University of Languages and International Studies, VNU Hanoi

FACULTY OF LINGUISTICS AND CULTURES OF ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES

Division of International Studies

INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH & AMERICAN STUDIES

GUIDELINES FOR REVIEWING THE COURSE

REVIEW QUESTIONS

PART 1
Instead of providing ready-made short questions to appear in the real exam, this review
guidelines only offer suggestions that will be used to develop the questions in Part 1. Some of the
suggestions might seem to be about trivialities; however, from the course designers’ perspective,
these details are among those defining the events, periods, or processes that one should know.
See the sample test to have a sense of the kinds of questions you will encounter in the real exam.
Organizing Concepts
● What is a nation state?
A nation state is variously called a country, a nation or a state. Technically it is a specific
form of sovereign state (a political entity on a territory) that is guided by a Nation (a
cultural entity), and which derives its legitimacy from successfully serving all its citizens.
The nation states implies that a state and a nation coincide

Distinguish the nation state from other forms of social organization such as non-
sovereign state, tribe, empire, city-state, theocracy, etc.
- The nation-state—an independent state with a written constitution, ruled in the
name of a nation of equal citizens
- In dynastic states, a prince was entitled to assume the mantle of power upon the
death of his father (as in the multiethnic Habsburg and Ethiopian empires)
- In theocracies, religious leaders guided their flocks in worldly matters (e.g., in
Tibet and Montenegro)
- Kings, theocrats, and imperial elites attempted to extend their states’ boundaries
irrespective of the ethnic backgrounds of those who came under their rule.
● What is a nation? What is national identity?
● What is identity politics?
 ● Identify and elaborate on at least two different meanings of culture.
● According to Foucault, what is power? Give examples of sovereign power, disciplinary
power, pastoral power, and bio-power.
History of the UK & the US
General understanding
● What is historiography?
Is the study of how historians develop history, and by extension is any body of historical
work on a particular subject.
● Why is it possible to say that the most popular version of the history of the US is
Eurocentric?
Formation of the UK
● What did the Treaty of Union in 1707 do?
Joined the Scottish and the English Parliaments => Kingdom of Great Britain
● What did the Acts of Union 1800 do?
Merged the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland
American Revolution
● What was the American Revolution about?

The American Revolution was an epic political and military struggle waged between
1765 and 1783 when 13 of Britain’s North American colonies rejected its imperial rule.
The protest began in opposition to taxes levied without colonial representation by the
British monarchy and Parliament. As the political disagreements grew, they triggered a
perpetual cycle of defiant acts and punitive laws that led to open rebellion. With the
assistance of France, the American colonies were able to defeat the British, achieve
independence and form the United States of America.

Treaty of Paris 1783 - recognize American independence.

● The Boston Tea Party (1773) was a significant event in the growth of the American
Revolution and later became an iconic event of American history. What prompted the
event? How did it happen?
Để phản đối thuế về trà, một nhóm người thuộc địa Massachusetts cải trang thành người
da đỏ Mohawk đã đột nhập lên ba chiếc tàu Anh và đổ 342 thùng chè xuống cảng Boston
=> Anh đàn áp
=> Các nhà lãnh đạo thuộc địa triệu tập Đại hội Lục địa phản đối anh
=> Chiến tranh nổ ra
 => 4/7/1776, Đại hội Lục địa thông qua tuyên bố lục địa…
● During what years was the American Revolutionary War fought? 1775-1783
● What are some of the major contents of the Declaration of Independence?
a general statement of natural rights theory and the purpose of government; a list of
grievances against the British King; and the declaration of independence from England.
● Who was its main author? Thomas Jefferson's
● In what year was it adopted? - 1776
● What did the Peace of Paris in 1783 do? recognize American independence.

