Dr Sanako Mitsugi
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Languages & Cultures School
This courses focuses on assisting students in developing reading and writing skills at the intermediate level. ﾠFor reading, students will learn to read texts differently depending on the goal, focusing on language and focusing on contents. ﾠFor writing, students will learn to write the following topics: narrating in different time frames, linking sentences, incorporating cohesive devices, and explaining causal relationships. In addition to language skills, students will develop an awareness of sociocultural and historical factors essential to the target materials. Classes are taught in Japanese, and all assessment items are written in Japanese.ﾠ
Course requirements
Assumed background
This course is for students who have completed JAPN3020 or equivalent. Students new to Japanese at UQ must complete a Japanese Language Questionnaire through our online Language Course Placement Advisor: https://courseplacements.languages-cultures.uq.edu.au/.
Students who do not fulfil those prerequisites, but who have an equivalent knowledge of Japanese (e.g. from equivalent formal prerequisites gained interstate or overseas, or from residence in a Japanese-speaking country) are permitted to enrol in this course if they have been placed here via the online Language Course Placement Advisor.
Please note that on the basis of such knowledge or abilities, enrolment in a different course may be recommended. If a student enrols in a course for which they hold incompatible qualifications, they may be advised to cancel their enrolment. Any misrepresentation in the placement process may be raised as a misconduct matter.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
JAPN3003 or equivalent; JAPN3020 or equivalent
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
JAPN2540
Course staff
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
This course requires regular in-person attendance throughout the semester. You can only enrol in the course if you can attend the class on the St Lucia campus. No class will be recorded for later viewing. Class participation is the key to success in this course. If you are unable to attend classes due to a course clash etc., we do not recommend taking this course.ﾠ
This course follows the University of Queensland semester-based calendar for all students. If you are a cross-institutional student, please check the UQ exam period dates, which might not coincide with those at your home university.
Public holidays:
Alternative arrangements for affected students will be announced through the Blackboard site.
Class allocation:
In order to optimise the student experience, it may be necessary to reallocate students to a different class from their first choice. Before this happens, every effort will be made to enable students to voluntarily change into an alternative class that is suitable. Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation.
Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email hass.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full name,
- Student ID, and
- the Course Code
Additional information and support can be found here .
Aims and outcomes
This course is designed to help students develop the skills needed to meet functional and practical writing demands. It also focuses on enhancing reading comprehension by equipping students with the ability to extract essential information efficiently from Japanese texts. Furthermore, the course aims to build students' awareness and understanding of the socio-cultural and historical contexts relevant to the materials studied, providing a well-rounded approach to language learning.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Develop reading techniques to be able to extract needed information from authentic texts.
LO2.
Explain, narrate, and summarise selected language resources.
LO3.
Increase level-appropriate linguistic knowledge, e.g., vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, kanji, grammar, and expressive techniques.
LO4.
Think critically and communicate creatively in the Japanese language.
LO5.
Demonstrate integrity, and engagement through respect for the people and the culture of the target language.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Quiz |
Course placement questionnaire
|
Hurdle |
28/02/2025 5:00 pm
To be completed online any time before/during Week 1. |
| Essay/ Critique |
Skill Integration Compositions
|
15% |
24/03/2025 1:00 pm 7/04/2025 1:00 pm 6/05/2025 1:00 pm 26/05/2025 1:00 pm
Submissions are scheduled for Mondays at 1 pm in Weeks 5, 7, and 13. However, the submission for Week 10 will be on Tuesday at 1 pm due to a public holiday on Monday in that week. |
| Examination |
In-semester writing exam
|
25% |
14/04/2025
During the regular Monday class time. |
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Reading comprehension task
|
10% |
16/05/2025 1:00 pm |
| Examination |
Final exam
|
50% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Course placement questionnaire
- Hurdle
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Quiz
- Weight
- Hurdle
- Due date
28/02/2025 5:00 pm
To be completed online any time before/during Week 1.
Task description
All students who have not completed JAPN3020 at UQ are required to demonstrate that they have been correctly placed in JAPN3140. The link for the placement questionnaire is here
Students who have completed the prerequisite course JAPN3020 are not required to retake the placement questionnaire.
Use of AI / MT in this assessment
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Placement via this placement questionnaire is a hurdle requirement. No assessment items will be marked until this is completed. Failure to complete this task will result in a maximum grade of 3 for course.Submission guidelines
Completed online: https://courseplacements.languages-cultures.uq.edu.au/
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Students who are note able to meet the due date due to late enrolment, must contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to ensure they comply with this requirement.
Skill Integration Compositions
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
24/03/2025 1:00 pm
7/04/2025 1:00 pm
6/05/2025 1:00 pm
26/05/2025 1:00 pm
Submissions are scheduled for Mondays at 1 pm in Weeks 5, 7, and 13. However, the submission for Week 10 will be on Tuesday at 1 pm due to a public holiday on Monday in that week.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Students will work on compositions throughout the semester, demonstrating their proficiency and their ability to apply writing techniques learned in class. These tasks evaluate the application of course content, clarity, accuracy and language sophistication. Students are encouraged to review materials and feedback to produce accurate and coherent work. There will be 4 compositions available throughout the semester, however, please note that only the best 3 marks will be counted towards students' grade. This means that students can miss 1 submission without lowering their marks.
