Amesocialissues.files.wordpress.com



| |VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – HCM | |

| |UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES | |

| |FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE | |

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Title: SOCIAL ISSUES IN THE U.S (for BA in English Linguistics and Literature)

Course Code: NVA124

Course Credits: 02

- Theory: 01 credit (= 15 periods)

- Practice: 01 credit (= 30 periods)

Course Prerequisites:

Students should have a basic knowledge of American history and culture through the course of Introduction to British and American Culture and Society as well as a basic knowledge of Vietnamese history and culture through the course of Basics of Vietnamese Culture. They should be able to critically read primary and academic texts in English as well as write a properly-cited academic paper.

Course Overview:

This course explores key social issues in the U.S. such as race and racism, gender, class, family, crime and violence, education, and politics, with a special focus on their presence in and impact on contemporary America. As these are long-standing issues that have historical roots in the past, any attempt to address them in a meaningful manner requires a knowledge of the historical context in which they originated. We will therefore begin our class each week with a brief historical overview of each issue and gradually move the discussion forward to the present. A considerable part of our discussion will focus on the magnitude of these issues in contemporary U.S., including an evaluation of the progress (or lack thereof) in the U.S. society in addressing these issues.

Since these issues are of a universal nature, namely one can find similar problems in modern society across the globe, students are encouraged to use our discussion of these issues in class as a lens through which to sharpen their awareness and knowledge of social issues in contemporary Britain or Vietnam.

Course Content:

• Race and Racism

• Gender

• Class

• Family

• Politics

• Crime and Violence

• Education

Course Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

i) Fully identify different aspects of the American society with a focus on prominent issues such as race, gender, social class, family, crime and violence, welfare state, and religion; (PLO22 + PLO26 + PLO27 + PLO13 + PLO32)

ii) Do further and more in-depth research into the social issues of the USA; (PLO22 + PLO25 + PLO27 + PLO28 + PLO29 + PLO210 + PLO212 + PLO213 + PLO112)

iii) Compare and contrast the American social issues with the British and/or Vietnamese ones. (PLO22 + PLO26 + PLO27 + PLO28 + PLO211 + PLO213)

Linking between course learning outcomes, teaching & learning strategies, course assessment and program learning outcomes

|No. |Course learning outcomes |Teaching & learning |Course Assessment |Program Learning Outcomes |

| | |activities | | |

| | | | |Knowledge |Skills |Attitudes |

|(i) |Fully identify different |Lecturing |Group oral presentation |X |X | |

| |aspects of the American society| |skills | | | |

| |with a focus on prominent |Group oral | | | | |

| |issues such as race, gender, |presentation |The way questions are | | | |

| |social class, family, crime and| |raised and shared | | | |

| |violence, welfare state, and |Group discussion | | | | |

| |religion; (PLO22 + PLO26 + | |Written midterm essay | | | |

| |PLO27 + PLO13 + PLO32) |Question & Answer | | | | |

| | | |Final written exam on | | | |

| | | |theories | | | |

|(ii) |Do further and more in-depth |Group oral presentation |Group oral presentation |X |X |X |

| |research into the social issues| |skills | | | |

| |of the USA; (PLO22 + PLO25 + |Group discussion | | | | |

| |PLO27 + PLO28 + PLO29 + PLO210 | |The way questions are | | | |

| |+ PLO212 + PLO213 + PLO112) |Question & Answer |raised and shared | | | |

| | | | | | | |

| | |Essay writing |Written midterm essay | | | |

| | | | | | | |

| | |Group written project |Written final exam on | | | |

| | | |theories | | | |

|(iii) |Compare and contrast the |Group oral presentation |Group oral presentation |X |X |X |

| |American social issues with the| |skills | | | |

| |British and/or Vietnamese ones.|Group discussion | | | | |

| |(PLO22 + PLO26 + PLO27 + PLO28 | |The way questions are | | | |

| |+ PLO211 + PLO213) |Question & Answer |raised and shared | | | |

| | | | | | | |

| | |Essay writing |Written midterm exam on | | | |

| | | |theories | | | |

| | | | | | | |

| | | |Written final exam on | | | |

| | | |theories | | | |

Texts and Materials:

1. Required texts and Materials

• Russell Duncan and Joseph Goddard. Contemporary America. Palgrave Macmillan. Great Britain, 2003.

• Maryanne Kearny Datesman, JoAnn Crandall, Edward N. Kearny. The American Ways: An Introduction to American Culture, Prentice Hall Regents, 1997.

Supplementary Texts and Materials

• All the required texts and materials needed for the course and their online links are provided on this website: .

• All important communication with the students regarding their reading, writing and presentation assignments (and other important business) will be conducted there. Students are expected to check the blog regularly for class information and updates.

Basis for final grade assessment:

|Assessment |Percent |Score |Percent |Note |

|Criteria | | |of final grade | |

|Midterm exam |100% |Midterm score |30% |To be computed by the |

| | | | |University Admission Office |

|(or Group project) |100% | | | |

|- Final Test |50% |Final score |70% |To be computed by the |

|- Oral presentation |30% | | |University Admission Office |

|- Quizzes/Exercises |20% | | | |

| |100% | | | |

| | | |100% (10/10) | |

Passing grade: 5/10

FORMAT OF THE FINAL TEST

- A 75-minute in-class test under test conditions without any dictionaries or materials.

