). The explanations needs to provide notes on each sections’ sources in the proper reference style. You can create a digital copy of the posters, using Word, to make things easier. If you decide to do a real poster, you need to take a photo or scan the posters and submit the digital copy together with the explanations on Tabula. Submission of the physical copy of posters to the tutor is welcome but not a requirement. The single file you submit on Tabula should contain: 1) the posters in Word, 2) the explanation note containing footnotes and bibliography.
  • The Explanation Note should contain the thesis, the purpose of the work (what do you want to communicate to the educated readers), any additional explanation on the use of sources in producing the work, a bibliography, what is your analysis (if this has not been explained in the main work), and your experience (skills learnt, difficult? fun in doing it? challenging but rewarding?...).

• A YouTube style mini documentary of 3-12 minutes or Podcast of 5-15 minutes and an explanation note of 400-600 words. For this choice, you also need to submit your script that contains footnotes on sources. The documentary can be done by an individual or in a small group of 2-3. When it is a small group the documentary needs to be 10-15 minutes and the explanation note 400-600 word (you explain what is your "analysis"; each member need to write their own analysis on the documentary) including in it explanations of each person’s contributions. The mark in this case consists of a group mark and individual marks. In either single person or small group case, the total word count for the main text of the script and explanation note should not exceed 3000 words. The single file you submit on Tabula should contain: 1) the script, 2) the explanation note containing footnotes, bibliography, and 3) the hyperlink, 4) (if applicable) the group course work form for each member. Each member should submit their own 'group course work form' which should be attached at the end of the same group work file.

  • The Explanation Note should contain the thesis, the purpose of the work (what do you want to communicate to the educated readers), any additional explanation on the use of sources in producing the work, a bibliography, what is your analysis (if this has not been explained in the main work), and your experience (skills learnt, difficult? fun in doing it? challenging but rewarding?...).
• Any other form of useful intellectual communication skills that you wish to explore. You need to run the idea by the tutor. Any form you choose, it would be typically accompanied by an explanation note of 400-600 words.

  • The Explanation Note should contain the thesis, the purpose of the work (what do you want to communicate to the educated readers), any additional explanation on the use of sources in producing the work, a bibliography, what is your analysis (if this has not been explained in the main work), and your experience (skills learnt, difficult? fun in doing it? challenging but rewarding?...).

  • Examples of other forms: feature-length article of History TodayLink opens in a new window, podcast, A-level study guide, and interactive learning webpage for school children.
• Images used in any essay in general and in this assignment in particular need to be properly referenced just like a citation would be.
• Whichever the form this assignment takes, the content must be fully footnoted--at least for the Tabula submission edition. 
• All digital submission should be in one file: As Tabula will allow you to submit only one document. Please consolidate the various documents into one Word file for submission.

3000 word essay 40%

A traditional, well-researched, well-structured, and well-written essay on a topic that showcases your essay writing skills and knowledge of the Taiwan-China question. Keep in mind that this is a summative essay, meaning that while the topic choice can focus on a particular theme, the essay should demonstrate your comprehensive understanding of the topic in general. You may wish to review your notes or revisit seminar slides and questions to familiarize yourself with the content we have covered. When marking, we will not be looking for topics or themes beyond the one you have chosen, but we will be expecting a panoramic view of the 'Two China' question and an informed understanding of your chosen topic. Since this is a summative essay, you may extend your discussion both historically and into the future. This summative essay can also take the form of a longer piece of policy brief or news analysis.

Feedback on assessment

Written comments on applied tasks and essay which will be returned to students within 20 working days; and opportunity for further oral feedback in task / essay tutorials.