Introduction to the United States of America

Országismeret Amerikai Egyesült Államok (osztatlan tanárisoknak) Lecture Course

Course Code: BBNAN10400 (2-es kurzuskód)

Lecturer: Balogh Beatrix

Time and place: Mondays 12:30-14.00, Ambrosianum 213/A

Availability: by appointment or via email:

Homepage (containing a lot of helpful downloadable material):

Purpose: To present a comprehensive survey of the contemporary social, political, and cultural reality of the USA, to familiarize students with the key concepts of the US Constitution and political life, and to teach the special expressions and vocabulary necessary for a fluent discourse on such topics

Compulsory Textbook: The USA section of the electronic study material Júlia Fodor–Károly Pintér: Land Rover: A Survey Course about the British Isles and the USA (2006); since the program no longer runs under Windows 7 or more recent operating systems, the readings have been converted into .pdf files downloadable from the department’s homepage (as well as from Piintér Károly’s homepage, see above): Angol TanszékAnglisztika BANappali képzés Tematikák, segédanyagok BBNAN10400. Feel free to print them in any format you prefer.

Additional educational materials may be distributed in class or via Neptun.

Requirements: kollokvium (See attendance and Evaluation)

Syllabus
Class 1,
13 Feb / Introduction, study goals, useful tips. Geography of the US and its impact (topography, climate, rivers, hills), regions and their characteristics, geographical objects and their significance.
Reading: “Geography of the US” text pp 1-7
Class 2
20 Feb / Regions of the USA I. (distinctive features, major states, important cities, ethnic groups) Part 1: New England, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest
Reading: “Geography of the US” text pp 7-12
Class 3
27 Feb / Regions of the USA II. The South, West; Other “sectional” divides
Reading: “Geography of the US” text pp 12-24 and “Society in the US” pp 14-17
Class 4
6 March / Contemporary US Society – Population. Demographics: Race and Ethnicity; Immigration old and new
Reading: “Society in the US” text and “History of Immigration into the US” text
Class 5
13 March / System of Government: Constitution, Basic Principles and their practical applications
The three branches of Government: Congress
Reading: Article I of the Constitution; “The Constitution” and “The Congress of the
US” parts of the “Government and Politics in the US”;
Class 6
20 March / The Presidency (Functions and Powers); Practical politics: How to become a US President; Reflections on the Presidential Election.
Reading: Article II of the Constitution; “The President” and “Federal Elections in the US” parts of the “Government and Politics in the US” text
Class 7
27 March / Practical politics II. Parties, campaigns, elections; Voting Blocks
Reading:The “Political Parties in the US” parts of the “Government and Politics in the US”
Class 8
3 April / The US legal system and legal issues: the Supreme Court and the application of the Bill of
Rights
Reading: Article III of the Constitution; “The Supreme Court” section of Government and Politics. The Bill of Rights (First Ten Amendments to the US Constitution)
Spring break (April 10-21)
Class 9
24 April / Education in the US I. K-.12 Education (Primary and secondary education; grade schools and alternatives), Higher Education in the US; (Colleges, Universities, degrees and institutions)
Reading: “Education in the US” text
May 1 / Public Holiday
Class 10
8 May / Religion in the US
Reading: “Religion in the US” text
Class 11
15 May / Review, summary, conclusion
Reading: review the “key concepts” sections of each chapter

Attendanceand evaluation:

  1. It is a survey course advertised to Full Time students. The lectures provide comprehensive overviews highlighting the key facts and their relevance to contemporary USA and offer an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the issues at hand. Attending the lectures is thus highly recommended.
  2. Compulsory texts should preferably be reviewed before the class sessions so that students can make a full advantage of the lecture. Also give a detailed reading of the texts right after the lecture for more in-depth understanding of larger concepts and mastery of factual knowledge.
  3. The exam questions will be based partly on the compulsory texts, partly on the material covered by the lectures.
  4. Credits for the course can be earned by successfully completing a written test in the exam period. The test will most likely consist of an outline map (see requirements on homepage); factual questions about the topics covered by lectures; gapfills that require the understanding and skilful application of key concepts; and a comprehension exercise followed by a short essay question related to the excerpt. The course homepage (see on top) features a workbook with comprehension exercises that students should use to prepare for this part of the exam.

Recommended Readings:Jancsó-Pintér-Suba-Surányi-Szántó: Cultural Relations, Akadémiai, 2010; with succinct introductory texts on the four largest English-speaking countries: Britain, the USA, Canada and Australia. The special advantage of the book is that it consists of short introductory texts followed by a number of comprehension and vocabulary exercises, all of them designed specifically for Hungarian students of English.

You also find below a list of short online texts/study resources that call attention to relevance / critical issues / most recent trends within these larger topics. The lectures will discuss many of them in merit.

Romeo,Nick “How Geography Shaped American History, Law and Politics” Book Talk. National Geographic, May 3, 2015 <

“Pledge of Allegiance Fast Facts/”Under God” faces new scrutiny” CNN Library (updated April 13, 2016)

Wilson, Reid. “Which of the 11 American nations do you Live in?” The Washington Post. November 8, 2013

Speiser, Mathew. “This map shows the US really has 11 separate 'nations' with entirely different cultures” Business Insider. July 27, 2015. <

Cohn, D’Vera and Andrea Caumont. “10 demographic trends that are shaping the U.S. and the world”. Pew Research Center. March 31, 2016 <

Badger, Emily, Quoctrung Bui and Adam Pearce. “The Election Highlighted a Growing Rural-Urban Split” The New York Times. November 11, 2016. <

“Reverse Migration: More Mexicans Leaving the US” Sky News US. November 20, 2015. < A net 140,000 people left the US to return to Mexico between 2009 and 2014, despite claims of an "out-of-control" border.

“Does your vote count? The Electoral College explained - Christina Greer”TED-Ed. <

“Do You Understand the Electoral College?” PraegerU. <

“How the Republican Party went from Lincoln to Trump”. Vox. July 2016. <

Matthews, Jay. “Class Struggle: 10 Ways to Pick the Right Public School District” The Washington Post. September 26, 2009. <

Dawson, Mackenzie. “Why working moms don’t have it better in Europe” New York Post. July 20, 2015 <

Blumberg, Antonia. “American Religion Has Never Looked Quite Like It Does Today” The Huffington Post. April 15, 2016. <

Lipka, Michael. “10 facts about religion in America”Pew Research Center. August 27, 2015. <

Newport, Frank. “Religion Remains a Strong Marker of Political Identity in U.S.” Gallup. July 28, 2014

Test your knowledge of the USA. There are a variety of similar civics/citizenship tests available online. Here is one useful link:“Could you pass a US citizenship test?” The Christian Science Monitor. updated. < 96 multiple choice questions (symbols, geography, constitution, and government, with a few history questions thrown in)