The Victorian Era

● When did the Victorian era start and end? (1837- 1901)
● Name three key features of the era
Britain becomes the most powerful and the richest
Witnessed the progress of science by leaps and bounds.
Culture, as well as architecture, flourished during this period
American Civil War
● Name the major debate that motivated the American Civil War.
In 1860, 11 states left the Union and declared to be independent nation, the
Confederate Sates of American
● During what years was the Civil War fought? ( 1861 - 1865 )
● What were the two opposing forces in the American Civil War?
The Union ( 25 tiểu bang còn lại ủng hộ chính phủ Liên bang miền Bắc (Union) ) and the
Confederate States Of America ( 11 tiểu bang theo chế độ nô lệ ở miền Nam Hoa Kỳ đã
tuyên bố ly khai khỏi Hợp chủng quốc Hoa Kỳ và lập ra Liên minh miền Nam
(Confederate States) )
● What was the name of the secessionist faction of the Civil War? the Confederate States
● Who was the President of the US at that time? Abraham Lincoln
● The Civil War resolved two matters that vexed Americans since 1776. What are they?
Put an end to slavery
Wasn’t a collection of semi-independent states but an indivisible whole
World War I
World War I (WWI or WW1), also known as the First World War, the Great War, or the
War to End All Wars, was a global war originating in Europe. It was one of the deadliest
conflicts in history, and paved the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many
of the nations involved. Unresolved rivalries still extant at the end of the conflict contributed to
the start of World War II only twenty-one years later.
 ● During what years was the war fought? 1914-1918
● How did the UK enter World War I?
Victoria's numerous children married into many different European Royal
families, The alliances between these related monarchs escalated into the Great War WW
I from 1914-1918. It began when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was
assassinated in Sarajevo, and Austria declared war on Serbia, which in turn was allied to
France, Russia and the UK
● How did the US enter World War I?
When World War I erupted in Europe in 1914, President WoodrowWilson urged a
policy of strict American neutrality. Germany's declaration of unrestricted
submarine warfare against all ships bound for Allied ports undermined that
position. When Congress declared on Germany in 1917, the American army was a force
of only 200,000 soldiers.
● Who was the US president during the war? President Woodrow Wilson
● Did the US join the League of Nations? No
American First Red Scare
● What prompted the 1919–1920 Red Scare in the US?
The majority of Americans did not mourn the defeated treaty. They turned in and the
United States withdrew from European affairs. At the same time, Americans w becoming
hostile to foreigners in their midst. In 1919 a series of terrorist bombi produced the "Red
Scare."
First-wave Feminism
First-wave feminism was a period of feminist activity and thought, that occurred within
the time period of the 19th and early 20th century throughout the world. It focused on legal
issues, primarily on gaining women's suffrage (the right to vote).
● When did women in the UK and the US first have the right to vote?
UK: 1928
US: 1920
Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties was a period of sustained economic prosperity with a distinctive
cultural edge in the US and Western Europe, particularly in major cities such as Berlin, Chicago,
London, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, and Sydney.
● What war ended right before the start of the Roaring Twenties? World War I
● What is often said about the spirit of the Roaring Twenties? The spirit of the Roaring
Twentieswas marked by a general feeling of novelty associated with modernity and a
break with traditions
 ● In the US, what style of music became popular during the Roaring Twenties? jazz
● What event brought the Roaring Twenties to a grinding halt? Stock market crash
The Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression that took place
mostly during the 1930s, originating in the United States. The timing of the Great Depression
varied across nations; in most countries it started in 1929 and lasted until 1941. It was the
longest, deepest, and most widespread depression of the 20th century.
● What were some of the major causes of the Great Depression?
the stock market crash of 1929
the collapse of world trade due to the Smoot-Hawley Tariff
government policies
bank failures and panics
the collapse of the money supply
● What was the New Deal in the US? A series of policies enacted by Franklin D. Roosevelt
to help recover US economy
● What were the key contents of the New Deal?
relief (for the unemployed)
recovery (of the economy through federal spending and job creation), and.
reform (of capitalism, by means of regulatory legislation and the creation of new social
welfare programs).
World War II
World War II (often abbreviated to WWII or WW2), also known as the Second World
War, was the most widespread war in history, and directly involved more than 100 million
people from over 30 countries. The war led to the formation of two opposing military alliances,
the Allies and the Axis, and a new world order.
● In what years was the war fought? (1939-1945)
● How did the UK enter World War II? UK were forced to declare war on Germany after
the invasion of Poland in September 1939
● Who was the British Prime Minister during the war? Winston Churchill
● How did the US enter World War II? The bombing of Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii
by the Japaneses in December 1941 brought US into the war
● What happened to the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9,
1945, respectively? President Harry Truman ordered the use of atomic bombs against the
cities
 ● Name the conference where the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were established. Bretton Woods
Conference
● Name the conference where the United Nations was formulated and negotiated among
international leaders. The Dumbarton Oaks Conference.
UK Decolonization
● Describe the UK’s policy towards its colonies after World War II.
Granting independence to India and Pakistan 1947, then to other Asian, African and
Caribbean colonies in the 1950’s and 1960’s
Cold War
● What does the Cold War refer to?
Cold War, the open yet restricted rivalry that developed after World War II between the
United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies. The Cold War was waged
on political, economic, and propaganda fronts and had only limited recourse to weapons.
●
● When did the Cold War start and end? 1947-1991
American Second Red Scare
● What does the American Second Red Scare refer to?
The Second Red Scare, which occurred immediately after World War II, was preoccupied
with the perception that national or foreign communists were infiltrating or subverting
American society and the federal government.
Vietnam/American War
● By 1969 the US forces in Vietnam totaled almost 550,000 individuals. Who was the US
president during the escalation of the War from 1963 to 1969? Lyndon B. Johnson
● Who was the US president that pursued a policy of Vietnamization, which gradually
replaced American soldiers with Vietnamese? Ridchard Nixon
Jim Crow Era
● What were Jim Crow laws? were state and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the
Southern United States
( “Jim Crow” laws were established in the South beginning in the late 19th century. Black
people couldn’t use the same public facilities as white people, live in many of the same
towns or go to the same schools. Interracial marriage was illegal, and most Black people
couldn’t vote because they were unable to pass voter literacy tests.)
American Civil Rights Movement
 ● What were the goals and achievements of the Civil Rights Movement that happened
between 1954 and 1968 in the US?
Goals: overturn segregation laws in southern states, restore voting rights for African-
Americans, and end legal discrimination in housing, education and employment
( to end segregation and discrimination against Blacks )
Achievement:
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - to end racial discrimination and segregation in public
accommodations, public education, and federally assisted programs.
and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 - prohibits racial discrimination in voting.
Second-wave Feminism
● As a period of feminist activity, when is the wave thought to have first begun in the US?
1960s
● How did it differ from the first-wave feminism? Whereas first-wave feminism focused
mainly on suffrage and overturning legal obstacles to gender equality (e.g., voting rights
and property rights), second-wave feminism broadened the debate to include a wider
range of issues: sexuality, family, domesticity, the workplace, reproductive rights, de
facto inequalities, and official legal inequalities
War on Terror
● According to US President George W. Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, what
was the mission of the 2003 invasion of Iraq?
"to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein's support for
terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people"
● The Iraq Inquiry (also referred to as the Chilcot Inquiry) was a British public inquiry into
the nation's role in the Iraq War in 2003. What are some of the key conclusions of the
inquiry?

