Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Mgr. Francis Raška, Ph.D. (22.02.2012)
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
The 1980s and 1990s were interesting decades in the cultural and political history of the United States as well as the rest of the world and, therefore, deserve to be studied. This course aims to help students arrive at informed opinions concerning both decades. They should do their best to analyze the period not only from the perspective of the United States, but also the impact of American policies and ideas on the rest of the world. Attendance and active class participation are mandatory. As this is a B.A. course, the required readings, which are on reserve at the Library in Jinonice, are shorter than those for M.A. courses. Students will be expected to read the assigned materials in order to be in a position to contribute to class discussions.
Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Mgr. Francis Raška, Ph.D. (22.02.2012)
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
The 1980s and 1990s were interesting decades in the cultural and political history of the United States as well as the rest of the world and, therefore, deserve to be studied. This course aims to help students arrive at informed opinions concerning both decades. They should do their best to analyze the period not only from the perspective of the United States, but also the impact of American policies and ideas on the rest of the world. Attendance and active class participation are mandatory. As this is a B.A. course, the required readings, which are on reserve at the Library in Jinonice, are shorter than those for M.A. courses. Students will be expected to read the assigned materials in order to be in a position to contribute to class discussions.
Literatura -
Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Mgr. Francis Raška, Ph.D. (22.02.2012)
TEXTS
Agnew, Jean-Christophe and Rosenzweig, Roy (eds.), A Companion to Post-1945 America, Oxford, 2006.
Levine, Paul and Papasotiriou, Harry, America since 1945: The American Moment, New York, 2005.
Moss, George Donelson, Moving On, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 2001.
Schaller, Michael, Right Turn: American Life in the Reagan-Bush Era, 1980-1992, New York, 2007.
Slaughter, Anne-Marie, The Idea that is America: Keeping Faith with Our Values in a Dangerous World, New York, 2007.
Tancredo, Tom, In Mortal Danger: The Battle for America’s Border and Security, Nashville, 2006.
Troy, Gil and Cannato, Vincent J., Living in the Eighties, Oxford, 2009.
Woods, Randall Bennett, Quest for Identity: America since 1945, Cambridge, U.K., 2005.
Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Mgr. Francis Raška, Ph.D. (22.02.2012)
TEXTS
Agnew, Jean-Christophe and Rosenzweig, Roy (eds.), A Companion to Post-1945 America, Oxford, 2006.
Levine, Paul and Papasotiriou, Harry, America since 1945: The American Moment, New York, 2005.
Moss, George Donelson, Moving On, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 2001.
Schaller, Michael, Right Turn: American Life in the Reagan-Bush Era, 1980-1992, New York, 2007.
Slaughter, Anne-Marie, The Idea that is America: Keeping Faith with Our Values in a Dangerous World, New York, 2007.
Tancredo, Tom, In Mortal Danger: The Battle for America’s Border and Security, Nashville, 2006.
Troy, Gil and Cannato, Vincent J., Living in the Eighties, Oxford, 2009.
Woods, Randall Bennett, Quest for Identity: America since 1945, Cambridge, U.K., 2005.
Sylabus -
Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Mgr. Francis Raška, Ph.D. (22.02.2012)
The United States in the 1980s and 1990s: Cultural and Political Aspects
Course number: MB179
Instructor: Doc. PhDr. Francis D. Raška, PhD.
