Source 1:

As the strongest weapon to transform the world radically, education is willing

to tackle even the most intricate hurdles and ordeals: It promote democracy,
improve health, save the environment and empty prisons. Additionally, born in
the time of social crimes and world’s woes, it is deemed to be both the
outcome of and the resolution to social albatrosses.

According to American and British’s assertion, it is beyond dispute that

education plays an intrinsic role in resolving social handicaps. First and
foremost, from the educational consumers’s perspective, schooling is
no doubt a tool to alleviate the economic crisis and unemployment as it
can intensify social efficiency. In a further analysis, it is thought to provide
not only individuals but also the entire labour force with vocational skills and
expertise that will reinforce productivity, enhance economic growth and
strengthen the nation. To exemplify, the 1994 Education Act allowed colleges
to implement day-release training for employed people who wants to attain
more knowledge.

Secondly, not only does education boost social efficiency, but it also
undermines social inequality. A prime illustration is that prior to the early
1970s, women and the minority groups were seen as inferior to men, thus
could not have access to education. However, after that the affirmative action
led to a soaring number of female and minority students, which verified that
they are equal to their equivalents.

In addition, it is assumed that education is the inevitable consequence

of social ills. Beyond a shadow of doubt, by virtue of the absence of
education, the world was confronted with illiteracy, unemployment, crime and
other obstacles. Consequently, education is given birth as the remedy for the
wounded society.

In a nutshell, the rationale for seeing education as the solution to and the
result of social problems stems from numerous reasons. It is the requisite to
help eradicate social inequity, escalate social efficiency and it is created out of
the need for a tranquil society.

Secondly, the vote for “Brexit” is, to some extent, an expession of identify
politics and nationalism.

Secondly, the vote for “Brexit” is, to some extent, an expession of identify politics and
nationalism. In terms of border control, leaving the EU would give more control over

who is admitted to the country. Europe’s open border policy means that terrorists can
freely move between countries that pose a direct threat to Britain. For instance,
terrorists entered Europe through the continent’s southern borders disguising
themselves as refugees from Syria, Libya and other war-torn places. Moreover,
regarding sovereignty, too many British laws have arisen from EU directives. As a
result, this created a lot of troubles for business, given workers too many rights,
interfered in areas such as food labeling, and limited the UK’s right to deport
convicted EU criminals. They also believe many of the directives coming out of
Brussels conflict with British traditions and culture.

Essay Question 1

Democracy is a system of government in which the citizens exercise power

directly or elect representatives from among themselves to form a governing
body. Democracy helps to prevent dictatorship by the separation of powers
and functions on the rule of law. However, the fundamental nature of
democracy is reflected not only in the way a political system is organized but
‘also in people’s democratic movements to make visible their collective power.
Therefore, this essay is going to elaborate on different aspects of democracy
in the US, namely the election and government accountability, separation of
powers and the rule of law, and citizens’ democratic movements.

First of all, the US’ democracy is clearly demonstrated in the election

and government accountability. In the US, universal suffrage means any
citizen, be they male or female, black or white, has the right to vote in
elections, as long as they are over eighteen years old. To be more specific,
citizens of the United States who are registered to vote in one of the 50 U.S.
states or Washington, D.C. cast ballots for members of the U.S. Electoral
College, known as electors. These electors then in turn cast direct votes,
known as electoral votes, for President and Vice President. The candidate
who receives an absolute majority of electoral votes for President or Vice
President is then elected to that office. Moreover, the government is regularly
held accountable to the people. Specifically, the principle of accountability
holds that government officials — whether elected or appointed by those who
have been elected — are responsible to the citizenry for their decisions and
actions. Officials may be held accountable through the principle of
transparency, which requires that the decisions and actions of those in
government are open to public scrutiny and the public has a right to access
government information. In an attempt to do so, the US Constitution
established that the proceedings of the Congress must be published regularly
and the US President must report regularly on the “state of the nation”.

Secondly, the democracy of the US is also manifested in the separation of

powers and the rule of law. In the Constitution, several features are created to
prevent power concentration, which are the federal organization of
government, the separation of powers among different branches of
government, and a system of check and balances to restrict the powers of
each branch. With respect to the separations of powers, it refers to the idea
that the major institutions of state should be functionally independent and no
individual should have powers that span these offices. In the US, no branch of
government may dominate another, and each branch has the power to check
fundamental abuses by other branches. Furthermore, the different branches
follow the rule of law instead of the will of powerful individuals. In other words,
the legislative branch is responsible for making laws while the main duties of
the executive branch are to carry out and enforce laws and the judicial branch
is in charge of deciding the meaning of laws, how to apply them to real
situations, and whether a law breaks the rules of the Constitution.