National Beliefs and Values

● What does the phrase “a city upon the hill” refer to?
The phrase "a city upon a hill" refers to those who are forging a new path and are
examples to others in the way they live and function.

● What is the American Dream?

The American Dream is the national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals including
representative democracy, rights, liberty, and equality, in which freedom is interpreted as
the opportunity for individual prosperity and success, as well as upward social mobility
 for oneself and their children, achieved through hard work in a capitalist society with few
barriers.

● What is American exceptionalism? What are some examples of American

exceptionalism?
American exceptionalism is one of the three related ideas. The first it that the history of
the United State is inherently different from that of other nations. Second is the idea that
the US has a unique mission to transform the world. Third is the sense the the US' history
and mission give it a superiority over the nation.

Political Systems
● What is a constitution? A constitution is a collection of fundamental principles or
established precedents that form the legal basis of an organization or a governed country.

● What is a constitutional monarchy? - chế độ quân chủ lập hiến? It is a country governed
by a king or queen who accepts the advice of parliament. (Nằm trong hệ thống chính trị
của Anh - British political system)

● What is a parliamentary democracy? - nền dân chủ nghị viện ? It is a country whose
government is controlled by a parliament which has been elected by the people. (Nằm
trong hệ thống chính trị của Anh - British political system)

● What is a representative democracy - Dân chủ đại diện? Representative democracy,

also known as indirect democracy, is a type of democracy where elected people represent
a group of people, in contrast to direct democracy. ( American political system)

● What does ‘separation of powers’ refer to? The idea that the major institutions of state
should be functionally independent and that no individual should have powers that span
these offices.

● What is a bill? A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one.