Tel: 732 309561
E-mail: drfrancisraska@yahoo.com
Office hours: Tuesdays from 3 PM until 4:30 PM in Office 3079
Wednesdays from 3 PM until 4:30 PM in Office 3079
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
The 1980s and 1990s were interesting decades in the cultural and political history of the United States as well as the rest of the world and, therefore, deserve to be studied. This course aims to help students arrive at informed opinions concerning both decades. They should do their best to analyze the period not only from the perspective of the United States, but also the impact of American policies and ideas on the rest of the world. Attendance and active class participation are mandatory. As this is a B.A. course, the required readings, which are on reserve at the Library in Jinonice, are shorter than those for M.A. courses. Students will be expected to read the assigned materials in order to be in a position to contribute to class discussions.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES
Each student will receive a final mark at the end of the semester based upon the following criteria:
Class participation 30%
Term paper 50%
Oral exam 20%
Again, attendance and participation in class discussions are required and each student will be expected to write a paper containing 8 to 10 double-spaced pages. I will need to approve paper topics beforehand and I will expect students to let me know ahead of time by phone, SMS, or e-mail that they are unable to attend a particular class session. Unfortunately, I have not been happy with the number of unexcused absences by some students in the past as well as the repeated failure by some to read the assigned materials. I will be stricter in this course as well as my other courses from now on. During the first weeks of the course, we will agree as a group on the date by which paper topics are to be submitted. Also, students will be expected to send me individual progress reports indicating how well they are progressing in their work. If I am not satisfied that students are working on their papers, I may ask those in question to stop attending the course. The papers themselves will be due at the end of the semester. The actual submission date for the papers will be set following a discussion by the group on the matter. Unfortunately, circumstances no longer permit me to be as lenient as I was in the past with regard to papers submitted after the deadline. Papers submitted after the due date will be accepted only in the case of a documented medical emergency. In addition, I reserve the right not to accept papers from students who fail to attend class sessions and/or do not participate in class discussions. This translates into "No work, no credit." Past experience has taught me that, largely on account of other university requirements and responsibilities, students need help with time management and guidance in their work. To this end, I have decided upon several courses of action. First, I will insist that students let me know how they are getting on with their work throughout the course of the semester. I strongly recommend that students form study groups of 2 to 4 people in order to keep up with the readings. Second, some time will be spent during the first session(s) discussing how to write papers. Third, all students can expect to be examined orally on the topic of their essay at the end of the term. Questions asked during individual examination periods may involve the given topic as well as the research methods employed. Finally, I would like to stress that, in order for the course to be a success, we need to work together as a group of dedicated, mature scholars whose members communicate constructively with one another. Let us embark on what promises to be an exciting intellectual journey. Good luck!
TEXTS
Agnew, Jean-Christophe and Rosenzweig, Roy (eds.), A Companion to Post-1945 America, Oxford, 2006.
Levine, Paul and Papasotiriou, Harry, America since 1945: The American Moment, New York, 2005.
Moss, George Donelson, Moving On, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 2001.
Schaller, Michael, Right Turn: American Life in the Reagan-Bush Era, 1980-1992, New York, 2007.
Slaughter, Anne-Marie, The Idea that is America: Keeping Faith with Our Values in a Dangerous World, New York, 2007.
Tancredo, Tom, In Mortal Danger: The Battle for America’s Border and Security, Nashville, 2006.
Troy, Gil and Cannato, Vincent J., Living in the Eighties, Oxford, 2009.
Woods, Randall Bennett, Quest for Identity: America since 1945, Cambridge, U.K., 2005.
COURSE TOPICS AND ASSIGNED READINGS
Ronald Reagan’s Electoral Triumph and the Overall Change in Direction
Readings:
1. Schaller, Michael, Right Turn: American Life in the Reagan-Bush Era, pp. 27-48.
2. Troy, Gil and Cannato, Vincent J., Living in the Eighties, pp. 1-36.
3. Woods, Randall Bennett, Quest for Identity: America since 1945, pp. 438-456.
A Transformed Nation and World
Readings:
4. Moss, George Donelson, Moving On, pp. 363-389.
5. Agnew, Jean-Christophe and Rosenzweig, Roy (eds.), A Companion to Post-1945 America, pp. 479-500.
6. Troy, Gil and Cannato, Vincent J., Living in the Eighties, pp.37-68.
The 1990s: A Time of Change and Redefinition
Readings:
7. Woods, Randall Bennett, Quest for Identity: America since 1945, pp. 481-536.
8. Moss, George Donelson, Moving On, pp. 390-406.
9. Levine, Paul and Papasotiriou, Harry, America since 1945: The American Moment, pp. 200-234.
The New Millennium: Challenges and Dangers
Readings:
10. Tancredo, Tom, In Mortal Danger: The Battle for America’s Border and Security, pp. 191-209.
11. Slaughter, Anne-Marie, The Idea that is America: Keeping Faith with Our Values in a Dangerous World, p. 215-233.
Poslední úprava: doc. PhDr. Mgr. Francis Raška, Ph.D. (22.02.2012)
The United States in the 1980s and 1990s: Cultural and Political Aspects
Course number: MB179
Instructor: Doc. PhDr. Francis D. Raška, PhD.
