China on the World Stage: Weighing the U.S. Response
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| Abstract |
"The four distinct policy directions, or options, at the core of the unit are designed to help students clarify their thoughts and, ultimately, articulate their own views. Each is grounded in a clearly defined philosophy about the U.S. role in the world and China’s direction in the next decade or two. By exploring a broad spectrum of alternatives, students gain a deeper understanding of the competing values and assumptions that frame the debate on U.S. policy toward China." (text taken from choices.edu)
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| Notes |
$20 Teacher Set (one reproducible text, one teacher’s guide) $16 Downloadable Teacher SetCHINA ON THE WORLD STAGE: WEIGHING THE U.S. RESPONSE
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| Year of Publication |
1989
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| Number of Pages |
202
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| Publisher |
Choices for the 21st Century Education Project, Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University
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| Citation Key |
bibcite_8217
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Curriculum Unit
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Reviews
Please login to review this resourceSolid background materials on U.S.-Chinese relations
China on the World Stage: Weighing the U.S. Response was published by the Choices for the 21st Century Education Program at Brown University, which consistently creates high-quality, thought-provoking curricular materials for the classroom. While it is a bit dated, this unit is one of the more up-to-date curriculum units available in print at the moment that examines U.S.-Chinese relations. It would be most useful in a high school social studies class, particularly World History, Global Studies, or Asian Studies. Depending on the abilities and background knowledge of the students, this unit could take a couple days or up to a week.
Parts I-III provide background reading for students to be provided before the lesson, and would be suitable for a general audience. Part I provides an overview of U.S.-Chinese relations, beginning with the first contact between European merchants and the Chinese in the 1700’s to Deng Xiao-Ping’s visit to the U.S. in 1979. While only 10 pages long, this concise history provides excellent background information. Part II discusses China’s transformation. Some of the information here is a bit dated—references are made to modems and VCRs—technology that some students may be unfamiliar with. It does, however, give an overview of Tiananmen Square. It also refers to some ongoing challenges to the Chinese government, including the movement of power to the provinces, generation gaps, and state run factory reform. Part III discusses the options for a U.S.-Chinese agenda. Points of disagreement, including human rights, trade conflicts, and security issues are highlighted.
The final part of the unit includes a lesson that has students decide what the U.S. policy should be toward China. The options include: press for democratic values; promote stability and trade; contain China; and keep our distance. Students are given briefings on each option. After considering the pros and cons of each, students decide on their recommended option. They also have the option of creating their own option.
This lesson is fairly simple—but could probably use a bit of an update. Including an article on the debt crisis and China’s role in supporting the U.S. economy could help the students to create a more up-to-date option. However, it provides some great background, and could be scaled to fit into a variety of classes. If it were a bit more current, or had a more creative approach, I would have ranked it higher.
Amiena Mahsoob, Former 10th Grade English Teacher
