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AN13000BA and AN18008BA:
American Civilization
Spring 2009/2010
Time & place: Friday 12:00-13:40 in GÖCS Rm. 206
Instructor:
Éva Mathey (emathey@freemail.hu); Room 108/1. (: 512-900 /Ext. 23093)
Office hours: Tuesday 11:00-12:00 and Thursday 13:00-14:00 in Room 108/1 and by
appointment.
Description of the course
This seminar course is designed to improve first-year students’ language skills through
acquainting them with some of the core topics of American civilization, including geography and
regionalism, government, basic political concepts, politics and the Constitution, society, national
holidays, and everyday life. Special emphasis will also be put on certain aspects of American
English. Students will be graded on the strength of their class performance, an individual short
lecture, two response papers and in-class tests (quizzes, mid-term and end-term tests).
REQUIREMENTS
Class attendance and participation in the discussion of the topics at hand are essential and
considered an important part of the final grade. In addition, each student will give a max. 10minute presentation during the semester on a pre-approved topic, prepared on the basis of the
instructions discussed during the first class. There will be short quizzes (not necessarily
announced in advance) and an end-term paper. Students will have to hand in TWO response
papers during the semester. The details of the specific assignments and other issues will be
discussed during orientation.
Presentation
Each student is required to choose a presentation topic from the issues indicated under the
weekly discussion topics, or recommended either by the instructor or the students. Presentations
should be about maximum 10 minutes in length and should be interactive (with thoughtprovoking questions to the class or various activities) to generate discussion. A typed handout
strictly not longer than one page should be sent or handed in to the instructor ONE WEEK
before the presentation for overview. Only handouts approved by the instructor can be presented.
The handout should be only a guideline to the presentation and not a word-by-word transcript.
You must not read out your presentation. The content of your talk, your performance and
presentation skills as well as your pronunciation will be evaluated. If someone does not show up
when his/her presentation is due and does not notify the instructor in advance, he/she will lose all
the credit points on the assignment.
Short Quizzes
Students will write short tests or quizzes on the US map, the Facts and Figures handout, the
Election Glossary and vocabulary.
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Response Papers
Students will be required to write TWO response papers of about one page based on their
readings, opinion and possible questions concerning the issues discussed. This should not be a
simple summary of the text but should include reflections of the student on the particular
topic, its context, a comparison between the United States and Hungary, and even “thinktank” questions for in-class discussion. The originality of the papers will be evaluated.
Plagiarized papers are unacceptable. Plagiarism will automatically result in ‘fail.’
The response papers are to be typed (double-space, Times New Roman 12). Later
submissions are intolerable. In case you fail to prepare the response papers when they are due
you will lose all the credit points on the assignment.
End-term Exams
The end-term exam will be comprehensive tests on the material discussed during the semester
and it will also include a short essay question. There is no excuse for absences on this
occasion.
Evaluation
The final grade will be calculated from the grades assigned on class participation (25%),
presentation (15%), short quizzes (20%), response papers (10%) and the end-term
paper (30%). More than three absences will result in a “not fulfilled” grade. Grades will be
assigned according to the following conversion formulae: 0-60% = fail; 61-70% =
satisfactory; 71-80% = average; 81-90% = good; 91-100% = excellent.
Further Rules
It is an essential part of the course requirements to attend all class meetings. If you must miss
a class because of illness or emergency, please let me know, and make arrangements to
complete any work missed.
Students may not miss more than three classes under any circumstances. Students are
kindly requested to contact their tutor at least a day before class if they are to make a
presentation but cannot attend. If you do not turn up on occasions when course assignments
(presentation, quizzes) are due and you fail to notify the tutor you will lose all the credit
points on the particular assignment.
There is no excuse not to come to class when the mid-term and the end-term are due.
Academic dishonesty or Plagiarism (failure to acknowledge and note the use of another
writer’s words and ideas) is both unethical and illegal and will result in a failure of the
course.
Tardiness and early departures are not allowable. They are offensive to your fellow students
and to the instructor because they disrupt class work. If you have a compelling reason for
arriving late or leaving early, speak with your instructor about the problem. If you regularly cut
the beginning and/or the end of class sessions, it can add up to unexcused full-class-time
absences.
