HENB01353U English - Elective 1, topic 3: Contemporary American Society: Issues, Preoccupations, and Dreams

Volume 2019/2020
Education

Engelsk

Content

Contemporary American Society 2019: Issues, Preoccupations, and Dreams (CAS) explores American society in 2019. CAS will explore and ascertain the issues that Americans are grappling with today. The seminar offers examinations and explanations of the major issues facing American society, including the role of race, gender, and class in contemporary America. The course will also address issues of education and mobility; whether the nation is as polarized as some commentators have claimed; the consequences of mass migration; the salience of religion; technology and changing media; the social and economic effects of regionalization and globalization; and where America’s security starts and finishes in an age of fluidity. These factors are important components of contemporary American society. One theme of the course will be to consider the idea and application of the American dream.

Required Books: TBA, but will include:

Russell Duncan and Joe Goddard (2018) Contemporary America, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Class learning elements include mini-lectures, discussions, workshops, and student presentations. This course expects active participation, meaning that you have read the required readings for the week concerned, reflected over them, and come to class primed to discuss them individually and collectively.

You are required to give two eight-minute presentation during the course (one group and one individual) and to submit electronically you presentation PowerPoints and five page essays/reports on your presentation topic including up to two pages of post-presentation reflection by the required deadline. Attendance, the presentations, and the summaries together will meet the pedagogical goals and the active participation requirements of this course. You will need to bring a computer or device with you for your presentation.

The seminar format of the class expects active participation from all participants. The course uses a combination of set texts, auxiliary readings, and electronic resources to ensure maximum topicality. The course ends with a written exam in the form of a week-paper comprising 11-15 NS.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 162,75
  • Total
  • 204,75
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Criteria for exam assesment