● Describe the political systems of the UK & the US in terms of constitution, form of
government, branches of government, political parties, and election.
 UK US

Constitution There is no single written document was created to protect the

which can be appealed to as the highest
law of land and the final arbiter in any
matter of dispute
Democratic interest of the
people and government. All
public officials of the national
debt state governments must
swear to abide by

Form of government Single- party government Federal government and state

government

Branches of The executive, the legislature and the Legislative, executive and
government judiciary judicial branch

Political parties Having a “two-party system”: the ruling Two-party system: the
party and the opposite party(labor and Democratic and Republican
conservative) Parties

Election - Bầu cử a general election is an opportunity for An election for the President
people in every part of the UK to choose occurs every 4 years on Election
their MP - the person who will represent Day
a local area (constituency) in the House
of Commons for up to five years

● How are powers divided in American federalism?

- Principles are divided between the central governmentand the individual states.
- The federal (national) government has powers over areas of wide concern. (Ex: It
has the power to control communications among states, borrow money, and
provide for the national defense)
- Each state possess powers that are not given to the national government. (Ex:
public schools, marriage and divorce laws)
- There are concurrent powers which both the federal and the state (Ex: the power
to tax, set up court, charter bank)

Economic Systems
1. Explain some common metrics to measure economic activities (eg. GDP, GDP per
capita, inflation rate, unemployment rate)
- GDP: GDP in a country is usually calculated by the national statistical agency, which
compiles the information from a large number of sources.
 + Definition: Gross domestic product or GDP is a measure of the size and health of
a country’s economy over a period of time (usually one quarter or one year). It is
also used to compare the size of different economies at a different point in time.
+ GDP can be viewed in three different ways:
● The production approach sums the “value added” at each stage of
production, where value added is defined as total sales minus the value of
intermediate inputs into the production process.
● The expenditure approach adds up the value of purchases made by final
users—for example, the consumption of food, televisions, and medical
services by households; the investments in machinery by companies; and
the purchases of goods and services by the government and foreigners.
● The income approach sums the incomes generated by production—for
example, the compensation employees receive and the operating surplus of
companies (roughly sales minus costs).
- GDP per capita: the sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy
plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output, divided by
mid-year population
- Inflation rate:
+ In a market economy, prices for goods and services can always change. Some
prices rise; some prices fall. Inflation occurs when there is a broad increase in the
prices of goods and services, not just of individual items. In other words, inflation
reduces the value of the currency over time
+ Definition: the percentage change in the price index for a given period compared
to that recorded in a previous period.
- unemployment rate: Unemployment occurs when someone is willing and able to work
but does not have a paid job.
+ Definition: the percentage of the total labor force that is unemployed but actively
seeking employment and willing to work.
+ Economists primarily focus on three types of unemployment: cyclical, frictional,
and structural. Cyclical unemployment is the unemployment associated with the
ups and downs of the business cycle. During recessions, cyclical unemployment
 increases and drives up the unemployment rate. During expansions, cyclical
unemployment decreases and drives down the unemployment rate.

2. Distinguish between free market (free enterprise) economy, mixed economy,

command economy.
- Command economy:
+ The system is controlled by the government. no competition because the
government sets and controls all aspects of business.
+ Characterized by large surpluses and shortages, monopolies, and prices set by the
government.
+ Often make too much of one product and not enough of another because it is
difficult for one entity (i.e., the government) to realize the needs of everyone in
the country.
- Mixed economy:
+ Partly run by the government and partly as a free market economy
+ Characterized by corporate profitability, the use of fiscal and monetary policies to
stimulate growth, and the existence of a public and private sector.
+ May not have large surpluses or shortages. Because manufacturing and
production is largely driven by supply and demand, the distribution of goods and
services happens where and when needed. Prices also are dictated by supply and
demand rather than by the government
- Free market economy:
+ No government intervention and is mainly driven by the law of supply and
demand.
+ characterized by a spontaneous and decentralized order of arrangements through
which individuals make economic decisions.

3. What type of economy do the UK and the US have? What is the role of the
government in that economy?

UK US
 Type of free market economy mixed economy
economy

The role Creating and supporting jobs The government provides the legal
of
remains the government's central and social framework within which
governme
nt economic focus, but helping to drive the economy operates, maintains
growth in existing, new and competition in the marketplace,
emerging industries is also a provides public goods and
priority. services, redistributes income,
corrects for externalities, and takes
certain actions to stabilize the
economy