Readings
The basic textbook for the course is American Civilization, An Introduction (AC) by David
Mauk and John Oakland (New York: Routledge, 2009). The relevant parts of textbook are
available electronically at the instructor’s homepage at
http://ieas.arts.unideb.hu/faculty/mathey.htm, and the whole textbook is available in the
University Library. Additional materials will also be distributed in class or made available
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digitally at the same homepage. Students are also encouraged to check other sources available at
the Institute Library and on the internet, especially in connection with their presentation topics.
Schedule of classes and topics
Week 1 (February 12) Orientation and introduction to the course, sign-up for
presentation topics
Week 2 (February 19) The American Context (symbols of the country, the national
anthem, the flag, the great seal of the USA, etc.)
Readings: AC: pp. 10-14, Facts & Figures on the flag, anthem, capitol, mottoes;
Presentation topics: the story of the US flag, national and state symbols
Week 3 (February 26) The Country (American geography, cultural regions, the concept of
the frontier, national parks)
Readings: AC: 40-48; the US map, Facts and Figures on population & geography trivia
Presentation topics: the national parks in the US, the figure of the Yankee, American
English and the regional vocabulary
Week 4 (March 5) Political Culture (political institutions, the Constitution and the Bill of
Rights, the federal government, the system of checks and balances and the separation of
powers)
Readings: AC: 114-119;
Presentation topics: the Bill of Rights, a brief history of the US Constitution
QUIZZ on the Facts and Figures
Week 5 (March 12) Elections (presidential and midterm elections, the stages of presidential
elections: announcement, primaries, national convention, TV debates and campaigns, election
day, electoral college, inauguration)
Readings: AC: 121-125; Election Glossary
Presentation topics: Barack Obama’s campaign: “Yes, We Can!”
Week 6 (March 19) The people (immigration to the US, the nation of immigrants, from the
melting pot to the ‘boiling pot,’ three groups in close-up: Hungarians, Chinese and Hispanics)
Readings: AC: 54-55, 61-65
Presentation topics: ethnic stereotypes, the Statue of Liberty, Hungarian immigrants
QUIZZ on the Election Glossary
Week 7 (March 26) The people (women and ethnic minorities: Native Americans, AfricanAmericans, Hispanic-Americans, discrimination and civil rights)
Readings: AC: 78-85
Presentation topics: Native Americans in US culture, the Black Civil Rights movement,
Hispanic-Americans in the US
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Week 8 (March 29-April 5) –CONSULTATION WEEK and EASTER HOLIDAY
Week 9 (April 9) American values (freedom, individualism, volunteerism, patriotism and
the American Dream)
Readings: to be announced the previous week
Presentation topics: “America, the Beautiful,” patriotism in popular culture, the American
Dream
THE FIRST RESPONSE PAPER IS DUE!
QUIZZ on the Society vocabulary
Week 10 (April 16) The legal system (the sources of US law, the system of federal and
state courts, crime and punishment, death penalty, law enforcement)
Readings: 208-210; 213-217
Presentation topics: crimes of the century in the US: a crime vocabulary, “Don’t dry your
cat in a microwave oven!” or frivolous lawsuits in America
Week 11 (April 23) Religion (Puritanism, religious plurality, American churches)
Readings: 339-345
Presentation topics: the Mormons, the Amish, the Baptists
QUIZZ on Crime and Legal vocabulary
Week 12 (April 30) Everyday life I (sports: the big 4; technology and American culture;
automobile nation; aviation; holidays)
Readings: Facts and Figures on holidays, AC: 365-369
Presentation topics: baseball, American football, holidays
Week 13 (May 7) Everyday life II (education: public and private, higher education;
scholarships, standardized tests; the freedom of the press, media, newspapers and magazines,
radio, television, popular culture)
Readings: AC: 288, 294-301, 321-323
Presentation topics: the American press, the contemporary broadcasting media, Hollywood
THE SECOND RESPONSE PAPER IS DUE!
Week 14 (May 14) – End-term Exam
Week 15 (May 21) -- Evaluation