Time II Assignment – Comparing Family life in India and Japan.
Now that you are familiar with timelines, you’ll create one (of a sort) and do a traditional compare and contrast exercise, by chosing four historical objects and write two paragraphs of analysis. You will compare family life in India and in Japan during the period 1600-1850.
A. Learning Goals
Students will write a two-paragraph essay that:
- makes effective use of historical evidence in a comparison and contrast.
- effectively answers the question.
- makes standard usage of language.
- relates closely to the Timeline published in the Discussion Board.
- is well organized, relating the first paragraph to the second paragraph.
- includes four objects from the period 1600-1850 CE from credible institutions.
B. Chose four primary sources (artwork, manuscripts, poems, letters, everyday objects) that address Mughal/British India and Edo (Tokagawa) Japan from credible websites. Here are some to consider:
- The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco has an explanation of the Edo (Tokagawa) period.
- The British Museum has a links page of all objects in the Edo Period.
- The Heilbrunn Timeline of Art Edo Era Page.
- The Heilbrunn Timeline of Art Woodblocks of the Edo Era Page
- The Chicago Museum of Art
- The St. Louis Art Museum Asian Art Collection
- The Edo Period Collection at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
- The Los Angeles County Museum of Art 17th Century Indian Objects
- For French Speakers: The Indian Collection at the Museé du Quai
Branly
(I don’t read French well, but poking around for pictures doesn’t tax
me. Dates, places, and basic descriptions are clear).
C. Chose one theme related to family life for your paragraphs. Potential themes include marriage, sexual relations, children, inheritance, living arrangements, food, ritual family practices. This list is not all inclusive.
D. On your own, create a list comparing and contrasting the family
theme you’ve chosen for Tokagawa Japan and Mughal/British India. If your list turns out to have many items for just one are (say six items for India and only one for Japan) you may need to chose a different theme if your first choice isn’t broad enough.
E. Chose four primary sources (historical objects) from credible websites (such as those above), two from Japan and two from India, that demonstrate at least one comparison and one contrast.
G. Compose a mini-essay of two paragraphs. The first paragraph will compare and contrast the family theme you’ve chosen between India and Japan. The second paragraph will answer two questions, based on your readings and work: Was it better to be a 16 year-old girl in 1600 or 1800 in Japan or India? You must chose a date and a region. Why, specifically with evidence, do you draw your conclusion?
H. Submit your mini-essay by Thursday at 10 p.m. to the Experiment 7 discussion board.
Grading
You will be scored based on the following rubrics:
- Essay makes effective use of historical evidence in a comparison and
contrast. (The most important criteria) - Essay effectively answers the questions.
- Essay makes standard usage of language.
- Essay is well organized, relating the first paragraph to the second paragraph.
