Course+information

= Course description AMERICAN STUDIES =

Global warming, rapidly growing populations, and the astonishing expansion of the world’s middle class through globalization have produced a planet that is “hot, flat and crowded”, in the words of Thomas Friedman. As a/the global superpower, America is often called upon to be a leader in solving global problems but as all nations, America has its own domestic challenges.

These challenges/problems presently include: Preventing World War III, Overpopulation, Distribution of Wealth, Terrorism, Energy, Health Care, Globalization/Protectionism, Nuclear Proliferation, Immigration, Environment, Inter-Group Social/Racial Tensions, Decline of the Nuclear Family, Micro-electronics Revolution, Changing World of Work, Crime and Violence, Scientific-Religious Ethical Dilemmas, Changing Values/Morality and Global Environmental Challenges, especially Climate Change.

The fundamental purpose of this two-semester course is to help students become aware, literate, thoughtful, and ultimately involved as active global citizens. To that end, American Studies is an inter-disciplinary experience that fosters inquiry and reflection on the complexity of the American Experience.

Current issues/problems/challenges facing America and the world cross the spectrum from personal and family issues to those of a domestic and international nature including global dilemmas. Current issues will be connected to their historical and cultural context so that students will recognize how critical concepts (“enduring themes”) continue to evolve.
 * Students will acquire a foundation upon which to develop and expand their ideas leading to reasoned collective thought and judgment which remains the bedrock cornerstone of our democratic institutions and values.
 * Sevastopol’s students will develop and apply their critical thinking, writing, technological, and analytical/interpretive abilities (21st century skills) to understand their role and America’s role within an increasingly complex ever- changing society and international environment.
 * Finally, students will learn how to problem-solve through research techniques using social science enquiry methods and develop and implement an Action Plan for one critical problem of their choosing in each semester using the Project Citizen Model.

Evaluations will include: class participation, notes and research (including participation in a class Wiki) plus individual/group/class contributions, traditional quizzes and tests, papers/projects, debates and Project Citizen research and presentations. . = KEY TOPICS FOR RESEARCH:- = =** KEY CURRENT ISSUES (via textbook):- **= 1. The Federal Government: Structure & Principles 2. The Federal Budget & National Spending Priorities 3. The U.S. Economy: Recession & Government Response 4. Health Care 5. Education 6. Energy & Environment 7. Immigration 8. Work & Economic Security 9. Individual Rights 10. U.S. Foreign Policy 11. National Defense 12. The Middle East 13. Iraq, Afghanistan & Pakistan 14. Israel & Palestine 15. Russia & Europe 16. China, North Korea & Japan 17. Latin America 18. Africa 19. Weapons Proliferation 20. Photo Journalism
 * Preventing World War III,
 * Overpopulation,
 * Distribution of Wealth,
 * Terrorism,
 * Energy,
 * Health Care,
 * Globalization/Protectionism,
 * Nuclear Proliferation,
 * Immigration,
 * Environment,
 * Inter-Group Social/Racial Tensions,
 * Decline of the Nuclear Family,
 * Micro-electronics Revolution,
 * Changing World of Work,
 * Crime and Violence,
 * Scientific-Religious Ethical Dilemmas,
 * Changing Values/Morality
 * Global Environmental Challenges, (especially Climate Change)

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