This course explores the human past – both recent and distant – of the Asia-Pacific region using the tools of language and linguistic analysis, with students working in an Asia-Pacific language which they are studying. The Asia-Pacific is renowned for its incredible linguistic diversity, and the languages that are spoken, written and signed in the region today hold many traces of past lives. This course introduces the principles and methods of historical linguistics used to reconstruct language histories, which are windows onto the social and cultural lives of past peoples and societies. Such language histories are a starting point for investigating narratives of the Asia-Pacific past using different lines of evidence from across different disciplines. Does evidence from historical linguistics, archaeology, population genetics, history, and anthropology tell similar or different stories about how people lived in the past? This question is explored through case studies from across Asia and the Pacific, such as the social and technological drivers of the expansions of large language families like Austronesian, Sino-Tibetan and Austroasiatic, the social and cultural factors shaping the many small language families present in New Guinea, and the social and political networks underpinning connections across South Asia and Wallacea. Linguistic histories are key to understanding the Asia-Pacific past, and the dynamics of language across time and space are essential to understanding the contemporary Asia-Pacific world. 

 

In this ‘L’ version of?ASIA2308, students engage with readings and complete written assessments in an Asia-Pacific language that they are studying. This course can be counted toward an Asian language major. Enrolment is with permission from the course convenor and depends on each student’s skills in their study language.  

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Understand the contemporary linguistic and social diversity of the Asia-Pacific region through trans-disciplinary models of change over time.
2. Critically apply theoretical frameworks and current methods of historical linguistics to reconstruct language histories.
3. Investigate the linguistic and social past through sources and knowledges from different academic and indigenous perspectives, including in their study language.
4. Construct narratives of the Asia-Pacific past that draw on evidence from a range of disciplines.
5. Evaluate approaches to recovering the human past through an interdisciplinary lens.
6. Communicate in writing about the Asia-Pacific past in a language of the region.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments in individual assessment items
• Verbal comments in classes to the whole class, small group and individuals

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Perspectives on the Asia-Pacific past	weeks 1-4
2	Case study 1: Island Southeast Asia	week 5
3	Case Study 2: The Pacific	week 6
4	Case Study 3: New Guinea	week 7
5	Case Study 4: Wallacea	week 8
6	Case Study 4: Mainland Southeast Asia	week 9
7	Case Study 5: East Asia	week 10
8	Case Study 6: South Asia	week 11
9	Windows on the human past	week 12

Tutorial Registration

Registration for tutorial classes is through the ANU's MyTimetable system.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Online quizzes	5 %	*	*	1, 3, 4
Class participation	5 %	*	*	1, 2, 3, 4
Assignment 1	15 %	07/03/2024	18/03/2024	1, 3, 4
Assignment 2	20 %	28/03/2024	08/04/2024	1, 2
Assignment 3	20 %	09/05/2024	20/05/2024	1, 3, 4
Essay	35 %	11/06/2024	28/06/2024	1, 2, 3, 4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students are expected to participate in seminar and tutorial classes, the content of which are aimed at preparing students for the different assessment items. Students are specifically assessed on class participation, which is based on pre-class preparation and in-class engagement and participation. Further details are provided on the course Wattle site.

Examination(s)

This course does not have an exam.

Assessment Task 1

Online quizzes

Students are expected to complete a short online quiz each week that relates to the week's course reading. Quizzes are to be completed before the seminar class each week. See the course Wattle site for more details. All online quizzes are in English.

Assessment Task 2

Class participation

Students are expected to prepare for all classes (seminars and tutorials), following the instructions. Class participation marks are based on students' in-class participation that builds on their pre-class preparation; further details of this are provided on the course Wattle site. Class preparation and participation are in English.

Assessment Task 3

Assignment 1

Assignment 1 is an 800-word critical assessment of an academic article. Detailed instructions are on the course Wattle site. Assignment 1 is to be written in the student's study language.

Assessment Task 4

Assignment 2

Assignment 2 involves historical analysis of lingusitic data using methods learnt in classes. Detailed instructions on the course Wattle site. Assignment 2 is to be completed in English.

Assessment Task 5

Assignment 3

Assignment 3 is a 1,000-word critique of a debate from the literature relating to investigating the human past through language. Detailed instructions are on the course Wattle site. Assignment 3 is to be written in the student's study language.

Assessment Task 6

Essay

A 2,500-word essay on a topic of the student's choice. There are two stages for the essay:

(i) submission of an essay proposal and annotated bibliography (5%); and

(ii) submission of the final essay (30%).

Further details about the essay, including choice of essay topics and the instructions and deadlines for each stage, are on the course Wattle site.

The essay proposal is to be written in English , but the essay is to be written in the student's study language.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

All assessment items for this course are to be submitted electronically. Please keep a copy of your assessment items for your records.

Hardcopy Submission

None of the assessment for this course is to be submitted as hard copies.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date.

Extensions must be requested in writing with appropriate supporting documentation before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Late submission is not accepted for the online quizzes.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

For online quizzes, marks and feedback are provided online after the quiz deadline, and further feedback is provided verbally in the associated class. For all other assessment items marks and feedback are provided through Turnitin, and additional verbal feedback may be given in associated classes.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission of assessment items is not accepted.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students