Admission requirements
Admission to the MA Asian Studies (research) or another relevant Research MA. Students from other departments are kindly referred to the course description of the regular MA course.
Description
“Oral Traditions” is used in the Humanities as a cover term for many different types of art all over the world. The main feature that they all share is that they are transmitted orally. Consequently, although oral traditions as a topic link several disciplines in the Humanities, their respective research traditions and scientific interests result in very divergent and sometimes mutually conflicting outputs.
This class focuses on different types of orality in Asia and beyond and intends to provide a frame work on how to study them.
This class is meant for students of literature, linguistics, and anthropology with an interest in Asian languages and cultures.
Course objectives
The goal of this class is to study different aspects in the theory, practice and study of oral traditions that play a role in the research of the lecturers that represent different fields of expertise and regions in Asia.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the Asianstudies website
Mode of instruction
Seminar, including audio-taped performance and discussion.
Attendance and participation are obligatory for seminars. Students are required to attend all sessions. The convenors need to be informed without delay of any classes missed for a good reason (i.e. due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, family issues, problems with residence permits, the Dutch railways in winter, etc.). In these cases it is up to the discretion of the convener(s) of the course whether or not the missed class will have to be made up with an extra assignment. Being absent without notification can result in a lower grade or exclusion from the term end exams and a failing grade for the course.
Assessment method
Assessment
Performance assignment + group presentation
Individual presentation (of the final paper)
Final paper (8,000 words)
Attendance and participation
Reading assignments
Weighing
Performance assignment + group presentation: 30%
Individual presentation (of the final paper): 10%
Final paper (8,000 words): 40%
Attendance and participation: 10%
Reading assignments: 10%
Resit
To pass the course, students must have received an overall mark for the course of 5.50 (=6) or higher.
The final paper is written in two stages: a first version which will be commented on and a final version. Students who do not meet the deadline for the first version will lose the right to get comments and will only be graded based on their final version.
The course is an integrated whole. All categories must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.
Exam Review
Students may request an oral elucidation of the assessment within 30 days after publication of the grade.
Blackboard
Reading material and assignments will be distributed through Blackboard.
Note: there is no separate Blackboard page available for this ResMa course. Please subscribe to the Blackboard page of the regular MA course.
Reading list
A reading list for the lectures will be put on Blackboard. The student is required to have read the following book on his own, preferably before the beginning of the class:
- Ong, Walter, 2002 (or later), Orality and Literacy, The technologizing of the Word, London: Routledge
For the Research MA students additional readings will be determined by the convener at a later stage taking into account the students’ fields of interest. Extra sessions will be organized to discuss this extra literature
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch
Registration à la carte or contractonderwijs
A la carte nor contractonderwijs is possible for this course.
Contact information
Remarks
The diversity of approaches and oral genres requires a substantial input of the student through consistent attendance to and active participation in the lectures and meetings.
Attendance: Students are allowed to miss a maximum of two classes, provided they have a valid reason and communicate this with the convenor BEFORE the class takes place. Students, who miss more than two classes, are required to resit the course.
Remarks
Students with Disabilities
The university is committed to supporting and accommodating students with disabilities as stated in the university protocol (especially pages 3-5). Students should contact Fenestra Disability Centre at least four weeks before the start of their courses to ensure that all necessary academic accommodations can be made in time conform the abovementioned protocol.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to be familiar with Leiden University policies on plagiarism and academic integrity. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you submit any work with your name affixed to it, it is assumed to be your own work with all sources used properly indicated and documented in the text (with quotations and/or citations).