The American Ways

Reading /Presentation

The American Ways

Keywords:
Culture, Discussion, Intensive Reading, Presentation, Research, Speaking, Vocabulary, Web Activities, American History

On Campus (to have an on-campus meeting, even only once from #1 - #12)

This class will be offered on-line ( Zoom). If the present situation improves, the class will be offered on-campus.

There are many definitions of culture. Some would define it as the art, literature, and music of people, their architecture, history, religion, their traditions. Some others might focus more on the customs and specific behavior of the people. The course chooses a sociological definition of culture as the way of life of a group of people, developed over time and passed down from generation to generation. This broad definition includes every aspect of human life and interaction. The course is chosen to make a values approach focusing on the traditional mainstream values that have attracted people to the states. The course traces how values affect aspects of life.

By studying the information about the traditional, basic American values, where they came from, and how these values affect various institutions and aspects of life in the United States, the course is intended to increase students' awareness and understanding of the cultural values of the United States, their own country, and other countries. The information the students get in class will help them get a composite picture of American beliefs and practices as they relate to education, business, government, sports, recreation and so on.

Attendance: 10%
Assignment: 20%
Paper: 20%
Mid-term Presentation: 15%
Final Presentation: 25%
Class Participation: 10%

1	The American Religious Heritage Reading: 1. Freedom of Religion in the United States 2. The Development of Protestantism Activities: Ask Yourself / Ask Americans
2	Reading: 3. Protestantism in the United States 4. The Protestant Heritage: Self-Improvement 5. Mateial Success, Hard Work, and Self-Dicipline Activities: Proverbs and Sayings / Observing the Media
3	Reading: 6.Volunteerism and Humanitarianism 7. Born-Again Christians and the Religious Roght 8. A National Religion Activities: Comprehension Check/ Questions for Discussion /Summary /Vocabulary Check
4	The Frontier Heritage 1. The Impact of the American Frontier 2. Self-Reliane and the Rugged Individual Proverbs and Sayings / Observing the Media / Ask Yourself / Think, Pair, Share
5	3. American Macho 4. Inventiveness and the Can-Do Spirit 5. Equality of Opportunity Activities: Comprehension Check/ Questions for Discussion /Summary /Vocabulary Check
6	Mid-Presentation: Students are to choose their topic freely as long as the topics are related to the course (Topics will be chosen by the students during the first two weeks of class).
7	The Heritage of Abundance 1. A History of Abundance 2. From Producers to Consumers 3. Commercial Television Versus Public Television and the Internet Activities: Proverbs and Sayings / Think, Pair, Share
8	4. What American Consumers Like 5. The Ever-Expanding Pie Activities: Ask Americans / Observing the Media
9	6. The Decline of American Abundance 7. What of the future? Activities: Comprehension Check / Questions for Discussion / Summary / Vocabulary Check
10	The World of American Business 1. The Characteristic of American Business 2. The Prestige of Business and the Ideal of Competition 3. The Prestige of Business and the Dream of Getting Rich Activities: People Watching / Ask Americans / Proverbs and Sayings / Ask Yourself
11	4. Two Kinds of American Business Heroes: The Entrepreneur and The Organization Man / Woman 5. American Business in the Global Marketplace 6. The Changing American Workforce Activities: Comprehension Check/ Questions for Discussion /Summary /Vocabulary Check
12	Final Presentation Final Report / Paper ( including the Mid-term) must be handed in on this day
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15

The real goal of this course is to help students become more sensitive to cultural differences and more accepting of them. However, there will always be things about another culture that we do not like no matter how much we understand it. The objective of this course is not to persuade others to approve of all facets of life in the United States but rather to help students understand it more fully and be able to adapt whenever it is desirable to do so. There are opportunities for exploiting one's foreign qualities but there are also times when being from a different culture can be a real liability. The instructor hopes that this introduction will help students make more informed choices.