There will be assigned readings, most weekly, and each student will write a two-page, informal reflection in which you’ll think about your reactions and speculate about the reason(s) why Japanese behavior, values, attitudes, and beliefs are the way they are. In addition you should also reflect about how the “Japanese” way is consistent with and/or supports Japanese social values. You must do this separately for each reading assignment, with the total being two pages of text. In other words, you’ll have three sections. Don’t use extra spacing or a heading for each section. Simply write the author’s name in bold type at the beginning of the new paragraph.
Please note that this is neither a summary nor a unified essay.The readings will be diverse and present you with several topics. You must consider them all and present your thoughts. Why do the Japanese believe something, or behave in a certain way. It’s not enough to say why you like or don’t like something, you must try to understand why it is the way it is and how it contributes to the mosaic of Japanese culture. The reflection is to help you understand another culture, not to state your opinion about it. Further, you should reserve class and e-mail for any questions arising from the readings, don’t take up space in the reflections asking questions. These are think pieces.
For example, you might note that you would not like the intrusiveness of routine police visits to your home, but that you could see how that practice might contribute to the much greater feeling of security and the near absence of crimes against persons in Japan.
These analyses will not be graded, but failure to submit one, or part of one, can result in a reduction from the final course grade. They are worth 25% of that grade, which you will earn automatically if 15 (including the required ones) are turned in on time. Remember, to receive credit you must reflect on each assigned reading and you must have it available at the beginning of the class on the due date. That's when you will share your reflection with your group mates so you can see how others reacted to the same material.