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University of Languages and International Studies, VNU – Hanoi
FACULTY OF LINGUISTICS AND CULTURES OF ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES
Division of Country Studies
INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH & AMERICAN STUDIES Course Code: ENG2052 Course Status: Required
Prerequisites: English proficiency B2-CEFR or ENG4028 + ENG4029 + ENG4039 Number of credits: 03
Language of instruction: English Class size: 20-30 students
Course coordinator: Phùng Hà Thanh, Ph.D.
(Email: thanhph@vnu.edu.vn; Phone: 0981242729)
Unit: Division of Country Studies:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/internationalstudiesulis/
Wordpress: https://quoctehoc.wordpress.com/ OVERVIEW
This course aims to foster critical understanding of some of the key constructs in studying
the British and the American, namely nation, nation state, culture, identity, and power. As
you examine the British and American society in these terms, you are encouraged to
attend to how you yourself relate to what is presented as the British and the American. Be
aware of your limits of thought and recognizant of different perspectives. As well, this
course is practical in the sense that it offers language to participate in common
conversations about the two peoples and countries. OBJECTIVES
If you successfully complete the course, you will demonstrate the following competences: Knowledge
● Understand key concepts in studying the UK and the US, namely nation, nation
state, culture, identity, and power.
● Understand how British and American histories, modern beliefs and values,
national systems of politics, economy, and education, everyday life activities are constructed and organized.
● Apply these understandings in relevant conversations. Skills 1 about:blank 1/11 02:41 9/8/24
2023 BAS Course Outline To be revised
● Conduct a seminar in English on a given topic.
● Work in teams to achieve planned goals. Attitudes
● Be responsible for social issues ● Respect differences ASSESSMENT Quizzes (10%)
This element of assessment provides a frame of practice that supports students’ regular
reading of course materials and acquisition of basic vocabulary about the UK and the US.
The teacher may deliver a lecture, receive and answer questions before giving the
quizzes, but you are supposed to be able to answer the questions in the quizzes due to
your reading of the relevant prescribed texts before coming to class.
Seminars: Presentation & Discussion (30%)
This course features 04 student led seminars, whose topics and key questions are
given and specified in the description of the course’s contents, materials and schedule.k
The seminars are case studies aiming to allow participants to see the complexity
of contemporary social phenomena, to become open to multiple perspectives, to
formulate and articulate ethical commitments.
You will work in groups to prepare for, participate in, and lead 04 seminars during
the course. There should be 08 groups. Each seminar will be led by two groups. The
leading groups make oral presentations to introduce the issues of interest and then
facilitate in-class discussions of the issues. Before leading a seminar, make sure that you
have sent a detailed plan of your presentation and discussion to your teacher and received
feedback. To participate in the in-class discussions, the other groups must get prepared by
at least having read the relevant prescribed texts before coming to class.
Not only your presentation and facilitation as leaders but also your participation
as common participants is evaluated. Your performance is graded individually. Prepare a
detailed report of each member’s contributions if you want your teacher to see beyond what is observable in class. Grading Criteria 1. Addressing the Thoughtful organization 1 issue(s) Sufficient information 1 Multiple perspectives 1 Logical arguments 1 2 about:blank 2/11 02:41 9/8/24
2023 BAS Course Outline To be revised
Relevant and interesting details 1 2. Performing the
Intelligible, effective, and beautiful language 2 presentation 3. Leading the
Thoughtful questions, answers, and comments 1 discussion 4. Collaborating
Positively contributive to the group’s performance 1 as a whol 5. Participating in
Thoughtful questions, answers, and comments 1 seminars led by other groups Total 10 Sitting Exam (60%)
The final exam consists of two parts. One includes structured questions about
basic concepts and facts that you have been familiarized with during the course. The
other asks you to write a short essay that addresses one or some of the issues discussed in the seminars.
See Guidelines for Reviewing the Course
CONTENTS, MATERIALS, & SCHEDULE
Week 1: Introduction (Aug 20) ● Course Introduction
● Introduction to British and American Studies
○ What is Britain (the UK)? What is America (the US)? (country, idea, and both)
○ What does being British/American mean? (citizenship, culture, belonging, identity, value, stereotype)
○ Why are we studying the UK and the US, not Botswana and Russia, for
example? (power, relation, positionality)
○ Give examples to illustrate the following statement: ‘Britain’/ ‘America’ is
a set of places, peoples, and ideas that are always contested and which
change with the political, economic, and social tides of history.