Another feature of US’ democracy is the democratic movements of people.

That is, people use their collective power to protest or make a change in the
government policies. For example, during the protests against Executive
Order 13769, also referred to as the protests against Donald Trump's travel
ban or protests against Trump's Muslim ban, thousands of people gathered at
various airports in the United States and around the world to prevent the
returning of refugees and other visitors from seven countries considered
unsafe.

In conclusion, democracy has been considered the signifier of the USA.

Democracy takes many forms and involves complex processes that require
people to think and speak for themselves and the common good in public
spaces.

Essay Question 2 :As many (not all) supporters of Brexit or Trump care
about how their nation and they themselves are performing economically, they
think strict national borders should be maintained so as to protect their group’s
economic interests. This prompt invites you to write an essay of 300 words on
the extent to which advocacy for Brexit or Trump’s presidency has featured
economic reasoning as well as implicated identity politics and nationalism.

Nationalism is a political, social, and economic system characterized by

promoting the interests of a particular nation, particularly with the aim of
gaining and maintaining self-governance, or full sovereignty, over the group's
homeland. The political ideology therefore holds that a nation should govern
itself, free from unwanted outside interference, and is linked to the concept of
self-determination. Nationalism is further oriented towards developing and
maintaining a national identitybased on shared characteristics such as culture,
language, race, religion, political goals or a belief in a common ancestry.

[2]
Identity politics, also called identitarian politics, refers to political
positions based on the interests and perspectives of social groups with which
people identify. Identity politics includes the ways in which people's politics are
shaped by aspects of their identity through loosely correlated social
organizations.
Identity politics: politics in which groups of people having a particular racial,
religious, ethnic, social, or cultural identity tend to promote their own specific
interests or concerns without regard to the interests or concerns of any larger
political group

Essay 3:

Over the last few centuries, education has set up itself as a major player in the
modernization of society. Through education, one can not only achieve
success in life but also contribute to the community. Education has been long
considered as the image and reflection of the society as well as the force to
transform society and resolve social ills. In other words, the education system
is seen as both the result of and solution to social problems. Therefore, this
essay is going to elaborate the perspective that view education as both the
consequence and the answer to social problems.

In the first place, the statement “education system is seen as both the result of
and solution to social problems” can be seen as the reference to the
phenomenon of educationalization. To be more specific, educationalization
can be used as the general concept to identify the overall orientation or trend
towards thinking about education as the focal point for addressing or solving
larger human problems.

As the schools are the reflection of society, the education system is seen as
the result of it, or, in other words, education is severely affected by different
social problems. For example, the racial segregation in the USA has resulted
in different educational facilities for White and Colored students. As the USA is
seen as a “melting pot”, assimilation through schools seems increasingly
necessary. Therefore, the schools create bilingual or multilingual classroom so
that the native and immigrant children can learn effectively. Moreover, as the
schools are expected to Americanize these exotic newcomers by teaching
English, the principles of American democracy and the skills needed for the
workplace, they develop curriculum and teaching programs that suit their
objectives. Another prime example of education as the consequence of social
problems is the existence of charter school in the USA. Since Americans hold
the value that “all men are created equal”, they create charter schools to
provide equal educational opportunity. The admission to these schools is
similar to the lottery: students are not chosen based on their ability or
achievements but randomly selected.

On the other hand, the education system is also the answer to social
problems. “Pushing social responsibilities on schools is a process that has
been under way for a long time and coincides with the role of education in the
formation of the modern nation-state.” (Depaepe, 2012). This function of
education can be clearly illustrated by its three main goals. Firstly, in
democratic equality approach, education is to prepare all of the students to
take on the full responsibilities of citizenship in a competent manner.
Secondly, the social efficiency approach argues that education is to prepare
the young to carry out useful economic roles with competence. Thirdly, in
social mobility approach, education is to provide individual students with a
competitive advantage in the struggle for desirable social positions. Moreover,
as an institution, the schools are held accountable for solving social
inequalities such as class, race or gender discrimination. For instance, NCLB
Act in the USA provides fund to the marginalities or the disadvantaged so as
to increase enrolment from these groups of children. The schools also play an
important role in reducing traffic deaths, obesity, teenage sex, and
environmental destruction by providing students with essential knowledge and
skills about these issues. Furthermore, schools are an inevitable factor in
enhancing public health, economic productivity, citizenship, and even
performances in sports contests such as the Olympic Games. A prime
example of this is the movement of progressive education, which emphasizes
problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, integrates entrepreneurship into
education, assesses by evaluation of child’s projects and productions, etc.

