AMERICAN CIVILIZATION

Course code: EL020IU

- Number of credits: 2
- Number of periods: 30 Theory: 30 Exercises: 0 Practice: 0
- Assessment: Ongoing assessment: 30% - Midterm Exam: 30% - Final Exam:
40%
- Score scale: 100
- Prerequisite:
- Previous course: Reading 2 Course code: EL007IU
Writing 2 Course code: EL008IU
Listening 2 Course code: EL009IU
Speaking 2 Course code: EL010IU
- Parallel course: Course code:
- Program: English Linguistics
- Level: Undergraduate

1. Course Aims:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
 know a wide variety of aspects of American life, which is a good foundation to learn and
comprehend the English language better
 apply, synthesize and evaluate the information about the American civilization and other
related countries, to make solid comparisons and analyses for a comparative perspective
on these countries
 improve the analytical and critical thinking skills
 improve the presentation and writing skills

2. Course Description:
The course provides students with the perfect background and contemporary information on
American society from geography and the environment, government and politics, to religion,
education, media and the arts. With substantial illustrations and case studies, American
Civilization includes expanded sections on Asian and Latino minorities and US foreign policy
activities to help students establish connections between the U.S. and the world.

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3. Course Books and Other Required Materials:
Course books and other required materials:
[1] Mauk, D. and Oakland, J (2013). American Civilization, An Introduction (6th edition).
Routledge.
Reference books:
[2] Giannotti, J. & Szwarcewicz, S. M. (1996). Talking about the USA: An active introduction to
American culture. Prentice Hall Regents. 
[3] Falk, R. (1994). Spotlight on the USA. Oxford University Press.
Websites:
[4] http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/ebooks.htm
[1] Outline of American Geography
[2] Outline of American Literature
[3] Outline of the U.S. History
[4] Outline of the U.S. Government
[5] Outline of the U.S. Legal System
[6] Outline of the U.S. Economy
[7] …

4. Course Learning Outcomes

No. Course Learning Outcomes
L.O.1 Know the U.S.’s ethnic culture, religious culture, political-legal culture, economic
culture, Americanness and national identity, social and institutional change, and
American attitudes to U.S. society
L.O.2 Know the U.S.’s political ecology, natural resources, economic development and
environmental concerns, climate, cultural geography, native-American cultural
regions, cultural regions in the contemporary USA, and American changing attitudes
L.O.3 Know the early encounters between Europeans and Native Americans, the waves of
immigrants, a renewed immigration debate and immigration restriction, and
American attitudes to immigrants
L.O.4 Know American women’s and minority history, including native Americans, African
Americans, Asian Americans and Latinos
L.O.5 Know the U.S.’s historical origins, the constitutional framework, the political parties,
the legislative, executive and judicial branches, and American attitudes to the

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 branches of the federal government
L.O.6 Know the place of state government in American federalism, the evolution of state
government and federalism, the structure of state government and local government
L.O.7 Know the American attitudes to world affairs, stages from neutrality to isolationism,
expansionism to imperialism, isolationism and internationalism, the Cold War era,
the sole superpower in the post-Cold War era, and the foreign-policy establishment
debate
L.O.8 Know the U.S.’s legal history, the sources of U.S. law, the court system, Federal and
state court proceedings, the legal profession, crime and punishment, and American
attitudes to the legal system
L.O.9 Know the U.S.’s economic history, the economic liberalism, the social class and
economic inequality, the contemporary economy, industry, manufacturing, service
industries, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, financial and industrial institutions, and
American attitudes to the economic system
L.O.10 Know the U.S.’s social services history, the organization of contemporary social
services
Public social services, the needy and the poverty line, voluntary services, health care,
housing, and American attitudes to social services
L.O.11 Know the U.S.’s educational history, the education system, recent problems and
policy debates, and American attitudes to education
L.O.12 Know the U.S.’s media history, freedom of the media, the contemporary print media,
the contemporary broadcasting media, and American attitudes to the media
L.O.13 Know the U.S.’s religious history, the contemporary US religion, the church, state
and politics, and religion and education
L.O.14 Know the U.S.’s arts, sports, and leisure
L.O.16 Apply and analyze the learned information about the U.S. and synthesize it with
information about some related countries to make solid comparisons and analyses for
a comparative perspective on these countries
L.O.17 Apply discussion, teamwork, critical thinking and communication skills
L.O.18 Evaluate the popular attitudes towards the issues related to the U.S. and involved
countries