● Nation State, Nation, Culture, Identity, and Power as Organizing Concepts in Country Studies Prescribed texts 3 about:blank 3/11 02:41 9/8/24
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Introduction to British and American Studies (2017). Chapter 1. Division of Country Studies Other resources
British Studies, the Latest Import from the US? Cultural Studies American Studies
Weeks 2 + 3: Brief History of the UK and the US // Quiz 1 (Aug 27 + Sep. 3) ● Why study history?
● In our time, the dominant history of a country is usually a history of wars. What
does this kind of history often tell you?
● Briefly describe the following significant events and periods in the making of the
UK and the US (as sovereign states and empires) as they appear in common
historical accounts. Notice that the same years might belong to different historical
periods. How is this possible? From your knowledge of these historical events and
periods, name some of the key issues in/emerging from the ongoing formation of the UK and US.
○ The UK: Birth of the Union (1707), Acts of Union (1800), Napoleonic
Wars (1803-1815), Victorian Era (1837-1901), UK Decolonization
(1945-1975), Thatcher Era (1979-?)
○ The US: American Civil War (1861-1865), Jim Crow Era (1876–1965),
First Red Scare (1917-1920), Second Red Scare (1947-1957), American
Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968), Vietnam War (1955-1975), Reagan Era (1980-?)
○ The UK & the US: Boston Tea Party (1773), American Revolution
(1765-1783), First-wave Feminism (19th century–early 20th century),
World War I (1914-1918), Paris Peace Conference (1920), Roaring
Twenties (1920s), The Great Depression (1929-1939), World War II
(1939-1945), Bretton Woods Conference (1944), Washington
Conversations on International Peace and Security Organization (1944),
Cold War (1947-1991), Second-wave Feminism (1960s-1970s), War on Terror (2001-present)
● UK-US relations: What does the Special Relationship mean? How has the
relationship between the UK and the US changed over time? Prescribed texts
Introduction to British and American Studies (2017). Chapter 2. Division of Country Studies. 4 about:blank 4/11 02:41 9/8/24
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Week 4: National Beliefs and Values (Sep. 10)
● What are some of the beliefs and values that are usually claimed as British and
American? How is this possible to make these claims? (history, evidence)
● What is “the American dream”?
● What is American exceptionalism? Describe instances of American exceptionalism. Prescribed texts
Introduction to British and American Studies (2017). Chapter 3. Division of Country Studies. Other resources The Cost of the American Dream
Week 5: British and American Political Systems: An Overview // Quiz 2 (Sep. 17) ● Forms of government
● Constitution, passage of a bill, election
● UK: fusion of powers, monarchy, government, parliament
● US: federalism, separation of powers, branches of government, checks and balances Prescribed texts
Introduction to British and American Studies (2017). Chapter 4. Division of Country Studies. Other resources
Parliamentary vs. Presidential Democracy Explained An Introduction to Parliament
Week 6: Self Study (Sep. 24)
Week 7: Seminar 1– Trump’s Travel Ban, Democracy, & The Balance of Power (Oct. 1)
● Presentation 1: Trump’s travel ban
○ What are executive orders? What are the legal bases for them?
○ What are the key points of Trump’s travel ban? What changes have been
made from the initial (January 27th) to the revised order (March 6th)?
○ Whom does the travel ban affect? What are the grounds for the ban? 5 about:blank 5/11 02:41 9/8/24
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● Presentation 2: Response to Trump’s travel ban
○ How was the order implemented? What challenges arose in its implementation?
○ How does the public respond to Trump’s travel ban? What are the arguments against it?
○ What choices are available for the US government to reject the ban? What has been done so far?
● Discussion: What can be said about democracy and the balance of power in the US from this case? Prescribed texts
A Timeline of Trump's Immigration Executive Order and Legal Challenges Other resources
What Powers Will Donald Trump Have as US President
Hawaii Judge Dilutes Trump Travel Ban Further by Expanding Family List
Trump Rejected by U.S. Supreme Court on Reach of Travel Ban
Executive Order: Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/27/executive-order-protecti
ng-nation-foreign-terrorist-entry-united-states
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/03/06/executive-order-protecti
ng-nation-foreign-terrorist-entry-united-states
Essay question for the final exam:
Democracy is a Western concept, generally understood as the power or the rule of the
people. It has found its way into modern systems of government that are formed by the
whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected
representatives. To prevent dictatorship, the separation of powers is another principle
built in the constitution of democracies. Democracies function on the rule of law, the
legal principle that law should govern a nation, as opposed to being governed by
decisions of individual government officials. However, it is also important acknowledge
that democracy is not only about how a political system is organized but also about how
the people can make visible their collective power whether they are allowed by the state.
