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#107 The Empress Dowager and the Vicissitudes of Moderate Reform

1/15/2018

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Introduction:

You have been commissioned to produce an online exhibit about the Empress Dowager’s emphasis on moderate reform in the years between 1861-1898 (that is, between the beginning of the Tongzhi emperor’s reign and the quashing of the Hundred Days’ Reforms). As a renowned team of historians of modern China, you have been given a free hand to shape the narrative and contents of your exhibit.


Roles:
  • Discussion facilitator. You will guide the discussion stage of the investigation by facilitating discussion on the reading and will then serve as a supporting role to help your teammates as needed.
  • Project coordinator. Once the discussion is complete, you will guide the execution stage. You will ensure that the tasks are organized and executed, float to support the work of your teammates as needed, and should be the one to keep the project proceeding on time.
  • Researcher. Both in discussion and execution stages, you will be the main person tasked with looking up information that is missing from the text. While Wikipedia may be a great place to start, you may find it useful to grab a copy of Jonathan Spence, The Search for Modern China (New York: W.W. Norton, 1990) so you can consult the index and utilize the library’s online reference tools. You may need additional support for this role and should make your needs clear to the Project Coordinator.
  • Writer. Your task will be to write a one-paragraph (that is, a fully developed 8-10 sentence academic paragraph) introduction to the exhibit and then shorter captions for the exhibit items. You may need additional support for this role and should make your needs clear to the Project Coordinator.
  • Presenter. You will be responsible for introducing your project to the public (i.e. Mr. Hall). Please support your teammates as needed on additional tasks.

Discussion stage:
  • What story do you want to convey about Empress Dowager Cixi’s life in this exhibition? How might this view complement or challenge the pre-existing perceptions of your audience (either in China or in the United States)?
  • What were some of the major “Self-Strengthening” efforts undertaken after the Second Opium War (1856-60) and the Taiping Rebellion (1850-64)? What was new about these efforts? In what ways did they succeed and fail?
  • How can you pull together answers to the first and second questions?
  • What additional context will your viewers need to make sense of your story? Maps? Timelines? Connections? Comparisons?

Execution stage:
  • Create a simple one-page display space on either Google Docs or Google Sites (whichever you prefer).
  • Address each of the following:
    • What will you title your exhibition? (Your title should speak to your theme and narrative).
    • Provide an 8-1o sentence paragraph introducing your exhibit to your visitors.
    • Provide 5-6 deliberately-selected visual items paired with captions to guide your visitors.
  • In the last 15 minutes of class, provide a guided tour and be prepared to answer questions about the exhibition.
  • Remember:
    • Your exhibit should largely be able to speak for itself.
    • Be sure to provoke as well as instruct your audience.
    • Cite, cite, cite!!
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  • Courses
    • Archived Courses >
      • Chinese History >
        • Ancient/Early Modern: Living China's History >
          • Living China's History (fall 2017) >
            • Course Information
            • Course Project
            • In-Class
            • Assignments
          • Living China's History (fall 2018) >
            • In-Class >
              • The Death of Woman Wang
            • Assignments
        • Modern: China's Fall and Rise >
          • China's Rise and Fall (spring 2019) >
            • Course Info
            • In Class
            • Assignments + Units
          • China's Fall and Rise (spring 2018) >
            • Course Information
            • In-Class
            • Assignments
        • Contemporary: Thinking about a Changing China >
          • Thinking about a Changing China (spring 2017) >
            • Course Information
            • In Class
            • Assignments
      • Global Thinking (grade 9 seminar) >
        • HS150 Course Information
        • HS150 In-Class
        • HS150 Assignments
      • Japanese History >
        • Japan's Empire and its Legacies (fall 2016) >
          • Course Information
          • Daily Review
          • Schedule >
            • JE Unit 1
            • JE Unit 2
            • JE Unit 3
            • JE Unit 4
            • JE Unit 5
            • JE Unit 6
          • Research >
            • Issues of History
            • Research Schedule >
              • Checkpoint #2: Annotated Bibliography
              • Checkpoint #3: Outline
              • Checkpoint #4: Supplemental Pages
      • U.S. History >
        • Humanities History (2017-18) >
          • Course Information
          • In-Class
          • Assignments
        • Humanities History (2016-17) >
          • Course Information
          • In Class
          • Assignments >
            • U1: The American Revolution & the Constitution
            • U2: Defining the Nation
            • U3: 19th Century Social & Cultural Transformations >
              • Cemetery Project
            • U4: A House Divided
            • U5: Industry & Empire
            • U6: Progressive Promise & Disillusion
            • U7: Global Conflicts
            • U8: Civil Rights & Human Rights
      • More Course Descriptions
  • Skills
    • Reading >
      • Active Reading
      • Advanced Reading Strategies (Upper Mids and Seniors)
      • Outlining for Reading
      • Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources
      • Analyzing Primary Sources with SOAPSTone
      • Analyzing Visual Primary Sources
      • Selecting & Evaluating Secondary Sources
    • Thinking >
      • What is History?
      • Historical Thinking Chart (PDF)
      • Breaking Down History with the SPICE Factors
    • Discussing >
      • Engaging in Class Discussion
      • Evaluating Discussion
    • Researching >
      • Identifying Research Topics & Questions
      • Note Cards
    • Writing >
      • Zero Draft
      • Thesis Statements
      • Forming Counterarguments
      • Formatting Chicago-Style Papers
      • Ford Library Guide to Chicago-style Citations (PDF)
    • Tech Tips
  • Reference
    • Chinese History Tools
    • Further Reading in Asian Studies >
      • Books
      • News
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    • Current Events around the World
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