4. What are these two countries’ main trade partners?

- US: Canada, Mexico, China…
- UK: India, Australia, Canada, Singapore and South Africa…
5. What sectors and industries are most important to the economy of the UK and the
US?
- US: The agriculture, or farming, industry is arguably the most important industry in the
sector as there were over two million farms in the U.S. providing food to Americans in
2020. In 2021, around 187.93 billion U.S. dollars of value was added by the agricultural
sector in the United States.
- UK: services industries (retail, hospitality, professional services, business administration
and finance)
6. When was the first Industrial Revolution in the UK? What happened?
- The First Industrial Revolution began in England in about 1750–1760 that lasted to
sometime between 1820 and 1840.
- The Industrial Revolution was the transition from small cottage industries in which goods
were primarily made by hand to new mass-produced goods in factories using steam and
water power
7. When was the American Industrial Revolution? What happened?
 The American Industrial Revolution began in the 1870s and continued through World
War II. The era saw the mechanization of agriculture and manufacturing and the
introduction of new modes of transportation including steamships, the automobile, and
airplanes.
- The first Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in the 1700s and 1800s and was a
time of significant innovation.
- The American Industrial Revolution followed in the late 19th century and was an engine
of economic growth in the U.S.
- The Industrial Revolution led to inventions that included the assembly line, telegraph,
steam engine, sewing machine, and internal combustion engine.
- Working for businesses during the Industrial Revolution paid better wages than
agricultural work.
- The increase in the number of factories and migration to the cities led to pollution,
deplorable working and living conditions, and child labor.
8. What is Thatcherism?
Thatcherism, the political and economic ideas and policies advanced by Margaret
Thatcher, Conservative prime minister (1979–90) of the United Kingdom, particularly
those involving the privatization of nationalized industries, a limited role for government,
free markets, low taxes, individuality, and self-determination.
Thatcherism represents a systematic, decisive rejection and reversal of the post-war
consensus inside Great Britain in terms of governance, whereby the major political
parties largely agreed on the central themes of Keynesianism, the welfare state,
nationalized industry, and close regulation of the British economy before Thatcher's rise
to prominence. Under her administration, there was one major exception to Thatcherite
changes: the National Health Service (NHS), which was widely popular with the British
public. In 1982, Thatcher promised that the NHS was "safe in our hands".
9. What is the New Deal?
The New Deal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and
regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between
1933 and 1939. The New Deal included new constraints and safeguards on the banking
industry and efforts to re-inflate the economy after prices had fallen sharply.
 The First New Deal (1933–1934) dealt with the pressing banking crisis through the
Emergency Banking Act and the 1933 Banking Act. The Federal Emergency Relief
Administration (FERA) provided $500 million for relief operations by states and cities,
while the short-lived CWA gave locals money to operate make-work projects. The
Securities Act of 1933 was enacted to prevent a repeated stock market crash. The
controversial work of the National Recovery Administration (NRA) was also part of the
First New Deal.
The Second New Deal in 1935–1936 included the National Labor Relations Act to
protect labor organizing, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) relief program, the
Social Security Act and new programs to aid tenant farmers and migrant workers. The
final major items of New Deal legislation were the creation of the United States Housing
Authority and the FSA, and the Fair Labor Standards Act (which set maximum hours and
minimum wages for most categories of workers). The FSA was also one of the oversight
authorities of the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration, which administered relief
efforts to Puerto Rican citizens affected by the Great Depression.
10. When did the global financial crisis happen? 2007
What have been some of the symptoms/ consequences of the global financial crisis?
- industrial output fell by 45%, the number of new houses built by 80%, about 5,000 banks
went bankrupt, about 50 million people were unemployed, living in poverty.
11. What are the key challenges facing the UK economy nowadays? the US economy?
- UK:
+ Low productivity growth.
+ Low economic growth
+ High tax burden to GDP ratio
+ Real Wage stagnation
+ Post-Brexit devaluation
+ Current account deficit
+ National debt
+ Brighter aspects of UK economy
- UK:
+ Restoring financial stability
 + Setting the right green agenda
+ Exercising smart power
+ Reimagining global trade
+ Navigating China’s rise
+ Deciphering “Russia, Inc.”
+ Engaging an emerging India
+ Revitalizing ties to Latin America
+ Supporting Africa’s growth turnaround
+ Pursuing a positive agenda for the Middle East
Education Systems
● According to David Labaree (1997), what are the three goals of the American education
system? Illustrate each goal with examples of educational practices in the US.
- Democratic equality: is the perspective of the citizen, from which education is seen as a
public good,designed to prepare people for political roles. Students are given the freedom
of choice over their schools, the course and subjects as well as the classes. They are
allowed to question teachers teaching
- Social efficiency: is the perspective of the taxpayer and employer, from which education
is seen as a public good designed to prepare workers to fill structurally
necessary market roles. At school,students are taught subjects (3 Rs) to equip
themselves with the common knowledge (calculating,reading and writing) to make a
living.
- Social mobility: is the perspective of the individual educational consumer, from which
education is seen as a private good designed to prepare individuals for successful social
competition for the more desirable market. For example, at school, beside the common
subjects, students are allowed to choose vocational subjects (cooking, science, IT…
● What is educationalization?
- Educationalization can be used as the general concept to identify the overall orientation
or trend toward thinking about education as the focal point for addressing or solving
larger human problems.
● How did the 1944 Education Act change the education system in England and Wales?
- It reorganized state primary and secondary schools in England and Wales.
● Progressive education is a pedagogical movement that began in the late nineteenth
century and has persisted in various forms to the present. What was/were characteristic of
progressive education?
- 1. Respect for diversity( abilities, interests, ideas, needs, and cultural identity)
 - 2. the development of critical, socially engaged intelligence.
● What is the significance of the Brown v. Board of Education case?
- Struck down the principle of separate-but-equal education facilities for races
● In the US, what is affirmative action in education?
- To improve women’s and minority groups’ access toeducation
● What are the features of No Child Left Behind?
- CLB legislation is based on five core principles:
(1) strong accountability for results;
(2) expanded flexibility and local control of schools;
(3) an emphasis on teaching methods based on scientific research;
(4) expanded options for parents, particularly those whose children attend low-performing
schools; and
(5) highly qualified teachers.
● What are the ongoing problems in education in the UK and the US?

