This course serves as a practicum for graduate-level research in East Asian Studies, focusing on various critical approaches and methodological models relevant to contemporary issues in East Asian humanities research. In addition to introducing key topics, the course aims to enhance students' ability to formulate questions and engage in critical thinking. Students are expected to: 1) grasp the core issues and arguments presented by authors, 2) understand how scholars challenge conventional concepts and contribute to new knowledge frontiers, and 3) question, analyze, and interpretate assigned texts. To facilitate this, a set of guiding questions is provided to students weekly. In return, students are encouraged to contribute one written passage per class session, summarizing an author's main argument, posing a question about the reading, or offering a creative interpretation of a primary source assigned for the week. Analytical (critical) reading of scholarly and intellectual works, as well as close examination of primary sources, are the main focus areas of this training and exercise. Other requirements and assignments include critical review essays, close-reading writeups about primary sources, final research essay, as well as participation and presentation.