In conclusion, the education system is rooted in social problems and become

the answer to these issues. The increasing tendency to educationalize social
problems is unavoidable in modern society. Education, among other things, is
accountable for the modernization of society.

Source 2:

Topic 1

In UK in which the whole system of politics is considered to be Parliamentary

democracy, governors are ones appointed by its people and the
politician who wins the most seats in the House of Common will become
a PM. In general, the system is not so different from that of other European
countries. However, the UK is known as a single-party government where
most of the members of government share the collective responsibility. For
example, if one holds a different opinion, he or she is expected to keep it
private. Otherwise, he or she will be chosen to resign, which violates to
some extent the value of democracy. Meanwhile, “democracy” in US means
an absolute democracy. The US is a representative democracy country
where all power of Government belongs to its people who direct policies by
choosing suitable government officials. All people of it must swear to abide
by Convention which is designed to protect the democratic right of its
citizens. In addition, there is a check and balance system to supervise and
check power activities of branches in Government. For instance, parties in
this nation alternatively govern the country. Annually, each party with the
highest vote through voting system will be chosen to govern the country,
which ensures the equality as well as sense of democracy for its citizens.
Separation of power which is a key point in the notion “democracy” means not
letting any power concentration in one person or one party’s hands. In
countries like the US and other democratic ones, strict separation is core
politics principle. However, power separation in the UK enjoys much less
prominence because it is much more like a fusion of power between the
Crown and the Government than a separation of power among different
branches. In brief, US has a higher level of democracy than that of UK.

Topic 2
A majority of advocates of Brexit or Trump’s presidency pay much of their
attention to significant benefits in terms of economy, politics and nationalism.
Firstly, about economy, Brexit or Trump’s presidency will help limit business
competition. When the local market is not manipulated by outside factors
such international interest rates, fiscal policy or the participation of global
businesses with a wide range of products (ones with competitive edge), UK or
US can itself control its business activities and adjust indoor policies to
encourage consuming and stimulate economic growth. Secondly, in terms of
politics, Brexit of Trump’s presidency will cut the rate of terrorism. For
example, Trump’s decision to ban immigration of people from Muslim
countries absolutely address the matter of terrorism. Some terrorists who are
members of extreme terrorism groups originated from Muslim countries so the
ban on immigration from Muslim countries will help secure citizen’s security.
In addition, a government can be able to cut costs on supporting refugees.
Every year, the number of refugees immigrating to European countries is such
a huge one so policy like that of President Donald Trump will partly save to
some extent the spending of the Government. Last but not least, as regards to
nationalism, Brexit or Trump’s presidency is a solution to the issue of
racial discrimination and religious conflict. If Britain doesn’t belong to that
united community of Europe, it means that cultural diversity will be reduced
and therefore, put an end to religion issue.
Topic 3
● The result
- Students who drop out of school tend to end up in the jail ( the
cost for taking care if the prisoners is the same as the cost for
educating a child through his/ her schooling)
- Students who graduate from school without a degree or diploma
and skills => unemployment, and unemployment will lead to
poverty
- Violence and aggression of students (For example, schools
conduct monthly examinations to assess the student's progress and
due to this they are subjected to undue stress that leads to acts of
violence being committed at school.)
● The solution

- If more and more people become educated, common society issues

will soon be decreasing. Thanks to 1944 Education Act of UK which supplies
students with free and universal state primary and secondary schools, ensure
students with firm background of knowledge and appropriate morale to enter
labor market.

- Education system also focus on flexibility and it enables student

who can’t afford to go to school can attend vocational or training course ->
prevent them from unemployment. For example, in the policy of “No Child Left
Behind, it emphasizes on the expanded options for parents, particularly those
whose children attend low-performing schools.