Write an essay of 300 words to elaborate on how different aspects of democracy work in
the UK or the US. Your essay should include examples of real-life democratic practices in the country.
Week 8: British and American Economic Systems // Quiz 3 (Oct. 8) Prescribed texts
Introduction to British and American Studies (2017). Chapter 5. Division of Country Studies. Other resources 6 about:blank 6/11 02:41 9/8/24
2023 BAS Course Outline To be revised 2017 Index of Economic Freedom
Thatcherism and the End of the Post-War Consensus
Market Economy: Crash Course Government and Politics
The role of financial services in the UK economy
Entrepreneurs are GREAT Part 1, Part 2
The City of London - Money and Power Part 1, Part 2
Week 9: Self Study (Oct. 15)
Week 10: Seminar 2 – Brexit & Economic Reasoning (Oct. 22
● Presentation 1: Brexit – Background information and non-economic arguments
○ Present a brief history of British Euroscepticism.
○ What is Brexit? Describe the main events of Brexit.
○ Describe the patterns of voting in the EU referendum
○ What are non-economic arguments for and against Brexit? Who have
presented them? What evidences have they given? How have the arguments been criticized?
● Presentation 2: Economic arguments for and against Brexit
○ What are economic arguments for and against Brexit? Who have presented
them? What evidences have they given? How have the arguments been criticized?
○ What are the economic issues that the UK has to negotiate with EU as the country is leaving EU?
● Discussion: How do the economic arguments display identity politics (claims made about groups of people)?
Essay question for the final exam
As many (not all) supporters of Brexit or Trump care about how their nation and they
themselves are performing economically, they think strict national borders should be
maintained so as to protect their group’s economic interests. This prompt invites you to
write an essay of 300 words on the extent to which advocacy for Brexit or Trump’s
presidency has featured economic reasoning as well as implicated identity politics and nationalism. Prescribed texts
British Euroscepticism: a brief history 7 about:blank 7/11 02:41 9/8/24
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Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU
The Brexit Debate Explained in 2 Minutes Brexit: The Movie
Brexit and the Economy: The Facts Explained
Local Voting Figures Shed New Light on EU Referendum Other resources
Week 11: British and American Educational Systems // Quiz 4 (Oct. 29)
● Modern education systems: What is education for?
● What key moments have shaped the British and American educational systems respectively?
● What are contemporary debates on education in Britain and the States? What solutions have been proposed? Prescribed texts
Introduction to British and American Studies (2017). Chapter 6. Division of Country Studies. Other resources The purpose of education
Pink Floyd Another brick in the wall (Video)
Education reform has failed to improve social mobility
British schools explained Anglophenia Ep. 25 (Video)
British Education System Being British: Joel & Lia (Video)
Q&A: The American school system CNN Films: Ivory Tower Trailer
Week 12: Seminar 3 – American Public Schools in Education Reforms (Nov. 5)
● Presentation 1: Overview of the movie and the stratification of schools in the US
○ Key information about and synopsis of the movie (Waiting for ‘Superman’)
○ Summary of the main argument(s) of the movie about charter schools
○ Purposes of education, the crisis state of education, and No Child Left Behind 8 about:blank 8/11 02:41 9/8/24
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○ Comparisons between the different types of primary or secondary
educational institutions (state school, private school, and charter school)
○ Comparisons between schools in affluent neighborhoods versus schools in poorer ones
○ Assessment of and comments on the main argument(s)
● Presentation 2: Review of teachers’ issues
○ Summary of the main argument(s) of the movie about teachers ○ Teaching standards
○ Teacher appraisal and tenure ○ Teacher’s unions
○ Assessment of and comments on the main argument(s)./
● Discussion: What can be some of the problems when charter schools become
popular? To what extent are teachers responsible for the quality of education?
