Chapter 1 Overall Introduction

Study One Civilization or Two？

Why This Comparison Now？

From a Chinese Point of View

From a Western Point of View

Cultural Relativism

Modernity Is Different in China and in the West

The Goal of Comparative Civilization Studies

Western Thought Patterns in WCwCC

The Uses of Distant Perspectives

Preparatory Skills

“Last Words”

Chapter 2 Technical Features of This Text

Modular Organization

Format for Each Half-Module

Reuniting Cultural Elements Dispersed among Modules

Technical Aspects of the CD-ROM Format

1.Installation

2.On -Screen Reading

3.Copying or Printing

Appendix： technical details for downloading Adobe Reader

Chapter 3 WCwCC as a University Course

1 How to Approach a Reading in WCwCC

1.1 Inspection

1.2 Interpretation

1.3 Comparison

1.4 Generalization

2 Advice for Prospective Students and Teachers

2.1 Self -Study versus In-Course study

2.2 A One-semester Version

2.3 Understanding Is More Important Than Knowledge

3 Critical Thinking and Academic Writing in English

3.0 Introduction

3.1 Debate： the Concentrated Form of Western Argumentation

3.2 Comparative Guidelines for Argumentative Writing

3.3 The Basic Tripartite [three-part] Structure

3.4 The Model of Modern Science

3.5 Questions of Focus： Forests and Trees

3.6 Seeking a Workable Thesis Statement

3.7 The Importance of Comparative Topics

3.8 Schematic Model for Structuring an Argument

3.9 Conclusion

Chapter 4 Module 0.1 GROUNDWORK

MODULE 0.1.1 Working Concepts for WCwCC

0.1.1.1 Mapping Ethnocentrism

0.1.1.2 Cultures and Civilizations： Definitions and Problems

0.1.1.3 Thirteen Working Premises for Comparative Civilization Studies

0.1.1.4 The Idea of a Cultural Construct

0.1.1.5 Worldviews and Paradigms

0.1.1.6 Modernity as a Touchstone Concept in WCwCC

0.1.1.7 The Place of History

0.1.1.8 False Friends

MODULE 0.1.2 Tentative Comparisons： China and the West

0.1.2.1 Guidelines for Credible Civilizational Comparisons

0.1.2.2 A Chinese-Based Comparison： Prof.Gu Zhengkun’s Seven Laws

0.1.2.3 Intersecting Cultural Constructs： DNA and the Yijing

0.1.2.4 Simplified Binary Comparisons： China and the West

MODULE 0.1.3 Intermediate Conclusion