Source 3:

Topic 1

Democracy – a western notion means rule or power of people. It has found its
way into modern systems of government that are formed by the whole
population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected
representatives. To prevent dictatorship (chế độ độc tài), the separation of
powers is another principle built in the constitution of democracies.
Democracies function on the rule of law, the legal principle that law should
govern a nation, as opposed to being governed by decisions of individual
government officials. However, it is also important acknowledge that
democracy is not only about how a political system is organized but also about
how the people can make visible their collective power (quyền lực tập thể)
whether they are allowed by the state.
In UK in which the whole system of politics is considered to be Parliamentary
democracy, governors are ones appointed by its people. In general, the
system is not so different from that of other European countries. As regards to
the Government, the UK is known as a single-party government where most of
the members of government share the collective responsibility. For example, if
one holds a different opinion, he or she is expected to keep it private.
Otherwise, he or she will be chosen to resign, which violates to some extent
the value of democracy.

The same pattern of democracy is true with the US, however “democracy”
here means an absolute democracy. The US is a representative democracy
country where all power of Government belongs to its people who direct
policies by choosing suitable government officials. All people of it must swear
to abide by Convention which is designed to protect the democratic right of its
citizens. In addition, there is a check and balance system to supervise and
check power activities of branches in Government. For instance, parties in this
nation alternatively govern the country. Annually, each party with the highest
vote through voting system will be chosen to govern the country, which
ensures the equality as well as sense of democracy for its citizens.

Separation of power which is a key point in the notion “democracy” means not
letting any power concentration in one person or one party’s hands. In
countries like the US and other democratic ones, strict separation is core
politics principle. However, power separation in the UK enjoys much less
prominence because it is much more like a fusion of power between the
Crown and the Government than a separation of power among different
branches.

Source 4:
 2017 ASBS REVISION

A. Organizing Concepts

· What is a nation?

A nation is a country when thought of as a large group of people sharing

the same culture.

· What is national identity?

National identity is one's sense of belonging to one nation. It is the sense of a

nation as a cohesive whole, as represented by shared experiences and
history.

· What is a state?

A state is a country when thought of as a large group of people living in a

territory sharing the same politics.

· What is a nation-state?

A nation-state is a specific form of sovereign state that is guided by a nation.

The nation state implies that a state and a nation coincide, which means a
state (a political entity) has chosen to adopt and endorse a specific cultural
group.
 · Distinguish nation-state from other forms of social organization such
as tribe, city-state, empire, theocracy, etc.

Nation-state Tribe City-state Empire Theocracy

A nation-state is A tribe is a A city-state is an Empire is an A form of

sovereign state group of people independent city extensive government in
that is guided by that have which has its own group of which God or a
a nation. It common government, states/ deity is recognized
implies that a ancestry or a completely countries as the supreme
state and a common separate from under a single civil ruler.
nation coincide, culture, and live nearby countries. supreme
which means a in their own authority
(eg. Singapore)
state (a political enclosed
entity) has society.
chosen to adopt
a specific
cultural group.

B. History of the UK & the US

The Victorian Era

· When did the Victorian era start and end? 1837 – 1901

· Name three key features of the era:

(1) Scientific and technological development; Impressive economic

development, the Industrial Revolution;

(2) Improvement of human rights;

(3) Arts, architecture, literature development

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
Civil War began.

· During what years was the Civil War fought? 1860 – 1965

· What were the two opposing forces in the American Civil War?

The Confederate Army and the Union.

· What was the name of the secessionist faction of the Civil War?

The Confederate States

· Who was the President of the United States of America at that time?

Abraham Lincoln

· Who was Robert E. Lee? Who was Ulysses S. Grant?

Robert E. Lee is one of brilliant commanders of the Confederate Army.

Ulysses S. Grant is the Union General who defeated the Confederacy.

· The Civil War resolved two matters that vexed Americans since 1776.
What are they?

Slavery & The country is 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 the 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?

 Britain and Belgium had a treaty to support each other if they were attacked.
In 1914, Germany attacked France by moving through Belgium. Britain told
Germany to retreat, but Germany didn't listen; therefore, Britain declared war
on Germany.

· How did the US enter World War I?

In 1914, World War I erupted in Europe; President Woodrow Wilson urged a

policy of strict American neutrality. Germany’s declaration of unrestricted
submarine warfare against all ships bound for Allied ports caused the US to
enter WW I.

· Who was the president of the US during the war?

President Harry Truman

· What is the significance of the Paris Peace Conference, also known

as Versailles Peace Conference, in 1920?

The Paris Peace Conference, also known as Versailles Peace Conference,

was the meeting of the victorious Allied Powers following the end of World
War I, to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers. The main
decision was the creation of the League of Nations.

