READINGS

= TASK: = = 1. Complete the two homework readings. = = 2. Post the following response underneath the __Reading Heading__ in colour: = = = = =
 * Rating of the reading in terms of usefulness and readability. (10)
 * List the three key points you found useful from the reading.

Reading 1: PD Richards (1994) Asia Emerges. The Histories of Japan, China, Indonesia, India. ( This is the one with the picture of Pu Yi on page 2)

I would give this reading a 7/10. It was straight to the point however the layout was a bit hard to follow with the writing all over the page and also i found it biased against the Japanese and favoured the nationalists. 1) The explaination of the Xian incident 2) the pictures of the peasants slowing the Japanese forces at night 3) Trumans outlook on what was going to happen in China

// I feel that this reading was rather easy to read and straight to the point. It gave a variety of facts that were simple and easy to understand yet still comprehensive. **8/10** I found the extracts to be extremely useful, such as the diary entry from an American diplomat and US President Truman, since they are significant primary sources. //

I would rate this reading **6/10**. This is easy to read as stated above, but it was not very comprehensive. It is a simple version but much more reading would be in order to understand all the events and to be able to make judgements about them. 1. I found that the excerpts from Truman were interesting and gave a interesting outlook [p. 168] 2. Learning that the reason the Soviet Union befriended the Nationalists was because Chaing was easier to manipulate than Mao. [p.169] 3. The strategies set down by Mao were also helpful. E.g. His allotment of resources. [p.171] I found this reading an easy read, especially compared to the following one. However, although it was an easy read I felt as if I didnt have enough information and this reading alone didnt give me all the information I needed. As stated above the diary entry from Truman was very useful. 7.5/10 I found this reading to be very simplistic, which is both good and bad. In terms of a general overview and understanding it was excellent because it was not too complex, and gave a very general overview of what were studying. The extracts from Truman were great, especially in understanding the role of the USA. However, it was not very comprehensive and didnt delve deeply enough into any of the matters. 6/10.

I liked this reading. It was a good overview of what we were learning and i found it helped confirm my knowledge of what had happened. Although, it might not be comprehensive enough if i didnt have other sources that i previously read aswell. 7/10. The three key point i found useful were: 1. The sources used to give evidence to the arguments made, especially the case when reading about the U.S perspectives. 2. the useful facts about how the Chinese forces blew holes in the dykes so that a huge flood hit the 2 northern provinces. p 166. 3. In the 12 month period 800 million was given in aid to the nationalists p.168
 * I found this reading very easy to read and gave a good general overview of the events leading to the Communist victory, while at the same time providing valuable facts and sources that I can use in my own notes, such as the extract from the US Pesident Harr S Truman's memoirs. This reading was worthwhile as it I found I could place events better in my mind when I was reading the second, more detailed reading. Though this reading is only brief, it is a great reading for getting the general picture of these events though I think it must be read along with the second reading in order to gain a more comprehensive understabing. 8/10 = ) **

As mentioned above, this reading was very good in terms of giving a general overview and helping to understand before reading a more comprehensive piece as it was not very detailed. I would rate it 7/10. Three key points that i found useful were: -Use of primary sources expressing various perspectives of the time e.g. Us President Harry S truman expressing the anti-communist policy in his memoirs 'In due course Chinese troops under Chiang Kaishek would appear, the Japanese would surrender to //them//' -The use of important facts such as '800 million dollars in aid was sent to the nationalists' -The information about the united states involvement was also clear I also found this reading to be a lot clearer than Reading 2 but whilst that does have its advantages; there are disadvantages which can't be ignored. As I was reading this booklet, I found myself wondering what the authors argument was. There seemed to be a series of factual descriptions and little else. Although I appreciate that it is concise and 'to the point', I felt like there was more that needed to be said. Although it lacked focus, I found that after reading it, I had a better understanding of America's involvement and I found the memoirs to be extremely useful. I also, after reading it, felt that I had a clearer understanding of the Soviet's decisions- something which I had previously been a little uncertain of. I would give this reading a **6/10.** Reading 2: Li, D.J (1978) The Ageless Chinese. A History. Third Edition. Charlies Scribner and Sons, New York  This reading provided me with an in-depth look at China's history after the Japanese invasion and although it was factual and comprehensive, I found it difficult to remain focused because it often jumped back and forth to show the particular situation from the different perspectives : Nationalist, Communist, Japanese, American. It was certainly a challenge. ** 7 ** ** / 10 ** I found the use of quotes to be useful as well as the map which highlighted the extent of Japanese occupation. I also found the author's argument to be extemely intriguing and it was useful in the sense that I am now thinking about this period differently. I would rate this reading **8/10**. This is more detailed than the last reading and had more facts. It was a nice read, although sometimes more challenging than the other reading and was quite long in comparison. 1. I liked how the reading included broader areas of study, such as Korea [p. 483], and Warlord armies [p.484]. 2. The reading had a perspective, this is interesting, to have someone’s opinion. Although it must of course be rated on bias. I liked how the composer wrote that in his opinion that the reason the Nationalists could not defeat the CCP was because they were fighting them militarily rather than fighting them socially and economically, as the composer believes this would have hit a weakness. [p.504] It was a stance I would not have examined otherwise and one that I find enlightening. 3. I liked how it divided the impacts of the war into socially, culturally and economically. [p.491]  Compared to the first reading, this one was extremly comprehensive, however I did find myself re-reading over the same spot a few times and not absorbing the information as i did in the first reading. I had to re read over this in order to gain a better understanding. For this reason I have to give it 5.5/10. **This reading was alot more comprehensive and took alot more concentration to read. I found it a bit hard going though there were many worthwhile points and even perspectives given in this reading that weren't presented in the first reading and other reading we have looked at. There was lots of detail, facts and quotes that would be a useful source when writing my notes. Though this reading was more difficult to read I found it was filled with valuable and worthwhile content. 8/10** I found this reading fairly hard. In some cases i had to re-read through sections, due to the large amounts of detail it contained. However, Immanuel Hsu is a reliable historian and his quotes are good to comment on in essays. 6/10. I would rate this reading around 8-9/10. Although it was a lot to read, it was way more comprehensive and gave detailed information that would be valuable when writing essays. Compared to the last reading, i thought it was better. -It had valuable content that consisted of important dates, quotes etc. -It **explained** important events and once reading some information a few times, it allowed for better knowledge and a broader scope on to a lot of events that happened at the time