The Culture of
Britain and
America
The Syllabus
1. INTRODUCTION
The aim of the course
The organization
The assessment
The reference
The course expectation.
Group divisions
2. GEOGRAPHY and DEMOGRAPHICS OF BRITAIN AND AMERICA
Map, Climate, Land ,Settlement, Environment, population, language, flag, anthem.
-Britain:
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
-The United states of America
The division of the regions, and the states.
3. HISTORY OF BRITAIN AND AMERICA
-America: -Native American and European Contact
-Independence and Expansion
-Civil War and Reconstruction Era
-Industrialization
-World war I, great depression and world war II
-Cold war and civil right era.
-Contemporary Era.
-Britain: - Before and after the Acts of Union 1707
4. COUNTRY & PEOPLE
The characteristics of the nations and states, characteristic of the people in
different regions, some tourism objects and places, foods/cuisine, fashion and
dress, sports.
-The four nations of UK: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
-50 states in USA
5. IDENTITY in BRITAIN AND AMERICA
-Ethnic and race Identity (Native and Non-native)/origin
-The Family and social Class
-Men and Women Role
-Religious Identity
6. ATTITUDES OF THE PEOPLE IN BRITAIN AND AMERICA
-Stereotypes
-Multiculturalism
-The love of nature
-Formality and informality
-Public spiritedness
-Privacy and sex
7. Mid Semester Test
-Review of the materials.
8. MANNERS in BRITAIN AND AMERICA
Manners, Social rules, Rights in society.
9. Sociological Issues in Britain and America
Gun ownership, Race relation, marriage and divorce, drugs and
alcohol, housing, living arrangement
10. GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM AND POLITICAL LIFE
-Public Attitude to Politics
-The Style of Democracy
-The Party System and election
-The cabinet
-The local and federal government
-Foreign policy
11. EDUCATION SYSTEM
-The British and American Education System
-Private Education
-The National Curriculum School Atmosphere
12. Arts
-Literature
-Music
-Building Architecture
-Media
13. REVIEW
References
Behr, Peter. 2009. Outline of the U.S. Economy. Washington: United
States Department of State
Birdsall, Stephen. 1992. Outline of American Geography.
Washington:
United States Department of State
Rodrick, Anne Baltz. 2004. The History of Great Britain. USA: the
Greenwood
Press
Targonski, Rosalie. 2000. Outline of the U.S. Government.
Washington:
United States Department of State
VanSpanckeren, Kathryn. 2001. Outline of American Literature.
Washington:
United States Department of State
http://usinfo.state.gov/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States
http://www.britannia.com/history/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Britain
Evaluation and assessment
1.
2.
3.
4.
Class participation
Assignments
Presentations
Mid-semester test and Semester test.
Rules of the class
1.
2.
3.
4.
No sandals/slippers
No hand-phone in the class
Message/call, email before absence
To attend the semester test, the attendance minimum
requirement= 75%