· Did the US join the League of Nations?

No.

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?

The World War I

· What did the Prohibition in 1920 make illegal?

 The sale of alcoholic beverages

· What is often said about the spirit of the Roaring Twenties?

The age of jazz and spectacular silent movies and such fads as flagpole-
sitting and goldfish-swallowing.

· 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 Black Tuesday)

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?

Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Since Great Britain had

pledged military support to Poland if it were attacked by the Germans, it
subsequently declared war against Germany on September 3, 1939, hence
beginning World War II.

· Who was the British Prime Minister during the war?

Neville Chamberlain

· How did the US enter World War II?

The bombing of Pearl Harbor naval base in Hawaii by the Japanese in

December 1941 brought the US into the war.
 · What happened to the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on
August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively?

The US ordered the use of atomic bombs against these cities

· What is the significance of the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944?

The two major accomplishments of the conference were the creation of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

· What is the significance of the Dumbarton Oaks Conference or, more

formally, the Washington Conversations on International Peace and
Security Organization in 1944?

The United Nations was formulated and negotiated among international

leaders

C. National Beliefs and Values

· What does the phrase “a city upon the hill” refer to?

A city upon the hill refers to an idea community which enjoys an indisputable
superiority in wealth and military power. It hence sets a model for other
nations to follow. It also refers to exceptionalism. (see question 3)

· What is the American Dream?

The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, the set of ideals
(democracy, rights, liberty, opportunity and equality) in which freedom
includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, as well as an upward
social mobility for the family and children, achieved through hard work in a
society with few barriers.

The American Dream is rooted in the Declaration of Independence, which

proclaims that "all men are created equal" with the right to "life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness."

· What is American exceptionalism?

 American exceptionalism is one there related ideas.

The first is that American history is inherently different from that of other
nations. It stems from the American Revolution, becoming “the first new
nation” and developing the uniquely American ideology of “Americanism”
based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, republicanism, democracy, and
laissez-faire economics.

The second is that the US has a unique mission to transform the world.
American has a duty to ensure that “government of the people, by the people,
for the people shall not perish from the Earth.”

The third is that the US history and mission gives it a superiority over other
nations.

· What are some examples of American exceptionalism?

D. Political Systems

· Describe the political systems of the UK & the US in terms of

constitution, form of government, branches of government, political
parties, and election.

The UK

· No written constitution.

· Form of government: constitutional monarchy, parliamentary

democracy

· Branches of government: House of Commons, House of Lords

House of Commons: MPs are elected every 5 years at General Election. 650
MPs. Roles: to help make laws and to scrutinize the work of the government
or investigate issues.
House of Lords: “hereditary peers” (the holder of an inherited aristocratic
title) and “life peers” (the distinguished retired politicians). 675 peers. Roles: a
forum for public discussion, discuss proposals for new laws in great detail,
delay new laws as short as six months.

· Parties: Conservative + Labor

· Election: First-past-the-post

The US

- Constitution: defines the power of national and state governments,

the functions and framework of each branch of governments and the
rights of individual citizens.

- Form of government: representative democracy

- Branches of government: Legislative, Executive, Judicial

· Legislative: make laws. Congress consists of 2 houses: the

House of Representatives and the Senate

o The House: 1 representative per district (435 representatives).

2-year term.

o The Senate: two senators per state (100 senators). 6-year

term. ⅓ Senators stand for election every two years.

· Executive: administer the laws

o The President: 4-year term. Roles: chief executive, head of

state, commander-in-chief, legislative leader, chief diploma.

o The Vice-president: preside over the Senate, assume the

presidency if the president dies or is removed.

o Parties: Democrat + Republic

o Election: Winner-take-all
 · What is a constitution?

A constitution is a set of basic laws and principles that a country is governed by.
The US constitution defines the powers of national and state governments, the
functions and framework of each branch of governments and the rights of
individual citizens.

· What is a constitutional monarchy?

A country is governed by a king or queen who accepts the advice of parliament.

· What is a parliamentary democracy?

A country whose government is controlled by a parliament which has been

elected by the people.

· What is a presidential democracy?

A government in which the citizens elect representatives to a legislative branch

and then in a separate election, citizens elect the executive branch.

· What is a representative democracy?

All government power rests ultimately with the people, who direct policies by
voting for government representatives.

· How are powers divided in American federalism?

