American society in the spotlight

przedmiot fakultatywny

Contact hours with teacher:

participation in seminar – 30 hrs

Self-study hours:

- preparation for seminar - 15 hrs

- reading literature - 30 hrs

- project – 10 hrs

- consultations with the lecturer – 10 hrs

Altogether:

95 hrs (3 ECTS)

W1: Student has basic and structured knowledge of sociological theories, as well as concepts and terms related to modern American society.

W2: He/she is familiar with social phenomena taking place in contemporary USA and understands their courses.

U1: Student has the ability to conduct research through an analysis of works of various authors as well as desk research and data search.

U2: Based on acquired knowledge, he/she can orally present and explain social phenomena in contemporary USA, while using proper terminology, professional presentation skills and techniques.

U3: Student demonstrates developed reading comprehension, listening and speaking skills in English in the field of social studies.

K1: Student understands the importance of social bonds.

K2: He/she is sensitive to social exclusion, bearing in mind its consequences.

K3: Student is well prepared to critically acquire new knowledge in the field of social sciences and understands its importance.

K4: He/she can communicate and cooperate in a group.

Expository teaching methods:

participatory lecture, narration, discussion.

Exploratory teaching methods:

Brainstorming, case study, problem-solving, project work.

- pogadanka
- wykład informacyjny (konwencjonalny)
- wykład konwersatoryjny

- giełda pomysłów
- klasyczna metoda problemowa
- projektu
- studium przypadku

This course focuses on major changes the American society has undergone in the last 20 years. Students will examine various phenomena taking place in that time by searching for their reasons, analyzing the processes and examining their consequences.

This course focuses on major changes the American society has undergone in the last 20 years. Students will examine various phenomena taking place in this period by searching for their reasons, analyzing the processes and examining their consequences.

This course offers a chance to jointly perform and discuss a multidimentional analysis of the contemporary American society, exploring various spheres of its daily life.

Students will explore the society through a lens of various issues like poverty, welfare and social security, healthcare and its challenges, education, energy policy and environmental protection, religion and values, immigration as well as political preferences and presidential elections.

Various readings will be assigned to students throughout the semester. Most of them will include short papers, professional articles, or book chapters.

They include, but are not limited to fragments of:

Desmond M. “Evicted”

DiMaggio P. “The myth of culture war”

Waldron T., Roberts B., Reamer A., “Working hard, falling short. America’s Working Families and the Pursuit of Economic Security”

Hochshild A.R. “Strangers in their own land. Anger and Mourning of the American Right”

Phillips K. “American Dynasty”

Woodward B. “Bush at War”

Woodward B. “Fear”

Assessment methods:

- project presentation 30%

- activity in class 40%

- preparation 30%

Assessment criteria:

The final grade will be composed of three sections: a group project presented in class; activity during class assignments and discussions; preparation for class evaluated based on pop quizzes during chosen meetings.

fail: 0-60%

satisfactory: 61-68%

satisfactory plus: 69-75%

good: 76-83%

good plus: 84-90%

very good: 91-100%