PART 2
1. Democracy is a Western concept, generally understood as the power or the rule of the people.
When the US Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion, reversing Roe v.
Wade, an article in the Guardian called the ruling “a mockery of democracy”.
Write an essay of about 400 words to discuss the issue. Your answer should make clear what the
decision means, whether you think it is undemocratic and why/why not, and how Americans can
exercise democracy in this matter within the social and political reality of the US?
Democracy which, according to Abraham Lincoln, is a government "of the people, by the
people, and for the people" is the only known form of governance in the world that promises to
inculcate principles of equality, liberty, and justice. And when it comes to democracy, people
often think of the US because of its modern democracy. However, when the US Supreme Court
overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that established the constitutional right to abortion,
the issue of democracy is in question. On Friday, June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court
overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark piece of legislation that made access to abortion a federal
right in the United States. The decision dismantled 50 years of legal protection and paved the
way for individual states to curtail or outright ban abortion rights. For me, banning abortion is
undemocratic. Democracy is the belief in freedom and equality between people, so how can I see
banning abortion as democratic while it deprives women of the freedom to choose to give birth
or not. When women are compelled to give birth without their consent as a result of sexual
assault in a romantic relationship, rape, prostitution, or other crimes, it violates not only their
democratic rights but also their right to a happy life. Furthermore, when abortion is illegal,
mothers who unintentionally get pregnant tend to terminate the baby by themselves without
medical consent and doctor's support; putting them at risk. Let Americans make their own
decisions about the equal freedom and right to happiness of the women around them rather than
allowing abortion to be a perennially divisive topic. To decide whether or not to outlaw abortion,
national vote should be organized.

2. What were the main economic arguments for Brexit? Are these arguments supported by
evidence? Write an essay of about 400 words to answer these questions. Reference the relevant
economic outcomes of Brexit when possible.

