American Civilization
BBLAN 00400 CV
Examination procedure and topics
Autumn 2013
Introduction to US Civilization (BBLAN 00400) CV
Examination Procedure and Topics
Lecturer: Karáth Tamás PhD ()
This is an only exam (CV) course on American civilization. Only students who have acquired a signature in a previous semester may register for this exam. The prerequisite of the signature for this course was the submission of three comprehension exercises. The grade you received for the comprehension tasks is automatically transferred for this exam.
Examination Procedure and Topics
The exam consists of three parts, one of which you already achieved in a previous term (that is, the submission of a comprehension exercise for which you have received the signature). You automatically transfer the grade of the comprehension exercise for this exam.
- Three comprehension exercises that you have already submitted in a previous term.
- Written entry test: outline map exercise and fact questions
- Colloquy: oral presentation of a topic
Obligatory Reading
The content of the exam is based on the material called “Introduction to the US” (the text version of Land Rover) downloadable from the website of the English Department.
Parts of the Entry Test
1. Outline map exercise
You will have to identify 10 of the following cities and 5 of the following states:
(A) Cities:
Boston
New York City
Philadelphia
Washington, D.C.
Cleveland
Detroit
Chicago
Minneapolis-St. Paul
St. Louis
Kansas City
Atlanta
Miami
New Orleans
Memphis
Dallas
Houston
Phoenix
Denver
Salt Lake City
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Seattle
(B) States:
Massachusetts
New York
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Illinois
Missouri
Kansas
Virginia
Georgia
Florida
Louisiana
Texas
Colorado
Arizona
California
Washington
2. Fact questions
Gap-filling exercise: you will have to give the missing information in 15 sentences. The fundamental notions of US Civilization will be based on the key concepts of “Introduction to American Civilization” (Land Rover) downloadable from the Department website.
You have to achieve at least 25% in both the outline map exercise and the fact questions to continue the oral exam. The failure of the entry test means the automatic failure of the exam. You will receive a combined grade for the written entry test according to the following grading system: 25-49% - 1, 50-59% 2, 60-69% - 3, 70-84% 4, 85-100% 5.
3. Oral exam
You will have to prepare for all of the following topics. At the colloquy, you will have to elaborate on only one of them:
1. The main regions of the US
2. The main principles of the Constitution; the federal legislative
3. The federal executive; impeachment
4. Presidential elections: The Electoral College and the major parties
5. The Supreme Court and historical SC decisions
6. Phases of immigration to the US
7. Ethnic minorities
8. From the Melting Pot to the Salad Bowl: The transformation of American society and mentalities in post-WWII America
9. The separation of church and state
10. Religious diversity and religious mentalities in the USA
11. Primary and secondary education in the US
12. Higher education in the US
Assessment of the exam
All parts of the exam (comprehension exercises, entry test, and oral presentation) will be graded separately. The final mark will be the average of the graded components.
I wish you a successful preparation for the exam!
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