Course Syllabus
Week 1. February, 8
The Fundamental Values of American Democracy. The American Idea. Status and Social Class in America. The USA: the Nation of Volunteers.
Link to enter the webinar on 20.02. https://my.webinar.ru/record/917184/?i=b4483076860dad1b9964e35d3e6cd896
Case study: The impact of volunteerism on Americans.
Reading:
• Democracy in America. Vol. 2. Philosophical Method of the Americans (A. de Tocqueville)
• Of the Taste for Physical Well-being in America (A. de Tocqueville)
• Why Democratic Nations Show a More Ardent and Enduring Love of Equality than of Liberty (A. de Tocqueville)
• Of Individualism in Democratic Countries (A. de Tocqueville)
• Empowering a Community (G. Moore)
• National Service: Getting Things Done for America (H. Wofford)
• America’s Voluntary Spirit (B. O’Connel)
Week 2. February, 15.
Various Types of Discrimination in the USA.
Webinar https://my.webinar.ru/record/924330/?i=3275523b99fb8873b9de8d93a8ef1618
Case study: Americans with Disabilities Act.
Reading:
• Exclusion and Inclusion: the Impact of Affirmative Action (Ricardo R. Fernandez)
• How the Americans Combat Individualism by the Principle of Self-Interest Rightly Understood
• Why the Americans are so Restless in the Midst of their Prosperity
• The Pendulum Swings of Indian Policy
Group Research Project "Discrimination in the USA".
Week 3. February, 22.
Education: Structure, Principles, Standards, Reforms and Progress.
Reading:
• The historical timeline of the public education in the USA
• USA school system
Week 4. March, 1
American Universities. The Impact of New Technologies on American Education. The Role of Community Colleges in US Higher Education.
Link to enter the webinar on 13 MARCH at 14.45 https://my.webinar.ru/event/931930
Group case study: No Child Left Behind.
Reading:
• Higher Education in the USA
• Study in the USA
Week 5. March, 15.
TThe American Mass Media. Constitutional Protection. Libel Law. FCC Regulations. New Media versus Old Media.
Case study: The New Media and U.S. Politics.
Reading:
• The Media in the USA
Week 6. March, 22.
Midterm.
Week 7. March, 29.
Week 8. April, 5.
Journalism in the United States Today. Principles of Investigative Journalism.
Case study: Media Ethnics Codes.
Reading:
• The Media's Role in Changing the Face of U.S. Courts (Gary A. Hengstler)
• Independent Media's Role in Building Democracy (Frederick W. Schieck)
• Internet Becoming Battleground for Journalists (E. Green)
Week 9. April, 12.
Religious Life in America.
PowerPoint Presentation: Religion in the USA
Reading:
• The Demographics of Faith (B. Grim, D. Masci)
• The Evolution of Religious Freedom as a Universal Human Right (D. Davis)
• Balancing Work and Religion (C. Connell)
• That the Americans Apply the Principle of Self-interest Rightly Understood to Religions Matters (A. de Tocqueville)
Week 10. April, 19.
American English: History, Major Dialects, Variations, Influences, National standards. Race and Language.
PowerPoint Presentation: American English
Reading:
• How American Democracy has Modified the English Language (A. de Tocqueville)
• A National Map of the Regional Dialects of American English (W. Labov, S. Ash, C. Boberg)
• Spanglish: Speaking la Lengua Loca (I. Stavans)
Week 11. April 26.
The Arts in America: New Directions. Movies and Modern America. What is a Typical American Movie?
Reading:
• Film: Movies and Modern America (R. Pells)
• Literature: Snapshots From the Bridge (S. Birkerts)
• Music: the Quintessential American Sounds (T. Smith)
• Theater: Playwrights New and Old (C. Jones)
Week 12. May, 3.
Week 13. May, 10.
Final test.
Week 14. May, 17.
Course Reflection