On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom (UK) Government notified its exit from the EU in
accordance with Article 50 of the EU Treaty. Brexit is therefore officially initiated. Prime
Minister Boris Johnson said that Brexit could be a “stunning success” for Britain. There are three
economic aspects worth considering when it comes to Brexit
+ Membership fee: The membership fee can be simply understood as the payment for being a
part of the bloc and benefiting from all the internal ease and convenience. Brexit taking place is
reported to be the root of raising membership fees for some remaining countries to compensate
for the financial loss. In 2018 the UK government paid £13 billion to the EU budget, and EU
spending on the UK was forecast to be £4 billion. So the UK’s ‘net contribution’ was estimated
at nearly £9 billion. Each year the UK gets a discount on its contributions to the EU—the
"rebate"—worth about £4 billion last year. Without it the UK would have been liable for £17
billion in contributions. If the UK leaves the EU, this money can be saved to develop the
country's economy or improve welfare services.
+ Trade: The EU single market is an economic area where no barriers to trade between its
members have been removed, no tariffs or quotas on trade in goods between the EU
Member States. However, before leaving the EU, the UK didn't have much control over
trade. Therefore, Brexit would makeUK goods get taxed and put on tariffs legitimately by
theEU as the UK no longer is a part of the bloc, making theDue to the single market model
of the EU, the consequences of Brexit for businesses that took advantage of these freedoms
were always a matter of debate and conjecture.→UK products are more expensive and less
appealing to EU countries looking to import British goods. Then, it also costs more for UK
exporters so that the country can protect local production. The UK's leaving EU could help
place tariffs on EU goods, which encourages the consumption of UK products
The EU is seemingly a burden to the UK economy. Therefore, Brexit would bring about the
chance for the UK to become an independent player, free to seek its trade deals with the rest of
the world. According to the Department for International Trade, since 2019, the UK has
secured/signed free trade agreements with 67 non-EU countries. => raise GDP To consolidate
Brexit further, Boris Johnson proposed Canada's free trade treaty as a model for post-EU trade
policy. <I think we can strike a deal as the Canadians have done based on trade and getting rid of
tariffs= and have a <very, very bright future,= he said.
For export, since the dawn of TCA, export to non-EU countries initially seemed more positive
compared to that to the EU. Still, it appeared to be constantly lower than the other later, proving
that tariff was truly a hinder to accessing the EU market and that leaving the EU can translate
into losing trade negotiations with the rest of the world. As for imports, imports to the EU were
below the middle point of the referendum and Brexit, and the opposite trend was noticed in
imports to non-EU. This once again consolidates the EU's statement that the UK will lose free
trade within the bloc and that the country will resort to other countries' exports for supply. So far,
all the predictions have become a reality
+ Job / Employment: National Statistics for 2012–2015 reveal that firms with some foreign
ownership account for around 20% of employment (ONS,2017). The UK's leaving the single
market will make it more difficult for European businesses to invest in the UK economy, putting
almost 20% of current jobs, some of the UK's relatively good jobs, at risk.
+Brexit also removes the labor force in EU firms in the UK, forcing nearly 7000 workers to
move away from the UK, resulting in approximately 600 million pounds (794 million USD) lost
in terms of capitation. Stuart Rose, the leader of pro-Remain Britain in Europe, pointed out that
fewer people would come to the country when Brexit officially took place, meaning less
competition for jobs. However, he didn't consider it a good thing, as labor shortages and rising
wage bills could reduce economic competitiveness and hinder economic growth, which doesn't
change much. Her Majesty's Treasury released a report, claiming that a "leave" vote in the June
23rd referendum on whether the United Kingdom should leave the European Union would
plunge the British economy, which has been growing modestly for the past couple of years, into
a slump. Accordingly, in the event of Brexit, the unemployment rate would jump. The analysis's
central conclusion is that this profound shock would push the UK into recession and lead to a
sharp rise in unemployment

3. A recent study* suggested that Brexit voters were more motivated by identity than economics.
Specifically, individuals with stronger British identity are more supportive of Leave. In addition,
those who claim to be British only are less pro-Leave than those who see themselves as English
only or British and English.
Write an essay of about 400 words to discuss this issue. Your answer should summarize the
voting pattern of the different regions of the UK and its aftermath, and explain why identity may
help explain this voting pattern.
* See the study (full text available) at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1468-
4446.12790?af=R

4. The documentary ‘Waiting for Superman’ suggests that public schools in the US are failing
and that charter schools are a better alternative than traditional public schools.
Write an essay of about 400 words to discuss this issue. Your answer should articulate how you
agree or disagree with the argument. It should distinguish charter schools and traditional public
schools, summarize the achievements and problems of charter schools, and discuss the impact of
expanding charter schools on the existing public school system. Use specific examples and
evidence to support your answer.

5. What does the movie All or Nothing (2002) allow you to see about the struggles of ‘the
working class’ in the UK in the early 2000s? What does the movie suggest as the redeeming
characteristic in their life? Write an essay of about 400 words to address the question. Your
answer should attend to their economic and domestic conditions and one aspect of material
culture. It should additionally address the overall theme of the movie. Use specific examples and
evidence to support your answer.

