Specialization: course opened to all study programs
Warrantor: doc. PhDr. Martin Bútora
Instructor: Janet Livingstone
Lecturing hours (weekly): 2 - DELIVERED IN BLOCK FORMAT ON FRIDAYS DURING THE FALL TERM
Credits: 3 ECTS
Date: Friday 9.15 AM - 16.45 PM (dates of instruction - December 2, December 9, December 16 - compulsory informal preliminary meeting with the instructor - November 11 from 10 AM till 11 AM)
Room: A5.17 (new building)
Working language: English
Evaluation: passed/not passed
Aim of the course: The course is designed to provide the students with the basic information about two American – both US and Canadian – societies, their evolution, grounding values, main figures, intellectuals and politicians, as well as their culture, rituals and stereotypes. The course will be conducted in a seminar format using the joint blocks timing. The course will be taught in English.
Preliminary timetable of the course:
This course is an introduction to American history, culture and economy/business environment. It will attempt to provide students with a broad overview of what values and cultures founded America, how it has evolved since its founding and what challenges it faces.
November 11, 2011
Unit 1. Introduction and course preparation
- Discussion of stereotypes and myths about the U.S.A.
December 2, 2011
Unit 2. The Pilgrims and their religious & civic culture
- Reading:
o Joy Hakim, A History of US, Oxford University Press, 1995, Books 1 & 2, pp. 34-35, pp. 51-59, 62-63, 66-68
Unit 3. Revolution, Colonial Framework & the Seeds of Democracy
- Reading:
o Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Second Part, Chapter I, pp. 23-25 (to end of first paragraph)
o Bill of Rights
Unit 4. America is Everyone: Immigration to America
- Reading:
o Ben Franklin on immigration
o Immigrants’ stories (internet)
o Joy Hakim, A History of US, Book 2, pp. 136–142 on slavery.
Unit 5. US Business Culture & Business English
Writing Assignment
December 9, 2011
A very quick look at Canada: A Comparison
Unit 6. Settling the land, the Industrial Revolution and Growing Wealth
- Reading
o Joy Hakim, A History of US, Book 5 pp. 66-73, pp. 106-113 gold Rush, Settlers, Railroads.
o Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers, Penguin Books, 2008 by Hachette. pp. 56-67
Unit 7. Depression, War, 1950s Prosperity and Paranoia, Civil Rights Movement
- Reading:
o Joy Hakim, A History of US, Book 10, pp. 42-45
o Joy Hakim, A History of US, Book 10, Rosa Parks was Tired, pp. 76-80, Friedan, Schlafly, and Friends, pp. 135-141
o Martin Luther King, “I have a dream” speech
Unit 8. Presentation Skills, part I. – introducing and pitching
Writing Assignment
December 16, 2011
Unit 9. American Democratic Government, Lobbies and Interest Groups – guest speakers
Unit 10. The US Economy Before and After the 1980s: Time for a New Paradigm
- Reading:
o Kenneth and William Hopper, The Puritan Gift, Reclaiming the American Dream Amidst Global Financial Chaos, I.B. Taurus 2010
o Jeremy Rifkin, The Third Industrial Revolution, Palgrave MacMillan 2011
o “How Walmart is Changing China”, the Atlantic Monthly, December 2011.
o Cross-Cultural Business Blunders (internet)
o American Business Culture (internet)
Unit 11. Presentation Skills, part II.
Unit 12. Evaluation of Students’ Performance
Students are required to attend all sessions and do all readings to the best of their abilities. Evaluation of student performance will take into account the following elements: in-class participation (discussions, etc), writing assignments, improvement in presentation skills.
