Major Issues in Contemporary Public Debates in the U.S. - JTM253

• Title: Major Issues in Contemporary Public Debates in the U.S.
• Czech title: Klíčové otázky současné americké veřejné politiky
• Guaranteed by: Department of North American Studies (23-KAS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:1/1, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 24 / unknown (24)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• Key competences: critical thinking
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Additional information: https://dl2.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=4704#section-0
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students
• Incompatibility : JMM337

Annotation

English

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (14.09.2023)

This course focuses on current issues and developments in the United States. It discusses wide range of political, economic, cultural, and social problems with particular focus on the current administration of 46th president Joe Biden.
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the most important discourses in the current U.S. Throughout the semester, we will analyze and debate various essential challenges the U.S. society is facing today. Multiple media sources will be used for the analyses, which should also provide students with advanced orientation in U.S. media landscape.
The course is taught in English and ends with a graded exam.

Czech

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (14.09.2023)

Kurz věnovaný aktuálnímu dění v USA se zabývá politickými, ekonomickými, kulturními a společenskými problémy. Zaměřuje se primárně na současnou administrativu prezidenta Joea Bidena, kulturní války, právní spory, polarizaci a dalšími tématy, které rezonují v americké společnosti. Kurz probíhá v angličtině (více viz anotace v AJ)

Aim of the course

English

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (14.09.2023)

Upon successful completion of this course the student will be

• familiar with the current political issues and debates in the U.S.
• able to identify the major conflicts and tensions
• able identify key personalities, facts and concepts in current political scene in the U.S.
• familiar with the political landscape after the 2020 presidential and 2022 midterm elections

Czech

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (14.09.2023)

Cílem předmětu je seznámit studenty se s aktuálními problémy americké společnosti a politiky a analyzovat je v souvislosti s širšími teoretickými debatami a koncepty. Více viz popis cíle předmětu v AJ.

Course completion requirements

Last update: Bc. Sára Lochmanová (05.10.2023)

Grading is based on the Dean's Measure no. 20/2019: https://fsv.cuni.cz/deans-measure-no-20/2019

• 91% and more   => A
• 81-90%             => B
• 71-80%             => C
• 61-70%             => D
• 51-60%             => E
• 0-50%               => F

More in SMĚRNICE S_SO_002: Organizace zkouškových termínů, kontrol studia a užívání klasifikace A–F na FSV UK.

Literature

English

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (29.08.2020)

Each week, the students are given reading assignment, usually from various media, including The Economist, The New York Review of Books, The New York Times and many others. The reading assignment will be distributed via email or via website.

Czech

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (14.09.2023)

Pro každý týden je připraven a rozeslán soubor aktuálních článků a analýz, periodika zahrnují např. The Economist, The New York Review of Books, The New York Times, a mnohé další.

Teaching methods

English

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (14.09.2023)

Since this class is partly a lecture and partly a seminar,  lecture will provide main guidance by means of two-way communication; all theories will be underpinned by practical examples and opened to in-class discussions by students. The participants are expected to read assigned  material, raise questions about the claims in the article, and discuss their findings in the class.

 

Czech

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (14.09.2023)

seminář s důrazem na aktivní vstup studentů do výuky. Vice viz anglický popis metod.

 

Requirements to the exam

English

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (29.09.2023)

1. Attendance and active participation, including thorough preparation for each class: 10 + 10 %.Students are required to read the assigned texts thorough enough to contribute during class discussion. The texts will be available online on the course website or sent via email during the weekend before the class. Should you have any problems getting access to the texts by Sunday morning, let me know by email.

Students are also expected to closely follow current events pertaining to US domestic and foreign policy. It is expected that the students will read at least one daily U.S. newspaper - e.g. the New York Times, the Washington Post, or the Los Angeles Times. Each class will start with a brief discussion of the latest developments in U.S. foreign and domestic politics.

 

2. Two policy memos: 30% (each 15 percent) - the concept of policy memos will be explained in the class and students will have one week to complete this assignment.

3. Final exam: 50%
The final exam will include identification of basic concepts, short answer questions related to assigned readings and to student presentations as well as a short argumentative essay.

 

EXAM:

Please notet that the final written exam will be administered via Moodle. Instructions will be sent via email and will be available in the individual terms for the exam. Signup for exam will take place traditionally via SIS where dates for the exam will be available. 

 

GRADING SCALE, based on Dean's Measure no. 17/2023 (SMĚRNICE S_SO_002): 

• 91 % and more      =>       A
• 81-90 %             =>          B
• 71-80 %             =>          C
• 61-70 %             =>          D
• 51-60 %             =>          E
• 0-50 %                =>         F

Czech

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (29.09.2023)

viz anglicka verze syllabu

 

1. Attendance and active participation, including thorough preparation for each class: 10 + 10 %.Students are required to read the assigned texts thorough enough to contribute during class discussion. The texts will be available online on the course website or sent via email during the weekend before the class. Should you have any problems getting access to the texts by Sunday morning, let me know by email.

Students are also expected to closely follow current events pertaining to US domestic and foreign policy. It is expected that the students will read at least one daily U.S. newspaper - e.g. the New York Times, the Washington Post, or the Los Angeles Times. Each class will start with a brief discussion of the latest developments in U.S. foreign and domestic politics.

 

2. Two policy memos: 30% (each 15 percent) - the concept of policy memos will be explained in the class and students will have one week to complete this assignment.

3. Final exam: 50%
The final exam will include identification of basic concepts, short answer questions related to assigned readings and to student presentations as well as a short argumentative essay.

 

EXAM:

Please notet that the final written exam will be administered via Moodle, but will be carried out in person. Instructions will be sent via email and will be available in the individual terms for the exam. Signup for exam will take place traditionally via SIS where dates for the exam will be available. 

 

GRADING SCALE, based on Dean's Measure no. 17/2023 (SMĚRNICE S_SO_002): 

 

• 91 % and more      =>       A
• 81-90 %             =>          B
• 71-80 %             =>          C
• 61-70 %             =>          D
• 51-60 %             =>          E
• 0-50 %                =>         F

Syllabus

English

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (14.09.2023)

Course Outline (Tentative – subject to change):

 

1. Orientation/Introduction

 

2. Media Landscape

 

3. Foreign Policy

 

4. Minorities in the United States

 

5. Class in the United States

 

6.  Racial Relations: BlackLivesMatter, Police Violence, Incarceration, War Against Drugs

 

7. Polarization

 

8. Gun Rights: Major legislation, 2nd rights amendment debates, lobbying.

 

9. HealthCare/ ObamaCare

Meaning of the Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act

 

10. Policy of Homeland Security

Defending the U.S. from the inside, U.S. and terrorism, domestic terrorism, terrorism v. hate crimes.

 

11. Role of Religion, religious nationalism

 

+ other topics of interest

Czech

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (14.09.2023)

see English version of the syllabus

Entry requirements

English

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (14.09.2023)

English, basic understanding of U.S. political system

Czech

Last update: Mgr. Jana Sehnálková, Ph.D. (14.09.2023)

angličtina, základní znalosti o americkém politickém systému.