6. Boyhood (2014) has been described as a portrait of a ‘normal’ or ‘ordinary’ American family.
In which way the family portrayed here is ‘normal’ and in which way is it not? Write an essay of
about 400 words to discuss the issue. Your answer should rely on an understanding of being
‘normal’ in an American context and specific examples to demonstrate how the phenomenon of
attention is normal or not.

PART 3
Below are just some figurative expressions that invite your interpretation.
“America is not a place. It’s a dream.” ~ Clotaire Rapaille
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/78883430948269518/

Source:
Source: https://bambooinnovator.com/2013/12/29/britain-must-look-beyond-london-and-put-
faith-in-manufacturing/

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/330662797626657894/
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/548383692112734469/

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/575897871079733739/
Source: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs168/1109485758145/archive/1110703396417.html

Source: http://otherwords.org/segregation_ghost/
STRUCTURE OF THE FINAL EXAM
The final exam would last 80 minutes. It consists of two compulsory parts and one experimental
element.
The first compulsory part (Part 1/ 5 points) estimates your ability to understand common
references and conversations about the UK and the US. It includes short questions about the
course’s key concepts and facts.
The second compulsory part (Part 2/ 5 points) mobilizes your in-depth understanding of a
socio-political and cultural phenomenon in the UK or the US as well as your capacity to produce
clear and effective written English. It asks you to write a short essay of 400 words to address one
or some of the issues discussed in the seminars.
You can choose whether to respond to the experimental element, which elicits your
interpretation of figurative expressions related to the course contents. If your response is of good
quality as judged by the examiners, you will receive a bonus point.

SAMPLE TEST

PART 1
Section 1: Choose the best answer (A, B, C or D) to each of the following questions (1.5 points)

1. Which definition BEST describes nation-building?

A. The process of drawing new borders for countries
B. The effort to build a sense of national identity among citizens
C. Conquering a neighboring nation
D. Giving sovereign power to a different group of people

2. What does the Victorian Era mean to British history?

A. The shortest and poorest era
B. The era of flourishing development in many fields
C. The era in which new modern lifestyle is popular
D. The era of the only queen so far

3. Britain is described as having a ‘two-party’ system because _______________ .

A. there are only two parties in the Parliament
B. the government only accepts votes from members of the two main parties
C. the two main parties occupy almost all the seats in the House of Commons
D. under the current electoral system, only two parties can have MPs
4. What was the name of the secessionist faction of the Civil War?
A. The Union
B. The Confederate States of America
C. The United States of America
D. The Free Southern Territories

5. Which of the following notions shows Americans’ belief in competition?

A. Acquiring a large number of material possessions is of great importance.
B. Receiving financial support from charity, family, or the government is never admired.
C. Moving about from place to place is a common and accepted practice.
D. Much of life is seen as a race for success, and everyone is entitled to enter and win.

Section 2: Decide whether these statements are TRUE or FALSE (1 point)

6. The initial response of the U.S. government to the outbreak of both World Wars was maintaining a
neutral policy.

7. Britain has an unwritten constitution.

8. From 1945 until 1980, the general trend in the UK was for the state to have less and less control over
economic planning.

9. Currently, manufacturing is a key driver of British GDP growth.

Section 3: Fill in each blank with NO MORE THAN THREE words (1.5 points)

10. ____________________ is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom which includes the
Crown, House of Lords and House of Commons.

11. ____________________ refers to the idea that the major institutions of state should be functionally
independent and that no individual should have powers that span these offices.

12. The intention of the 1944 Education Act in England and Wales was to provide
____________________ state primary and secondary education.

13. An election for President of the United States occurs ____________________ on Election Day, held
the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

14. The Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision struck down the principle of
____________________ education facilities for the races in 1954.
Section 4: Briefly answer the following questions in ONE or TWO sentences (1 point)

15. What is educationalization?

16. Why is it said that the Americans vote for their national leader indirectly?

PART 2
Section 5: Write an essay of about 400 words on ONE of the following issues (5 points)
Issue 1: Democracy is a Western concept, generally understood as the power or the rule of the people.
Elaborate on how different aspects of democracy work in the UK or the US. Your essay should include
examples of real-life democratic practices in the country.
Issue 2: Discuss the extent to which advocacy for Brexit or Trump’s presidency has featured economic
reasoning as well as implicated identity politics and nationalism. Provide illustrations to strengthen your
answer.

PART 3 (OPTIONAL)

Section 6: Write ONE or TWO sentences to interpret the following figurative expression (1 point)

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/16114511143796834/

----------------------------------- END OF THE TEST--------------------------------------