Admission requirements
Korean Language at TOPIK II-5 level. Open to MA Asian Studies students: Korea Studies (120 credits); East Asian Studies (60 credits) – Korea track; research with mentioned entry level.
Description
This seminar offers an in-depth engagement with Korean literature and intellectual history through the close reading of primary and secondary sources written in Korean. Students will critically analyze key texts to gain familiarity with major intellectual currents in Korea, both historical and modern. In doing so, they will refine their skills in academic writing, argumentation, and textual interpretation, while deepening their understanding of Korean society and culture from an intellectual-historical perspective.
The course is structured around two core components:
Group Reading and Discussion – Students will collectively read and analyze selected core texts provided by the instructor, engaging in structured discussions to deepen their comprehension and interpretive skills.
Individual reading&Feedback – Each student will choose a scholarly article relevant to their interests within the field, conduct an independent reading. Students will meet one-on-one with the instructor to receive tailored feedback, with the aim of cultivating a scholarly voice and research competence.
Throughout the semester, students will be encouraged to connect textual analysis with broader socio-cultural contexts, fostering a nuanced and interdisciplinary understanding of Korean intellectual discourse.
Course objectives
This course has the following goals:
to improve the Korean reading skills;
to introduce the state of the field
to develop a research methodology;
to develop deep reading skills of written and visual materials;
to further develop writing skills;
to further develop presentation skills.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
The deadline(s) in MyTimetable is/are set for administrative purposes only. The actual date(s) will be communicated by the lecturer(s) in Brightspace.
Mode of instruction
Seminar.
Attendance policy: a strict attendance policy is imposed. Missing more than three sessions gets you barred from further attending the course and your papers may not be graded. Any absences must be notified in advance. Dispensation from the attendance rule is possible in consultation with the student adviser and for valid reasons only. Weekly reading assignments cannot be missed.
Assessment method
Academic integrity
Students should familiarize themselves with the notion of academic integrity and the ways in which this plays out in their own work. A good place to start is this page. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Students may not substantially reuse texts they have previously submitted in this or other courses. Minor overlap with previous work is allowed as long as it is duly noted in citation.
Students must submit their assignment(s) to Brightspace through Turnitin, so they can be checked for plagiarism. Submission via email is not accepted.
ChatGPT: What is possible and what is allowed? Dos and Don'ts.
Assessment and weighing
Continuous assessment through weekly assignments. Final grades will be determined by the following formula:
| Partial Assessment | Weighing |
|---|---|
| Attendance & active participation | 15% |
| Presentations | 25% |
| Weekly Reading Activities: Summary, Questions, and Critical Engagement | 60% |
The final mark for this course is formed by the weighted average.
In order to pass the course, students must obtain an overall mark of 5.50 (=6) or higher.
The course is an integrated whole. All assessment parts must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.
Resit
Only if the total weighted average is insufficient (5.49 or lower) and the insufficient grade is the result of an insufficient mark for the weekly reading reports, a resit is possible in the form of a paper (60%). In that case the lecturer of the course may assign a (new) topic and give a new deadline.
Inspection and feedback
Feedback will be supplied primarily through Brightspace. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the assessment results, a review will be organized.
Reading list
tba.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office Herta Mohr