HIS 100 Topic Exploration Worksheet - Mao Zedong\'s Rule Over China PDF

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Topic Exploration Worksheet - Mao Zedong's Rule Over China for HIS-100, Perspectives in History....

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HIS 100 THEME

PROJECT 1: TOPIC EXPLORATION

Part 1 Select a research topic area for Project 1 based on which of the following areas interests you the most. You will explore the selected topic a little later in this theme. Mark your selection in the right-hand column. Drafting of the U.S. Constitution Mao Zedong’s Rule Over China

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South African Apartheid Choose Your Own Topic (insert pre-approved topic here) In the space below, write a short paragraph about what you already knew about the topic you selected prior to this course, based on your personal history or experiences. This may include assumptions, beliefs, or values related to the topic. Be as detailed as possible. I chose to research Mao Zedong’s rule over China for this project because it was the only of the three options listed, I know absolutely nothing about. I know China is ruled by the Communist Party, and am interested to learn more about the history and development of the nation. I do not know what timeframe Mao Zedong was the ruler over China, so I look forward to educating myself on this piece of history and finding out what major impacts were made by Mao Zedong.

HIS 100 THEME

PROJECT 1: TOPIC EXPLORATION

Part 2 Now that you have identified your topic and described what you already know about the topic, what questions do you still have about the topic that you would like to know? Place your answers in the right-hand column. Identify one question about the topic that you are curious about.

What were the circumstances in China before and during Mao Zedong’s rule over China?

Describe why this question matters to you personally.

This question matters to me because it gives me a better reference of what other things were happening in the country during this time, to better gauge the decisions and impacts Mao Zedong made during his rule.

Describe why this question matters to society.

This question matters to society because it helps to understand the circumstances Mao Zedong was under during his leadership, and how (or if) his influence shaped China as it is today.

Identify a second question about the topic What was Mao Zedong’s leadership style? you are curious about.

Describe why this question matters to you personally.

I am interested to know Mao Zedong’s leadership style because I think it is an interesting trait in anyone – especially “official” leaders. There are so many variables in leadership styles, and it is interesting to find what is successful or unsuccessful under certain circumstances.

Describe why this question matters to society.

This question matters to society because our nation’s leaders should try to learn the good and bad, the effective and ineffective leadership traits of leaders from our past, to better serve and lead our world

HIS 100 THEME

PROJECT 1: TOPIC EXPLORATION

today. As members of society, we should also try to be aware of the traits that have been successful or unsuccessful for past leaders, to be mindful of those traits when looking to future leaders.

Part 3 You are now ready to complete the final part of your Topic Exploration Worksheet. You have chosen a topic, posed some research questions, and are ready to start thinking about what kind of sources you will need to investigate your research questions further. Using the library guide in the Shapiro Library provided for your chosen topic, skim through the suggested resources (or find your own) and complete the following information for your research questions. List which secondary sources would be helpful for investigating your first research question.

I believe Hoo Tiang Boon’s book, “China’s global identity: Considering the responsibilities of great power” would be the best secondary source for this question.

(Include the title and author of the sources)

List which primary sources would be helpful for investigating your first research question.

I think Mao Zedong’s speech, “The Chinese people have stood up!” would be the most insightful primary source for answering my first question.

(Include the title and author of the sources)

List which secondary sources would be helpful for investigating your second research question. (Include the title and author of the sources)

The World Review of Political Economy article, “Mao Zedong and the independent and comprehensive industrial system and the modernization of New China” by Zhikai Dong appears to be very insightful for my second research question.

HIS 100 THEME List which primary sources would be helpful for investigating your second research question. (Include the title and author of the sources)

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PROJECT 1: TOPIC EXPLORATION I think Mao Zedong’s speech, “The Chinese people have stood up!” would also be the most insightful primary source for answering my second question, but I also believe “The poems of Mao Zedong” Mao wrote would prove to be rather insightful into his overall personality.

HIS 100 THEME Now that you have gone through the research, describe what you have learned about your topic in one to two paragraphs.

PROJECT 1: TOPIC EXPLORATION After reviewing the suggested resources, I have learned that Mao Zedong’s rule is largely responsible for shaping China as it is today, while setting new precedent for industrialization across the world. Beginning as “a poor and weak agricultural country”, Mao helped transform China with “an independent and comprehensive industrial system and national economy”. Mao set goals for industrialization for the nation to better support a continuously growing population and improve the poor infrastructure across China (Boon, H. T., 2018). I have also learned that Mao Zedong’s leadership style was very forward-thinking and people-oriented. From reading the transcript of his speech, “The Chinese people have stood up!”, I get the feeling that Mao took pride in his nation and its people in a way that would have manifested optimism for a better future within the minds of his people. Quotes such as, “The era in which the Chinese people were regarded as uncivilized is now ended. We shall emerge in the world as a nation with an advanced culture” give me the impression that Mao highly valued dignity and self-respect, and took actions to better his nation for the good of his people (Mao, T., 1949).

Cited References: Boon, H. T. (2018). China's global identity: Considering the responsibilities of great power. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press. Mao, T. (1949). The Chinese people have stood up! Selected Works of Mao Tse-Tung, Vol. 5.

HIS 100 THEME

PROJECT 1: TOPIC EXPLORATION...