AJB_WEST The American West

Faculty of Education
Spring 2010
Extent and Intensity
0/1/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Michael George, M.A. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Irena Přibylová, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This block option class looks at the importance of the West in American history. The first meeting deals with the West, its lure of Europeans to the New World and its subsequent shaping of the American character. Readings during the semester examine European immigration and westward expansion, the effect of the western movement on family, and race (Native Americans, Chinese Americans and Mexican Americans) among other issues. The last meeting focuses on the enduring influence of the West in modern American life and politics, and its mythologizing at the hands of Hollywood. The aim of the course is for students to distinguish between the stereotype and reality of American culture and develop a more balanced and realistic understanding in appraising of one of the centers of modern English language.
Syllabus
  • Syllabus for block plan:
  • Through the discussion of assigned texts as well as documentary videos the first meeting deals with the West as a cause of European immigration and its subsequent shaping of the American character.
  • Readings during the semester examine westward expansion and its effect on family, as well as race (Native Americans, Chinese Americans and Mexican Americans) among other issues, all of which are discussed on the class on-line forum.
  • Through the discussion of assigned reading and video excerpts of classic and modern western films, the last meeting analyzes the enduring influence of the West in modern American life and politics, and its mythologizing at the hands of Hollywood.
Literature
  • Kaplan, Robert. An Empire Wilderness. New York: Random House, 1998.
  • Turner, Frederick Jackson. “The Significance of the Frontier in American History”
  • Webb, Walter Prescott. The Great Plains. New York: Grosset and Dunlap, 1931
Teaching methods
Students are assigned readings which are discussed in classic seminar fashion at the first (6 hour) class meeting. documentary videos are also used to supplement the discussion. Every two or three weeks thereafter, students are given 2 or 3 texts on line and required to read and comment on them on the on-line forum. the class ends with more assigned reading, another 6 hour discussion/documentary seminar.
Assessment methods
Attendance of all 6 hours of both class meetings, full preparation and participation in class discussion as well as reading the texts and active participation in the on-line forum are required for credit.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: in blocks.
Note related to how often the course is taught: 2 dopolední bloky, v pondělí 15.2. a pátek 14.5. 8 - 13 hod.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 1 hodina.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2012, Spring 2016, Spring 2017.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2010, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/spring2010/AJB_WEST