Tel: 732 309561
E-mail: drfrancisraska@yahoo.com
Office hours: Tuesdays from 3 PM until 4:30 PM in Office 3079
Wednesdays from 3 PM until 4:30 PM in Office 3079
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
The 1980s and 1990s were interesting decades in the cultural and political history of the United States as well as the rest of the world and, therefore, deserve to be studied. This course aims to help students arrive at informed opinions concerning both decades. They should do their best to analyze the period not only from the perspective of the United States, but also the impact of American policies and ideas on the rest of the world. Attendance and active class participation are mandatory. As this is a B.A. course, the required readings, which are on reserve at the Library in Jinonice, are shorter than those for M.A. courses. Students will be expected to read the assigned materials in order to be in a position to contribute to class discussions.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES
Each student will receive a final mark at the end of the semester based upon the following criteria:
Class participation 30%
Term paper 50%
Oral exam 20%
Again, attendance and participation in class discussions are required and each student will be expected to write a paper containing 8 to 10 double-spaced pages. I will need to approve paper topics beforehand and I will expect students to let me know ahead of time by phone, SMS, or e-mail that they are unable to attend a particular class session. Unfortunately, I have not been happy with the number of unexcused absences by some students in the past as well as the repeated failure by some to read the assigned materials. I will be stricter in this course as well as my other courses from now on. During the first weeks of the course, we will agree as a group on the date by which paper topics are to be submitted. Also, students will be expected to send me individual progress reports indicating how well they are progressing in their work. If I am not satisfied that students are working on their papers, I may ask those in question to stop attending the course. The papers themselves will be due at the end of the semester. The actual submission date for the papers will be set following a discussion by the group on the matter. Unfortunately, circumstances no longer permit me to be as lenient as I was in the past with regard to papers submitted after the deadline. Papers submitted after the due date will be accepted only in the case of a documented medical emergency. In addition, I reserve the right not to accept papers from students who fail to attend class sessions and/or do not participate in class discussions. This translates into "No work, no credit." Past experience has taught me that, largely on account of other university requirements and responsibilities, students need help with time management and guidance in their work. To this end, I have decided upon several courses of action. First, I will insist that students let me know how they are getting on with their work throughout the course of the semester. I strongly recommend that students form study groups of 2 to 4 people in order to keep up with the readings. Second, some time will be spent during the first session(s) discussing how to write papers. Third, all students can expect to be examined orally on the topic of their essay at the end of the term. Questions asked during individual examination periods may involve the given topic as well as the research methods employed. Finally, I would like to stress that, in order for the course to be a success, we need to work together as a group of dedicated, mature scholars whose members communicate constructively with one another. Let us embark on what promises to be an exciting intellectual journey. Good luck!
TEXTS
Agnew, Jean-Christophe and Rosenzweig, Roy (eds.), A Companion to Post-1945 America, Oxford, 2006.
Levine, Paul and Papasotiriou, Harry, America since 1945: The American Moment, New York, 2005.
Moss, George Donelson, Moving On, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 2001.
Schaller, Michael, Right Turn: American Life in the Reagan-Bush Era, 1980-1992, New York, 2007.
Slaughter, Anne-Marie, The Idea that is America: Keeping Faith with Our Values in a Dangerous World, New York, 2007.
Tancredo, Tom, In Mortal Danger: The Battle for America’s Border and Security, Nashville, 2006.
Troy, Gil and Cannato, Vincent J., Living in the Eighties, Oxford, 2009.
Woods, Randall Bennett, Quest for Identity: America since 1945, Cambridge, U.K., 2005.
COURSE TOPICS AND ASSIGNED READINGS
Ronald Reagan’s Electoral Triumph and the Overall Change in Direction
Readings:
1. Schaller, Michael, Right Turn: American Life in the Reagan-Bush Era, pp. 27-48.
2. Troy, Gil and Cannato, Vincent J., Living in the Eighties, pp. 1-36.
3. Woods, Randall Bennett, Quest for Identity: America since 1945, pp. 438-456.
A Transformed Nation and World
Readings:
4. Moss, George Donelson, Moving On, pp. 363-389.
5. Agnew, Jean-Christophe and Rosenzweig, Roy (eds.), A Companion to Post-1945 America, pp. 479-500.
6. Troy, Gil and Cannato, Vincent J., Living in the Eighties, pp.37-68.
The 1990s: A Time of Change and Redefinition
Readings:
7. Woods, Randall Bennett, Quest for Identity: America since 1945, pp. 481-536.
8. Moss, George Donelson, Moving On, pp. 390-406.
9. Levine, Paul and Papasotiriou, Harry, America since 1945: The American Moment, pp. 200-234.
The New Millennium: Challenges and Dangers
Readings:
10. Tancredo, Tom, In Mortal Danger: The Battle for America’s Border and Security, pp. 191-209.
11. Slaughter, Anne-Marie, The Idea that is America: Keeping Faith with Our Values in a Dangerous World, p. 215-233.
