PAAS 458

Final Research Paper

Requirements & Criteria
May 08, 2022

General Requirements
This Final Research Paper is due Sunday, 07/02, 23:59, PST. Select one of the designated three
topics to write about. It is worth 35% of your overall grade.
One single PDF file only! No WORD or other formats.
Your writing should be max. 2500 Chinese characters or English words (typed, double spaces,
12-point font, Songti 宋體 in Chinese or Times New Roman in English), except Option-1. All
pages should be numbered. No title page is needed.
In this writing, you are expected to perform a close analysis of the chosen texts. You will pay
attention to the content of each text (what is said, why and how it is said), analyze its historical
implication and discuss it in relation to broader issues covered in this course. In short, a close
reading involves focusing on a micro textual unit and linking it to a larger theme of this course.

Style and Reference Matters

This is no requirement about style. All citations should be interlinear, with your note or citation
inserted in round parentheses ().
Only the assigned readings and course lectures are recommended for this writing. No extra
references (books or journal articles) are encouraged.
Therefore, in your writing you are supposed to make interlinear notes in the following format:

（《大明律》“良賤為婚姻”）
（《青樓韻語》“韻語小引”）
（《亙史》卷五外紀“徐翩傳”）
（劉士義，E.38）【按：第 38 條】
（吳偉業“琴河感舊”其三）
（《詩緯》卷二十四艷集上馬守貞“遊桃花塢”）
（《板橋雜記》“序”）
（《板橋雜記》I.08）
（《桃花扇》“訪翠”，頁 39）

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 （Lec-05）

No footnote, endnote, or bibliography is needed.

But you name and UVic number should appear at the right top of the first page.

Academic Integrity
Zero tolerance of ghost writing or plagiarism. AI-generated work is considered to violate the
University policy of academic integrity.

Late Submission
Late submission will be penalized at the rate of 10% of your quality-based score for every 24
hours late. No exceptions, unless you show the instructor your medical note or any proof of an
unexpected hardship.

Evaluation Criteria - General

Your writing will be evaluated based on the following four criteria:
1. Comprehension: Do you understand and follow instructions/assignment objectives?
2. Analysis: Do you engage the text in depth? Demonstrate comprehension of the text in
its entirety? Offer critical and unique/creative insight? Independent thought?
3. Argument: Is your argument written systematically? Substantiated/convincing? Well
organized?
4. Writing/Language: Is your paper coherent? Well edited? Have you done proofreading?
Is your writing grammatically sound?

Evaluation Criteria - Specific

Option-1: 把節選自《青樓韻語》的一段文字翻譯成英文，并以譯注的形式解釋
指定部分的典故來源和翻譯依據。(原文在作業附件中)
Five entries – 20 pts (=4 pts x 5)
The poem by Xie Jinlian – 4 pts
The poem by the Weiyang ji – 6 pts
Translator’s substantial and meaningful notes (at least five) – 5 pts
Tips: (1) literally comprehend the original text; (2) understand the allusions and
subtle meaning; (3) find right English words; (4) consider a proper English style;
(5) translate and polish.

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Option-2: 《亙史》、《青樓韻語》、《名媛詩緯初編》均收錄明代女妓詩作。
選三名此三書中均收錄的明代金陵名妓，分析三書收錄的詩作異同和總體文
學特徵，比較三書的編纂特點。

General statement of your question, central argument, and method – 3 pts

General description of the three titles – 3 pts
Analysis of the texts – 23 pts (=3 x 2 x 3 + 5), 選三人，平均每人兩首作品，見
於三本書中，每人 6 pts；並在必要時作比較，5 pts。Tips: Perhaps you
may start with the Gen shi, and base on its entries to find parallels in the
Qinglou yunyu and the Shi wei.
[（1）張如玉（楚嶼）；（2）葛餘芳（雲和，鳳竹）；（3）崔重文（媚
兒）；（4）鄭如英（無美）；（5）朱無瑕（泰玉）]
Conclusion and unsolved related question(s) – 3 pts
Writing/Language – 3 pts

Option-3: 試參考劉士義本《嫖經》、余懷《板橋雜記》，分析孔尚任《桃花
扇》第五齣“訪翠”，第六齣“眠香”，第七齣“卻奩”中的青樓人物關係、青樓
行爲規範和青樓運營模式，評述文人士大夫在青樓文化中的作用。

General statement of your question, central argument, and method – 3 pts

Analysis of the Taohua shan, Scenes 5-7 – 15 pts (relationships – 3 pts; rules – 4
pts; business mode and its operation – 8 pts). Tips: Perhaps you may start with
the protagonists’ roles in the operation of the brothel by referring to the Piao
jing and the Banqiao zaji.
Citing the Piao jing – 6 pts
Citing Banqiao zaji – 5 pts
Conclusion and unsolved related question(s) – 3 pts
Writing/Language – 3 pts

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