Introduction to British and American Studies: History-Society-Culture 3223-1LHSKA

Having attended the course students will be expected to:

KNOWLEDGE
- know the physical, economic and political geography of the British Isles and the United States;
- know crucial events and people in British, Irish and American political, economic and social history as well as the history of art and culture;
- perceive events in British and American history within the European and worldwide context;
- describe the basic characteristics of contemporary British and American political systems;
- describe the world of British and American mass media;

SKILLS
- locate events in history and current affairs on the map of Britain and America;
- critically evaluate British and American contribution to the development of world civilization;
- make active use of English language terminology in the field of social and cultural studies;
- present crucial problems within problem-solving approach;
- demonstrate the ability to analyse as well as to produce general accounts of complex problems;
- trace events and people regarded as controversial, express their own opinions within the public debate;
- name and recognise crucial people in contemporary British and American public life;

SOCIAL COMPETENCIES
- become conscious and equal partners in discussions on contemporary UK and US public life;
- make use of the acquired competences in their professional career as translators and interpreters, while working in the English-speaking countries or with native speakers of English.

ASSESSMENT METHODS:
- two geography tests (physical, political and economic maps), covering the British Isles and the United States respectively – 10 items to be marked on a blank map; students will be given access to a detailed study guide listing test requirements;
- student's active participation (classroom discussions based on assigned reading and classroom presentations);
- written final test (two opinion essays analysing selected problems related to course curriculum, students free to choose two topics out of four)

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
1. Geography Test assessment criteria:
if fewer than 7 items are marked on the map correctly - the grade is 2 (fail);
if 7 items are marked on the map correctly - the grade is 3 (pass);
if 8 items are marked on the map correctly - the grade is 4 (good);
if at least 9 items are marked on the map correctly - the grade is 5 (very good).

2. Students' active participation assessment criteria:
When actively participating in a classroom debate, student is assigned a "plus" symbol by the instructor. "Pluses" are counted at the end of each term.
Students' active participation throughout the term is assessed through comparing the number of "pluses" they have gathered with that of the best student in their group.
Their final grade for active participation in each term will be as follows:
if the student has gathered 0-25% of the "pluses" gathered by the best student - the grade is 2 (fail);
if the student has gathered 25-50% of the "pluses" gathered by the best student - the grade is 3 (pass);
if the student has gathered 50-75% of the "pluses" gathered by the best student - the grade is 4 (good);
if the student has gathered 75-100% of the "pluses" gathered by the best student - the grade is 5 (very good);

3. Written final test assessment criteria:

Students are given a 3 (pass) grade, if:
- they answered two out of four questions;
- their answers addressed the questions only partially;
- their opinion/point was expressed only indirectly;
- their arguments were debatable/unconvincing;
- their factual knowledge was basic, with few specific facts, names, terms and figures and some errors;
- their work contained a number of linguistic errors but remained comprehensible.

Students are given a 4 (good) grade, if:
- they answered two out of four questions;
- their answers addressed the questions even is some element were irrelevant;
- their opinion/point was stated;
- their claims were supported by at least two arguments, largely convincing;
- their factual knowledge was good, with several specific facts, names, terms and figures and few errors;
- their work contained few linguistic errors.

Students are given a 5 (very good) grade, if:
- they answered two out of four questions;
- their answers addressed the questions effectively;
- their opinion/point was expressed clearly;
- their claims were supported by several convincing arguments;
- their factual knowledge was impressive, with a number of specific facts, names, terms and figures;
- their language was correct and academic.

4. Each term the student's final grade is calculated as mean grade, taking into consideration:

- the geography test grade = 20% [but positive result is required to accomplish the entire course];
- active participation grade = 30%;
- written final test = 50% [but positive result is required to accomplish the entire course].

The student is assigned the following final term grades:
- a 3 (pass), if their mean grade is 3-3,24;
- a 3,5 (pass+), if their mean grade is 3,25-3,74;
- a 4 (good), if their mean grade is 3,75-4,24;
- a 4,5 (good+), if their mean grade is 4,25-4,74;
- a 5 (very good), if their mean grade is at least 4,75;

5. Students' final course grade (for the whole academic year) is calculated as a mean grade, taking into consideration their grades for the two terms, according to the same pattern shown in point 4 above.

6. Absences:
Students are allowed to miss two classes (be absent twice) every term.

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REQUIRED READING:

WINTER TERM
Oakland J., British Civilization. An Introduction, Routledge 2010
McDowall D., An Illustrated History of Britain, Longman 1995

SUMMER TERM
Mauk D., Oakland J., American Civilization. An Introduction, Routledge 2009
O'Callaghan B., An Illustrated History of the USA, Longman 1995

EXTRA READING:
Bennett A., US Government & Politics, Philip Allan Updates, 2010
Campbell N., Kean A., American Cultural Studies. An Introduction to American Culture, Routledge 2008
Lynch P., Fairclough P., UK Government & Politics, Philip Allan Updates, 2010
O’Driscoll J., Britain. The Country and Its People, Oxford University Press, 1997

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

• Description of 3223-1LHSKA in USOSweb