Use of AI / MT in this assessment
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit on Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
No extensions are allowed for this series of tasks as students are given a seven-day period to complete them. All task are available on Blackboard at least two weeks before the due date. Timely completion of these compositions is crucial to align with the sequence of content covered in class. General feedback and revision instructions will be addressed in class.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
In-semester writing exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
14/04/2025
During the regular Monday class time.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
The in-semester writing exam assesses students' ability to apply the writing techniques learned in class and their comprehension of the reading materials from Weeks 1 to 7. Students will respond to prompts based on previously covered writing topics—no new topics will be introduced. The exam will be hand-written, and no dictionaries or electronic devices are allowed.
Use of AI / MT in this assessment
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Submit answer sheet at the end of the exam in class.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Reading comprehension task
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
16/05/2025 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04, L05
Task description
This assessment evaluates students' ability to comprehend and analyse reading texts covered in class from Weeks 1 to 10. Students will answer a set of reading comprehension questions provided on the course Blackboard site, which may include True/False, short answers, and multiple-choice formats. The questions are based on the same reading texts studied in class, although the questions themselves may be identical to or different from those previously presented.
Use of AI / MT in this assessment
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Responses must be typed in Japanese in the distributed answer sheet and submitted via the designated assessment submission site on Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
7-day extensions are permitted for this task, as it is essential for students to consolidate course content in preparation for the final exam. For teaching effectiveness, correct answers and general feedback will be discussed in class prior to the final exam. The reading texts are the same as those covered in class and the questions will be released at least two weeks before the due date.
Final exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
The final exam will assess students' ability to apply the writing techniques learned throughout the course and their comprehension of the reading materials. The exam covers materials from Week 1 to Week 13, and consists of two sections.
In the writing section, you will respond to two prompts: one will be based on a writing topic previously covered in class, and the other will introduce a new topic. The new topic will be similar in level and type to those used in class. For both prompts, students' writing should demonstrate the writing techniques learned during the course. In the reading section, there will be a combination of previously studied reading texts and new reading texts. The new texts will be similar in level and type to those used in class. The exam will be hand-written, and no dictionaries or electronic devices are allowed.
Use of AI / MT in this assessment
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Submit answer sheet at the end of the exam.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A student awarded this grade hasﾠnot completed the required assessment items. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A student awarded this grade has not completed the required assessment items. Writing shows an extremely narrow range of structures and expressions. The student will not fulfil minimal requirements to complete a task. Comprehension is extremely limited. Script is used with limited accuracy and use of characters is infrequent. Lack of linguistic knowledge and limited use of strategies to locate informationﾠlead to extremely limited comprehension. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The student's writing shows an extremely narrow range of structures and expressions with frequent errors.The studentﾠdoes not fulfil minimal requirements to complete a task. Comprehension of spoken language is limited. Script, is used with limited accuracy and frequency. Considerable gaps in linguistic knowledge and limited use of strategies to locate information in written and spoken texts lead to limited comprehension. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student's writing shows a narrow range of structures and expressions with accuracy and fluency fluctuating considerably from activity to activity. Student fulfils minimal performance requirements. Comprehension of spoken language is fair in predictable contexts. Student occasionally uses strategies. Script, including characters, is used with fluctuating accuracy and frequency. Considerable gaps in linguistic knowledge and infrequent use of strategies to locate information in written and spoken texts lead to limited comprehension. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student's writing shows a range of structures and expressions used with accuracy and fluency fluctuating considerably from activity to activity. Student will occasionally elaborate beyond minimal performance requirements. Student comprehends most spoken language and occasionally uses strategies when this is not the case. Script, including characters as set out in the Weekly Notes, is used with reasonable accuracy and frequency depending on the activity. Some gaps in linguistic knowledge and use of strategies to locate information in written and spoken texts lead to comprehension problems. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student's writing shows a wide range of structures and expressions. Accuracy and fluency are generally good but open to some fluctuation. Student will frequently elaborate beyond minimal performance requirements. Student comprehends most spoken language and uses strategies effectively when this is not the case. Script, including characters, is used readily and accurately. Student uses a range of strategies and linguistic knowledge in order to locate information in written and spoken texts with frequent success. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student's writing shows a wide range of structures and expressions used accurately and fluently. Student is willing and able to elaborate beyond minimal performance requirements. Student comprehends almost all spoken language and uses strategies effectively when this is not the case. Script, including characters, is used readily and accurately. Student uses a range of strategies and linguistic knowledge and successfully locates information in written and spoken texts. |
Additional course grading information
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Tutorial |
In-class work Every class hour introduces new materials and builds on the material from the previous ones. Regular preparation, attendance, and active participation are key to successful learning and progress in the course. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.