Powers are divided between the central government and the individual states.
The federal (national) government has powers over areas of wide concern.
Each state has its own executive, legislative and judicial institutions. There are
concurrent powers which both share.

· What does ‘separation of powers’ refer to?

“Separation of powers” refers to the fact that power is divided among three
branches – legislative, executive and judicial. Each branch has a separate
function.
 · Legislative Branch is responsible for making laws.

· Executive branch has the function of administering the laws

passed by Congress.

· The function of judicial branch is to determine whether laws of

Congress or actions of the president violate the Constitution.

· What is a bill?

A bill is a proposed legislation which afterwards will be taken into

consideration by both houses of Congress. When two houses reach a
compromise, it is sent to the president for his signature. At this point, the bill
becomes a law.

E. Economic Systems

· What is a free enterprise system?

A free enterprise system is a economic system where a government place very few
restrictions on the type of business activity or ownership in which citizens participate

· Name four or five economic activity sectors that are usually present in
descriptions of a nation’s economy.

· Manufactory sector

· Service sector

· Agriculture sector

· Industrial sector

· What can be said about the shift in the growth pattern of economic
sectors during the end of the 20th century in the UK and the US?

Manufactory sector service sector

· In the context of the UK, the decline of which sector is a major
concern? Why?

Manufactory sector

Why:

· Country’s budget: Balance-of-payment problems: the decline in

manufacturing trades will lead to escalating import rates. This
eventually leads to trade deficit as well as UK’s dependence on other
foreign countries

· National defense: Weapon industry will also be negatively

influenced due to the decline in manufacturing trades, resulting in UK’s
national defense falling in a dangerous scenario.

· Service sector: Decline in goods manufactured for service activities

are attributable for manufacturing decline.

· Describe the shifts of how the government in the UK has intervened

in economic life. When did the state become much more involved in
economic planning and nationalize industries? When did the trend
start going in the other direction?

· Although British government have historically tended to be

somewhat laissez faire in economic matters, they became much
more involved in economic planning from the 1940s, and the
performance of the economy has been increasingly tied to their fiscal,
monetary and political policies.

· From 1945 – 1980: the general trend was for the state to have more
and more control

· By 1980, pure capitalism probably formed a smaller part of the

economy than in any other country in western Europe.
 · From 1980 the trend started going in the other direction. (let ‘market
force’ rule + turn state-owned companies into companies owned by
individuals)

· A nation’s economy can be divided into the public sector and the
private sector. Describe the current pattern of mixed economy of
public and private sectors in the UK.

- Public sector: includes the remaining state-run industries and public

services, which now amount to under one-third of the economy.

- Private sector: belongs to people who have a financial stake in a

company.

· It consists of small businesses owned by individuals; companies

whose shares are sold to the public through the Stock Exchange;
and large companies whose shares are not offered for sale to the
public. (most companies are small or medium-size)

· They are crucial to the economy and generate 50% of new jobs.

· Describe the situation of budget deficit in the UK and the US.

UK:

· Context: between 2007 and 2010, worst global recession since

the Great Depression (1929). Individual consumers took out large
personal loan and incurring debts they were unable to repay

· Labour government bailout off banks that remained partly state-

owned.

· The costs of this exercise: budget deficit was 178 billion pounds.
 · Political parties and economists disagreed on measure to reduce
this number

· The government initiated a mixture of payment: cuts in public

spending + high taxation band of 50% on incomes à 2014: 80 billion
pounds

US:

· Every year since 1930, the government has been spending more
money than it has taken in à leads to inflation, high interest rates,
and unemployment (Ex: high value of American dollar)

· Solution: Gramm Rudman deficit reduction plan (adopted in

December 1985) = Yearly spending cuts of $36 billion until balance
in 1991

· Reason: sudden stock market crash in October 1987 which

caused a drop in markets globally

· What does the devaluation of a country’s currency mean?

· Definition: the currency’s exchange value was reduced

· Positive: boost exports by making them cheaper on the world

market

· Negative: raise the cost of imports and dissuade people from

buying foreign goods

· When did the global financial crisis happen? What have been some
of the symptoms/ consequences of the global financial crisis?

· Global financial crisis: 2008

· Consequences:
 · The continuing development of the crisis prompted fears of a
global economic collapse. The financial crisis was to yield the
biggest banking shakeout since the savings-and-loan meltdown.