5. Course Assessment
Course assessment is based on the whole course on-going progress and exams as follows.
Components Types Percentage

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 A1.1. Participation 10%
A1. Ongoing assessment A1.2. Quizzes 10%
A1.3. Group presentation 10%
A2. Midterm Examination Written Examination 30%
A3. Final Examination Written Examination 40%
All students are required to attend at least 80% course hours to be eligible to sit in the final exam.

6. Lecturers
- Đỗ Thị Diệu Ngọc, M.A.

7. Course Contents
Wee Contents Teaching and learning Detailed Assessment
k activities* learning
outcomes
1 Course introduction Introduction N/A N/A

2 The American context Lecture L.O.1; L.O.16; A1.1

Discussion L.O.17; L.O.18
3 The country Lecture L.O.2; L.O.16; A1.1
Discussion L.O.17; L.O.18
4 - The people: settle Lecture L.O.3; L.O.4; A1.1
and immigration Discussion L.O.16;
- The people: women L.O.17; L.O.18
and minorities
5 - Political institutions: Lecture L.O.5; L.O.6; A1.1; A1.2
the Federal Discussion L.O.16;
government L.O.17; L.O.18
- Political institutions:
State and local
government
6 Foreign policy Lecture L.O.7; L.O.16; A1.1
Discussion L.O.17; L.O.18
7 The legal system Lecture L.O.8; L.O.16; A1.1
Discussion L.O.17; L.O.18

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8 The economy Lecture L.O.9; L.O.16; A1.1
Discussion L.O.17; L.O.18
MIDTERM EXAMINATION (A2)
9 Social services Lecture L.O.10; A1.1
Discussion L.O.16;
L.O.17; L.O.18
10 Education Lecture L.O.11; A1.1
Discussion L.O.16;
L.O.17; L.O.18
11 The media Lecture L.O.12; A1.1; A1.2
Discussion L.O.16;
L.O.17; L.O.18
12 Religion Lecture L.O.13; A1.1
Discussion L.O.16;
L.O.17; L.O.18
13 The arts, sports, and Lecture L.O.14; A1.1
leisure Discussion L.O.16;
L.O.17; L.O.18
14 Group presentations Presentation L.O.1; L.O.2; A1.3
L.O.3; L.O.4;
L.O.5; L.O.6;
L.O.7; L.O.8;
L.O.9; L.O.10;
L.O.11;
L.O.12;
L.O.13;
L.O.14;
L.O.15;
L.O.16;
L.O.17; L.O.18
15 Group presentations Presentation L.O.1; L.O.2; A1.3
L.O.3; L.O.4;
L.O.5; L.O.6;
L.O.7; L.O.8;
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 L.O.9; L.O.10;
L.O.11;
L.O.12;
L.O.13;
L.O.14;
L.O.15;
L.O.16;
L.O.17; L.O.18
FINAL EXAMINATION (A3)

8. Course Coordinator/ Lecturer:

Lecturer: Đỗ Thị Diệu Ngọc, M.A.
Department: Department of English
Email address: [email protected]
Telephone number: 08.37244270, ext. 3234
Office hours: 8:00 – 16:00

Ho Chi Minh City, 29 April 2016

COURSE DESIGNER HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

Đỗ Thị Diệu Ngọc, M.A. Nguyễn Hồng Đức, M.A.