- Alternative 1: Choose TWO topics out of four and write a 300-word essay on each topic. (10 pts)

- Alternative 2:

✓ Multiple choice: 10 questions (2 pts)

✓ True/False: 10 items (2 pts)

✓ Gap-filling: 10 items (2 pts)

✓ Open questions: 4 questions (or one 300-word essay) (4 pts)

Guidelines for group project

• To bring the information learned in class to bear on the real world outside the classroom, students are asked to form groups (of 3 students each) to collaborate on a group project.

• For the project, each group will choose one of the seven major topics listed in the syllabus and do one of the following:

➢ Interview Project: Go out and interview (at least 5) American nationals or American visitors in HCM city about their perceptions/ideas on the group’s chosen topic. The interviews could either be tape- or video-recorded, depending on the preference and technical capability of the group.

➢ Video Viewing Project: Analyze how the issue chosen by the group is represented in Hollywood movies by viewing (at least) 3 relevant movies that directly deal with their topic.

• The group’s choice of topic and other important details about the planning and execution of the project should be submitted to the lecturer by week 4. The lecturer will give feedback and suggestions to the group afterwards.

• The project is to culminate in an oral presentation before class and a written report (750 words or 3 pages minimum), both of which should explain the insights learned from the experience and highlight any disparities found between the text-based knowledge acquired in class and real-life perceptions.

• Both the presentation and submission of the report are due on the last week of the course.

Scoring scheme for the project:

|Presentation skills |30% |

|Quality and originality of findings |20% |

|Writing skills |25% |

|Creativity |25% |

| |100% |

Course Policies:

A. Grades

Late Work Policy:

There are no make-ups for in-class writing, quizzes, the midterm, or the final exam. Written work turned in late will be assessed a penalty: 10 points off per day late. Submissions more than 3 days late will not be accepted.

Commentary Policy:

Commentary will be delivered in written format, at the end of the essay.

Group Work Policy:

Everyone must take part in a group project. All members of a group will receive the same score; that is, the project is assessed and everyone receives this score. However, that number is only 90% of your grade for this project. The final 10% is individual, and refers to your teamwork. Every person in the group will provide the instructor with a suggested grade for every other member of the group, and the instructor will assign a grade that is informed by those suggestions. Once formed, groups cannot be altered or switched, except for reasons of extended hospitalization.

B. Technology and Media

Email/Communication Through Class Blog:

- In addition to direct meeting in class and during consultation hours (if necessary, the instructor will send emails to the whole class or individuals), further questions and discussion between students and the instructor can be conducted via email or on the class blog.

- Expected response time (from the instructor) is 2 days after receipt of emails/questions.

- No response should be expected during weekends (except for emergency only).

Laptop and Cell phone Usage:

- Laptops and cell phones are forbidden during class.

Classroom Devices:

- Laptop and LCD projector are used for delivering lectures and presentations.

- Other devices such as tape recorders, VCR, DVD players, loudspeakers, posters, flip charts and blackboard are used when necessary.

C. Student Expectations

Attendance Policy:

- Students are required to attend at least 80% of all class meetings in order to be eligible to take the final exam.

- Permission for absences are granted on a case-by-case basis and should be obtained in writing prior to or at least 1 day after the absence.

- No points are given to regular attendance.

Professionalism Policy:

Per university policy and classroom etiquette; mobile phones, iPods, etc. must be silenced during all classroom lectures. Those not heeding this rule will be asked to leave the classroom immediately so as to not disrupt the learning environment. Please arrive on time for all class meetings. Students who habitually disturb the class by talking, arriving late, etc., and have been warned may suffer a reduction in their final class grade.

Academic Conduct Policy:

Since this course is a step toward your career as an educated and professional person, you are expected to behave accordingly. This means that you will arrive on time, pay attention during class, and stay until class is dismissed. Similarly, you will be subject to the standards of ethical academic conduct in this course. Cheating and plagiarism will NOT be tolerated – work found to be unethical will not be counted (a zero will be assigned).

Students will be guilty of academic dishonesty if they: 1) knowingly represent the work of others as their own; 2) use or obtain unauthorized assistance in any academic work, 3) give fraudulent assistance to another student. Unethical conduct may subject the student to further disciplinary action such as failure of the course. If you are still not clear about what constitutes plagiarism, ask your instructor for further explanation.

Schedule:

|Week |Topics/Contents |

|1 |Introduction: course syllabus and requirements; Overview of course content; Group organization |

|2 |Topic 1: Race and Racism |

|3 |Topic 2: Gender |

|4 |Topic 3: Class |

|5 |Midterm Exam |

| |Topic 4: Family |

|6 |Topic 5: Politics |

|7 |Topic 6: Crime and Violence |

|8 |Topic 7: Education |

|9 |Research Papers Due |

| |Prepare group presentations on research findings |

|TBA |Final exam (as scheduled by the university academic office) |

* Note: The Schedule is subject to revision.

XII. References:

This course syllabus is designed using as reference the

- Syllabus “U.S Social Problems” of Texas A&M University Commerce:

- Syllabus “Social Issues in America” of Arizona University:

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download