Admission requirements
Admission to the MA Asian Studies (research) or another relevant Research MA with at least a BA or comparable degree in literary studies, linguistics or an Asian language. 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
See timetable of the MA Asian Studies (research).
Mode of instruction
Seminar, including audio-taped performance and discussion.
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 and participation are therefore obligatory for the 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
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). It is also unacceptable for students to reuse portions of texts they had previously authored and have already received academic credit for on this or other courses. In such cases, students are welcome to self-cite so as to minimise overlap between prior and new work.
Students must submit their assignment(s) to the blackboard through turnitin, so they can be checked for plagiarism. Submission via email is not accepted.
Assessment and weighing
| Partial Assessment | 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% |
Final Paper
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.
Late submissions of the final version will result in a deduction of paper grades as follows: 1-24 hrs late = -0.5; 24-48 hrs late = -1.0; 48-72 hrs late = -1.5; 72-96 hrs late = -2.0. Late papers will not be accepted more than four days after the deadline, including weekends and will be graded with 1.0.
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 paper, a resit of the paper is possible (40%). In that case the convener of the course may assign a (new) topic and give a new deadline.
A resit of the other partial assessments is not possible.
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
Students are required to register through uSis. To avoid mistakes and problems, students are strongly advised to register in uSis through the activity number which can be found in the timetable in the column under the heading “USIS-Actnbr.”. More information on uSis is available in Dutch and English. You can also have a look at the FAQ.
Not being registered, means no permission to attend this course. See also the webpage on course and exam enrolment for registration deadlines and more information on how to register.
Registration à la carte or contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact information
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.