| Course title | The American West |
|---|---|
| Course code | KAA/WEST |
| Organizational form of instruction | Seminar |
| Level of course | Bachelor |
| Year of study | 2 |
| Semester | Winter and summer |
| Number of ECTS credits | 4 |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Status of course | Compulsory-optional |
| Form of instruction | Face-to-face |
| Work placements | This is not an internship |
| Recommended optional programme components | None |
| Course availability | The course is available to visiting students |
| Lecturer(s) |
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| Course content |
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I. The Frontier and American Character 1. Frederick J. Turner: The Significance of the Frontier in American History (1893) AR 80- 85. Richard Slotkin: National Mythology: A Summary View?, Regeneration Through Violence (1973) 14-24. (see Files) 2. John Filson: The Adventures of Colonel Daniel Boone. 1784. Project Gutenberg. May 1997. ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext#909/1boon10.txt 3. Washington Irving: Rip Van Winkle(HAL) Leslie Fiedler: Love and Death in the American Novel (1960), pp.332-335. See files. 4. J. F. Cooper: The Deerslayer (1841) selected chapters II. The Image of the Indian 5. Philip Freneau: The Indian Burying Ground, "On the Emigration to America" (HAL) Washington Irving: The Traits of the Indian Character, Frontier Scenes, Osage Village, A Tour on the Prairies (AR 48-54) 6. Francis Parkman: The Oregon Trail (selected chapters) - see files. III. The West and Utopia 7. Elizabeth Palmer Peabody: Plan of the West Roxbury Community (1842) - AR 212-216. Willa Cather: Neighbour Rosicky (Norton 2, 1985, 2nd ed.) IV. The Wild West 8. Dime Novels 9. Jack London: The Call of the Wild V. Film Western VI. On the Wild Side of Life 10. H. D. Thoreau: Walking (see files)
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| Learning activities and teaching methods |
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook), Projection (static, dynamic), Activating (Simulations, Games, Dramatization)
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| Learning outcomes |
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This course will explore the fabulous American West - the idea of the West in American social and political thinking, and in American literature and culture. The texts discussed in the class include essays, tales, novels of both classic and popular literature.
Understanding of the role of the West as the geo-cultural agent in the process of the formation of American identity and American literature. Understanding the process of mythologization of the West in the American imagination in a historical perspective. Understanding the contribution of American literature to this process. More extensive knowledge of the diversity of American culture. Enhancing critical thinking and developing skills of spoken and written scholarly discussion. |
| Prerequisites |
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none
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| Assessment methods and criteria |
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Mark, Written exam, Essay
- attendance and participation in the class work (maximum 2 absences) - a 10-minute presentation or a 4-page paper - an impression/opinion on a selected text (1-2 pages) - a test |
| Recommended literature |
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| Study plans that include the course |
| Faculty | Study plan (Version) | Category of Branch/Specialization | Recommended semester | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): English Philology (2019) | Category: Philological sciences | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): English Philology (2024) | Category: Philological sciences | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): English Philology (2019) | Category: Philological sciences | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): English Philology (2019) | Category: Philological sciences | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): English Philology (2025) | Category: Philological sciences | 2 | Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): English Philology (2024) | Category: Philological sciences | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): English Philology (2025) | Category: Philological sciences | 2 | Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): English Philology (2020) | Category: Philological sciences | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): English Philology (2024) | Category: Philological sciences | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): English Philology (2025) | Category: Philological sciences | 2 | Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: - |