Essay question for the final exam: The education system is seen as both the result of and
solution to social problems. How do you understand the statement in relation to
educationalization? Identify a social problem and use examples to demonstrate how the
education system in the UK or the US is shaped/affected by the problem and at the same
time seen as a solution to the problem. Prescribed texts
“Waiting for Superman,” a 2010 American documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim
Waiting for “Superman” (Wikipedia)
Waiting for “Superman” (IMDb)
Week 13: British and American Cultures of Everyday Life (Nov. . 12)
● Enjoy details of everyday life cultures.
● Reflect on decisions in disseminating stereotypes and overgeneralizations.
● Reflect on practices of freedom. Prescribed texts
Introduction to British and American Studies (2017). Chapter 7. Division of Country Studies.
Week 14: Seminar 4 – Watching British and American Lives (Nov. 19)
● Presentation 1: Motherhood in Boyhood (2014)
○ Key information about and synopsis of the movie 9 about:blank 9/11 02:41 9/8/24
2023 BAS Course Outline To be revised
○ Select and present the visuals that demonstrate the aging of the mother’s body over 12 years
○ Select and present the visuals that demonstrate what the mother does to take care of her children.
○ How do the mother’s circumstances define her children’s circumstances?
○ Describe the mother’s social life. Does she have a career for herself?
○ What do you see as the mother’s ‘flaws’?
● Presentation 2: Working-class women in All or Nothing (2002)
● Key information about and synopsis of the movie
○ Describe the social and domestic working conditions of the female
characters in the movie. Select and present the visuals that demonstrate these conditions.
○ How do their circumstances affect the way they relate to their family members?
○ Describe some of the male-female relationships in the movie.
○ How do the female characters struggle to deal with distress, survive and maintain dignity? ● Open discussions
Essay question for the final exam: Drama is a form of film that involves fictional stories;
however, many drama movies realistically unravel social conditions, bringing certain
scenes and issues into public attention and discussion. In the course, you have watched
several drama movies featuring the weight of daily routines and encounters that women
and girls suffer from. Those scenes and issues used to be considered not important and
exciting enough to appear on the silver screen. It is possible to say that these works of art
have done compassionate feminism. Based on instances from the movies, describe some
of the struggles that a female character has to undergo in such a developed society as the
UK or the US. Also, describe the ways she goes through/endures them in order to portray
the interplay between circumstances, luck, strategies, decisions and morality. Prescribed texts
Boyhood, a 2014 American coming-of-age film written and directed by Richard Linklater Boyhood (2014) (IMDb) Boyhood (2014) (Wikipedia)
All or Nothing, a 2002 British drama film written and directed by Mike Leigh All or Nothing (2002) (IMDb)
All or Nothing (2002) (Wikipedia)
Muddling Through, Souls Shredded but Intact 10 about:blank 10/11 02:41 9/8/24
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Pariah, a 2011 American art drama film written and directed by Dee Rees Pariah (2011) (IMDb) Pariah (2011) (Wikipedia)
Another Year, a 2010 British comedy-drama film written and directed by Mike Leigh Another Year (2010) (IMDb)
Another Year (2010) (Wikipedia)
Eva Wiseman (2017, Mar 26). Why shouldn’t the modern family be a team effort? The Guardian. Retrieved from
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/mar/26/why-shouldnt-the-modern-family -be-a-team-effort?
Week 15: Review (Nov. 26 . ) GENERAL CLASS POLICIES
Discussion: Contribute to discussion each class and participate in all small group activities
Readings: Complete readings by the day assigned. Bring the textbook to class.
Class Time: Being significantly tardy or leaving early will result in you being marked absent.
Absences: Keep your teacher informed about your absence if possible. You are allowed 03
unexcused absences, and this doesn’t mean that you should use up all these opportunities and
then try to make excuses for other absences. Absences may be excused only for very limited
reasons (including hospitalization).
Late/Missed Assignments: The schedule of the quizzes and seminars is fixed. If your missing
one or some of them affects your final grade severely, please discuss the problem with your
teacher. If the teacher does not manage to propose any alternative measure of assessment or
deadline, please accept the fact that your grade does not meet your expectation.
Academic Integrity: Academic dishonesty is not tolerated. Penalties are an F on the assignment and an F in the course.
Always communicate with your teacher first if you encounter any problem with the course. If
you run into problems that call for a third party, contact the course coordinator. 11 about:blank 11/11