AJ5_PMAM Problems of Modern America

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2001
Extent and Intensity
0/1/0. 1 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Michael George, M.A. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Pavel Doležel, CSc.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Anna Kalová
Prerequisites (in Czech)
AJ5_DUSA History of the United States
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This is a seminar/discussion course in which students will be investigating some of the problems and conditions of America today. Topics can include: racism, violence, drugs, gun control, the disintegration of the traditional family, the decline in quality of public education, as well as multiculturalism, minority rights and feminism. Organized as a true round table seminar where students are expected to have read the necessary texts and come to the table prepared to engage in discussion about the topic.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction. 2. Democracy, capitalism, and pop culture 3. Racism and minority rights 4. Guns, violence and the Constitution 5. Feminism and the family 6. Social welfare 7. Socio linguistics 8. - 15. Student presentations
Literature
  • Lerner, Max, America as Civilization, Henry Holt and Co., 1987; Popken, Randall et.al., Departures, Allyn and Bacon, 1995; Atwan, Robert, ed., America Now, Bedford Books,1997
  • MCDERMOTT, John J. (John Joseph). Streams of experience : reflections on the history and philosophy of American culture. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1986, xxi, 266 p. ISBN 0-87023-496-250. info
  • BELLAH, Robert Neelly. Habits of the heart : individualism and commitment in American life. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985, xiii, 355. ISBN 0520053885. info
  • TOCQUEVILLE, Alexis de. Democracy in America. Edited by Richard D. Heffner. New York: New American Library, 1956, 317 s. ISBN 0-451-62218-9. info
Assessment methods (in Czech)
Typ výuky: seminář
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 1999, Autumn 2000, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2001, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/autumn2001/AJ5_PMAM