Proseminar: Race in American Culture 4219-ZP048
The purpose of the course is to prepare the participants for the process of writing a bachelor's thesis. Participants will gain or deepen their capacity to analyze and create scholarly texts in American studies. Over the course of the semester, we will progress through the stages of work on an original academic text – from the formulation of the thesis, through identification of sources and planning of the work, up to the production of a draft and editing the manuscript. The mandatory reading list contains texts that focus on the issue of "race," which will be subjected to analysis (in form as well as content) in class; furthermore, participants – together with the instructor – will identify additional readings relevant to the chosen subject area for the purpose of deepening and expanding the necessary knowledge. The expected outcome of the course is the creation of an initial outline of the bachelor's thesis along with a draft version of one of its chapters.
Type of course
obligatory courses
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Participants in the course will
KNOWLEDGE:
know and understand
- the social specificity of the United States and the significance of multiculturalism and multi-nationality of its inhabitants for their culture and social life;
- cultural products of American culture and their historical, social, and political contexts, as well as the historical evolution of cultural forms of American "racial" minorities.
SKILLS
is capable of:
- formulating and solving research problems using sources and standard research methods and tools within the humanities;
- analyze cultural processes and phenomena occurring in the United States;
- acquiring and selecting data from various sources within American studies, integrating obtained information, interpreting it, drawing conclusions, formulating opinions in the field of American Studies concerning the United States, as well as prepare written materials in English;
SOCIAL SKILLS
is prepared to:
- utilize interdisciplinary knowledge in American Studies concerning the United States to formulate own opinions;
- produce scholarly texts with respect for the ethical norms of academic writing and of intercultural contact.
Assessment criteria
Attendance and active participation in classes – 20%
Short preparatory tasks (summary, analysis, critique) – 20% (2-4 during the semester)
Outline of the bachelor's thesis with tentative bibliography – 30%
Draft of a chapter of the thesis – 30%
A passing grade requires the acquisition of 60% of available points for the entirety of class-related activities.
Bibliography
Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb and Joseph M. Williams, The Craft of Research;
Purdue OWL, https://owl.purdue.edu/;
bell hooks, selected essays;
Stuart Hall, selected essays;
George Lipsitz, selected essays.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: