54 Trang 4 MODULE CONTENTS UNIT 1: AN OVERVIEW OF THE UNITED STATES This unit equips the learner with an overview of the United States on the six different aspects: geography, people,
B GIÁO D I H C CÔNG NGH O TP.HCM AMERICAN CULTURE AND SOCIETY Compiled by: www.hutech.edu.vn AMERICAN CULTURE AND SOCIETY Edition 2014 CONTENTS I CONTENTS CONTENTS I INSTRUCTIONS III UNIT 1: AN OVERVIEW OF THE UNITED STATES 1.1 PROFILE 1.2 INTRODUCTION 1.3 E PLURIBUS UNUM: THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE 1.4 UNITED STATES GEOGRAPHY 1.5 UNITED STATES PEOPLE 1.6 UNITED STATES CULTURE 1.7 UNITED STATES ECONOMY 10 1.8 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 11 1.9 UNITED STATES HISTORY 12 SUMMARY 14 QUESTIONS FOR REVISION 15 UNIT 2: THE CULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES 16 2.1 INTRODUCTION 16 2.2 FORCES THAT SHAPED AMERICAN CULTURE 18 2.2.1 Imported Traditions 18 2.2.2 The Emergence of an American Voice 19 2.2.3 Immigration and Diversity 20 2.2.4 Development of Mass Media 21 2.2.5 The Impact of Consumerism 22 2.3 WAYS OF LIFE 23 2.3.1 Living Patterns 23 2.3.2 Food and Cuisine 26 2.3.3 Dress 30 2.3.4 Sports and Recreation 32 2.3.5 Celebrations and Holidays 36 2.4 EDUCATION 39 2.4.1 Role of Education 39 2.4.2 History of Education in America 40 2.4.3 Funding 41 2.4.4 Concerns in Elementary Education 43 2.4.5 Concerns in Higher Education 44 2.5 ARTS AND LETTERS 47 2.5.1 Visual Arts 49 2.5.2 Literature 54 2.5.3 Performing Arts 59 IV INSTRUCTIONS MODULE CONTENTS UNIT 1: AN OVERVIEW OF THE UNITED STATES This unit equips the learner with an overview of the United States on the six different aspects: geography, people, culture, economy, government, and history They affected how people who came to the United States formed new societies People formed communities and built a society The next three elements are major parts of that society - its culture, economy, and government History tells the story of how people created a society It details how people adapted to geographical settings, how they constructed and changed their economy and government, and how their culture changed along the way UNIT 2: THE CULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES This unit gives insights into the culture of the United States The American culture is rich, complex, and unique It emerged from the short and rapid European conquest of an enormous landmass sparsely settled by diverse indigenous peoples Although European cultural patterns predominated, especially in language, the arts, and political institutions, peoples from Africa, Asia, and North America also contributed to American culture All of these groups influenced popular tastes in music, dress, entertainment, and cuisine As a result, American culture possesses an unusual mixture of patterns and forms forged from among its diverse peoples The many melodies of American culture have not always been harmonious, but its complexity has created a society that struggles to achieve tolerance and produces a uniquely casual personal style that identifies Americans everywhere The country is strongly committed to democracy, in which views of the majority prevail, and strives for equality in law and institutions UNIT 3: AMERICAN TRADITIONS This unit gives insights into the customs and traditions of the American people The Americans have many Customs and Traditions rooted in the cultures of their forefathers who were either Native Americans or who settled this great land after journeying long distances from other nations in search of "The American Dream" INSTRUCTIONS III INSTRUCTIONS A PROFILE OF THE MODULE The module of American Culture and Society gives an introduction to the country and people of the United States in the overall setting with its typical and particular features about: - the geographical location and climate - its history and process of forming the country and the people - the important events in its history - its political system - its religions and festivals - the economical and social features - the impacts of the world economy on the society of the United States and how the United States has laid its impacts of its economy and culture on the world - its educational system - the training models of different levels of education Through this introduction, the learners have a comprehensive view of the country and the people of the United States as well as the impacts of its culture in the global world IV INSTRUCTIONS MODULE CONTENTS UNIT 1: AN OVERVIEW OF THE UNITED STATES This unit equips the learner with an overview of the United States on the six different aspects: geography, people, culture, economy, government, and history They affected how people who came to the United States formed new societies People formed communities and built a society The next three elements are major parts of that society - its culture, economy, and government History tells the story of how people created a society It details how people adapted to geographical settings, how they constructed and changed their economy and government, and how their culture changed along the way UNIT 2: THE CULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES This unit gives insights into the culture of the United States The American culture is rich, complex, and unique It emerged from the short and rapid European conquest of an enormous landmass sparsely settled by diverse indigenous peoples Although European cultural patterns predominated, especially in language, the arts, and political institutions, peoples from Africa, Asia, and North America also contributed to American culture All of these groups influenced popular tastes in music, dress, entertainment, and cuisine As a result, American culture possesses an unusual mixture of patterns and forms forged from among its diverse peoples The many melodies of American culture have not always been harmonious, but its complexity has created a society that struggles to achieve tolerance and produces a uniquely casual personal style that identifies Americans everywhere The country is strongly committed to democracy, in which views of the majority prevail, and strives for equality in law and institutions UNIT 3: AMERICAN TRADITIONS This unit gives insights into the customs and traditions of the American people The Americans have many Customs and Traditions rooted in the cultures of their forefathers who were either Native Americans or who settled this great land after journeying long distances from other nations in search of "The American Dream" INSTRUCTIONS V Very often the display of an object or symbol that is meaningful to a family or to society can become a Custom, Tradition or Ritual Family Values are reflected in the Customs and Traditions practiced UNIT 4: CULTURAL ETIQUETTE This unit gives insights into the differences between the British and American cultural etiquette Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group The French word étiquette, literally signifying a tag or label, was used in a modern sense in English around 1750 From the 1500s through the early 1900s, children learned etiquette at school Etiquette has changed and evolved over the years Etiquette is dependent on culture; what is excellent etiquette in one society may shock another Etiquette can vary widely between different cultures and nations This unit deals with the following matters relating to cultural etiquette in the United Kingdom and the United States: the people, meeting and greeting, body language, corporate culture, dining and entertainment, dress, gifts There are also helpful hints for foreigners to cope with problems relating to cultural etiquette in these two countries PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE The module of American Culture and Society requires the prerequisite knowledge of the module of British Culture and Society REQUIREMENT FOR THE MODULE The student has to have full attendance of the sessions and fulfil all the assignments at home HOW TO ABSORB THE CONTENT OF THE MODULE In order to study well this module, the related student has to review every old lesson, answer all the assigned exercises Besides, before coming to class, the UNIT 1: AN OVERVIEW OF THE UNITED STATES per sq mi: 85 Capital (2010 est.): Washington, DC, 601,723 Largest cities (2010 est.): New York, 8,175,133; Los Angeles, 3,792,621; Chicago, 2,695,598; Houston, 2,099,451; Philadelphia, 1,526,006; Phoenix, 1,445,632; San Antonio, 1,327,407; San Diego, 1,307,402; Dallas, 1,197,816; San Jose, 945,942 Monetary unit: dollar Languages: English 82%, Spanish 11% (2000) Ethnicity/race (2010 Census): White: 223,553,265 (72.4%); Black: 38,929,319 (12.6%); Asian: 14,674,252 (4.8%); American Indian and Alaska Native: 2,369,431 (0.8%); Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 1,225,195 (0.4%); Hispanic origin:1 50,477,594 (16.3%) Religions: Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, Jewish 1.7%, Muslim 0.6%, none 4% (2007) Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.) Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2011 est.): $15.29 trillion; per capita $49,000 Real growth rate: 1.7% Inflation: 3.1% Unemployment: 9% Arable UNIT 1: AN OVERVIEW OF THE UNITED STATES land: 18% Agriculture: wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products Labor force: 153.6 million (includes unemployed); farming, forestry, and fishing 0.6%, manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts 22.6%, managerial, professional, and technical 35.5%, sales and office 24.8%, other services 16.5%; note: figures exclude the unemployed (2007) Industries: leading technologically industrial advanced; telecommunications, power in petroleum, chemicals, the steel, electronics, world, motor highly diversified vehicles, food processing, and aerospace, consumer goods, lumber, mining Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber Exports: $1.497 trillion (2011 est.): agricultural products 9.2% (soybeans, fruit, corn), industrial (transistors, supplies aircraft, 26.8% motor (organic vehicle chemicals), parts, capital computers, goods 49.0% telecommunications equipment), consumer goods 15.0% (automobiles, medicines) (2011) Imports: $2.236 trillion (2011 est.): agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil 8.2%), capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery), consumer goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys) (2011) Major trading partners: Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, Germany (2011) Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 151 million (2009); mobile cellular: 279 million (2009) Radio broadcast stations: AM about 5,000, FM about 10,000, shortwave 18 (2008) Radios: 575 million (2008) Television broadcast stations: more than 1,500 (including nearly 1,000 stations affiliated with the five major networks NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems) (2008) Televisions: 498 million (2008) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 498 million (2011 est.) Internet users: 245 million (2009) Transportation: Railways: total: 224,792 km mainline routes (2007) Highways: total: 6,506,204 km; paved: 4,374,784 km (including 89,426 km of expressways); unpaved: 2,131,420 km (2008) Waterways: 41,009 km of navigable UNIT 1: AN OVERVIEW OF THE UNITED STATES per sq mi: 85 Capital (2010 est.): Washington, DC, 601,723 Largest cities (2010 est.): New York, 8,175,133; Los Angeles, 3,792,621; Chicago, 2,695,598; Houston, 2,099,451; Philadelphia, 1,526,006; Phoenix, 1,445,632; San Antonio, 1,327,407; San Diego, 1,307,402; Dallas, 1,197,816; San Jose, 945,942 Monetary unit: dollar Languages: English 82%, Spanish 11% (2000) Ethnicity/race (2010 Census): White: 223,553,265 (72.4%); Black: 38,929,319 (12.6%); Asian: 14,674,252 (4.8%); American Indian and Alaska Native: 2,369,431 (0.8%); Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 1,225,195 (0.4%); Hispanic origin:1 50,477,594 (16.3%) Religions: Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, Jewish 1.7%, Muslim 0.6%, none 4% (2007) Literacy rate: 99% (2003 est.) Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2011 est.): $15.29 trillion; per capita $49,000 Real growth rate: 1.7% Inflation: 3.1% Unemployment: 9% Arable