Delivered at:: School of Foreign Languages

Course type:: Elective course

When:: 1 year, 1, 2 module

Instructors

Abstract

The course “History and Culture of the U.S.A.” is taught to freshmen majoring in foreign languages and intercultural communication. The aim of the course is to establish the context of understanding of the cultural, historic, economic, and political background of the U.S.A. as a country whose language is the target language of students’ professional scrutiny. Course materials include a variety of primary and secondary sources that explore the phenomena discussed from different perspectives to enhance students' analytical, critical thinking and media literacy skills. Special attention is paid to a comparative analysis of the U.S. – Russia relations. The course features both lectures and seminars, which enables students to interiorize the “American component” of their intercultural communicative competence through involvement in class discussions, case-study, quizzes, tests and writing critical reviews.

Learning Objectives

familiarizing students with the U.S. traditions, culture, politics and policies, economy and history
developing skills of social and cultural analysis of historic milestones of the U.S. emergence, growth and modern status
enhancing critical thinking to come to independent conclusions about the U.S. sociocultural and political phenomena through the acquisition of media literacy skills
developing intercultural competence and forming a clear picture of the key types, forms, and issues of intercultural communication through the reflective analytical and synthetic perception of the student's local culture and the U.S. culture
motivating students for further professional development in the field of American Studies

Expected Learning Outcomes

To recognize and interpret the U.S. traditions, culture, politics and policies, economy and history
To interpret the history, current state and prospects of Russia – U.S. relations
To analyze and evaluate historic milestones of the U.S. emergence, growth and modern status from social and cultural perspectives
To select relevant primary sources and come to independent conclusions about the U.S. sociocultural and political phenomena on their basis

Course Contents

Topic 1. Introduction to the course
Topic 2. Genesis of the American nation
Topic 3. American fight for independence
Topic 4. American national identity
Topic 5. American democracy
Topic 6. Law in the USA
Topic 7. Black Lives Matter: the past and the present
Topic 8. Multiculturalism in the USA
Topic 9. Gender in the USA
Topic 10. The US foreign policy: isolationism to interventionism
Topic 11. American foreign policy in the Middle East
Topic 12. The USA and Russia: the past, the present, and the future

Assessment Elements

Continuous Assessment M1
Involves class participation (taking part in discussions, debates, roundtable talks, case studies; independent preparation for seminars (information search; reading papers; watching videos; annotating and rendering the obtained materials)).
Continuous Assessment M2
Involves class participation (taking part in discussions, debates, roundtable talks, case studies; independent preparation for seminars (information search; reading papers; watching videos; annotating and rendering the obtained materials)).
Module Test M1
The test is held in class. The test comprises 11 closed questions (the types of questions may include multiple choice, matching, true/false, fill in the gaps, etc.) and 3 open questions (short answers 100-150 words) to be answered in writing. The test is based on the material of Module 1 (lectures and seminars): • Colonial America • American Revolutionary War • American political system • American legal system
Module Test M2
The test is held in class. The test comprises 11 closed questions (the types of questions may include multiple choice, matching, true/false, fill in the gaps, etc.) and 3 open questions (short answers 100-150 words) to be answered in writing. The test is based on the material of Module 2 (lectures and seminars): • American national identity • Multiculturalism in the USA • Afro-American history: the past and the present • Gender in the USA • American foreign policy: from isolationism to interventionism • US containment policy • US policy in the Middle East • USA and Russia: the past and the present
Critical Review
Critical review on any of suggested topics (a student can come up with their own in accordance with their academic and/or personal interests): - The Confederate flag - Native Americans’ reparations - The American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 - Suspension of Donald Trump’s Twitter account - Black Lives Matter protests - #Takeaknee - New Oscars diversity rules - Affirmative Action - Gun control and mass shootings - Latest immigration restrictions (pick any) - The family separation policy - Cancel culture - Electoral College VS Popular Vote - The Green New Deal - White supremacy - The federal minimum wage - Transgender rights - The Marriage Equality Act - US investment ban on Chinese companies - Russia’s interference in U.S. elections - Middle East - Etc.
Exam
Exam comprises 5 open questions to be answered in writing. Each answer carries 3 points.

Interim Assessment

2023/2024 2nd module
0.1 * Continuous Assessment M1 + 0.2 * Continuous Assessment M2 + 0.1 * Critical Review + 0.3 * Exam + 0.15 * Module Test M1 + 0.15 * Module Test M2

Authors

BUDNIKOVA ALINA ALEKSANDROVNA
BAKULEV Aleksey VALENTINOVICH

Bachelor’s Programme 'Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication'

History and Culture of the USA