· The Brookings Institution reported in June 2009 that US

consumption accounted for more than a third of the growth in
global consumption between 2000 and 2007. "The US economy
has been spending too much and borrowing too much for years
and the rest of the world depended on the US consumer as a
source of global demand." With a recession in the US and the
increased savings rate of US consumers, declines in growth
elsewhere were dramatic.

· Some developing countries that had seen strong economic

growth saw significant slowdowns. According to the research by
the Overseas Development Institute, reductions in growth were
attributed to falls in trade, commodity prices, investment and
remittances sent from migrant workers

· The greatest effect of the global economic crisis came in the

form of lower oil prices, which remained the single most
important determinant of economic performance. Steadily
declining oil prices would force them to draw down reserves and
cut down on investments. Significantly lower oil prices caused a
reversal of economic performance as has been the case in past
oil shocks.

· Initial impact was seen on public finances and employment

for foreign workers.

F. Education Systems

· What is 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

· 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, read and write) 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…)

· How did the 1944 Education Act Change the education system in
Britain ?

Under the EAC, state schooling became free and compulsory up to the age of
15 and was divided into 3 stages: primary, secondary and further post-school
training. Before this Act, schools were only made compulsory until the age of
10. 2 types of schools resulted from the Act: county (provided by LEAs) and
voluntary (founded by religious and other groups).
Most state secondary schools were divided into grammar schools, secondary
modern schools and technical schools. The placement of students to these
schools depended upon eleven-plus examination (including linguistic, math and
general knowledge) result.

From 1964 until now, the debate between comprehensive (no test) and
selective (11+ exam) has been going on.

· What was/were characteristic of progressive education?

· Emphasis on learning by doing: hands-on projects, practical skills

suited to students’ environment and the habits of discovering knowledge
by themselves

· Integration of subjects such as PE, music, fine arts, vocational

subjects and electives (optional courses)

· Afterschool extra-curricular activities

· What is the significance of the Brown v. Board of Education

case?

Overturned the provision of 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which had

allowed for separate but equal public facilities as Brown v. Board of Education
helped break the back of state-sponsor segregation and provided a spark
to the American civil rights movement.

· In the US, what is affirmative action in education?

· Affirmative action (AA) programs aimed at improving women’s and

minority groups’ access to education during the early 1970s. On the
primary and secondary levels of public education, AA first led to a
redesigning of teaching programs and textbooks (showing positive role
models and examples of how women and minority had contributed to
American history and culture).
 · The hiring of staffs on all levels was also affected due to the
requirements that educational institutions become equal-opportunity
employers à hire more teacher form teachers from minority groups at
elementary and secondary schools and more women professors at
universities and colleges.

· What are the features of No Child Left Behind?

· States assess students through a standardized test

· The increase of federal funding on education

· The system of sanctions

· Schools are judged based on students’ performance through a

mechanism called Adequate Yearly Progress

· Teachers are judged based on students’ performance and are required

to be highly qualified

· The curriculum stresses on the 3 major subjects and test dominance

PART 2

Part 2 mobilizes your in-depth understanding of a socio-political and cultural

phenomenon in the UK or the US and your capacity to produce clear and
effective written English.

Essay Question 1

Democracy is a Western concept, generally understood as the power or the rule of

the people. It has found its way into modern systems of government that are formed
by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through
elected representatives. To prevent dictatorship, the separation of powers is another
principle built in the constitution of democracies. Democracies function on the rule of
law, the legal principle that law should govern a nation, as opposed to being
governed by decisions of individual government officials. However, it is also
important acknowledge that democracy is not only about how a political system is
organized but also about how the people can make visible their collective power
whether they are allowed by the state. Write an essay of 300 words to 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.

ESSAY 1 OUTLINE:

A. Introduction:

· This essay will discuss how different aspects of democracy work in the UK
and the US.

B. Body:

1. Definition of Democracy: Government by the people.

2. The mechanism of representative democracy.

- How it works: the people, through fair election, vote for particular
groups of politicians to make decisions on their behalves.

- Examples:

· In the US, the people elect the president (though through the
Electoral College), members of the Congress, local officials, etc. while
in the UK, the citizen votes for MPs.

· The free and fair election:

· This mechanism helps to ensure the political participation of the

people.

3. The principle of separation of powers

- How it works: The government responsibilities is divided into distinct

branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of
another à prevent dictatorship and provide for checks and balances.
 - Examples:

· In the US, this means three separate and equal branches:

Legislative, Executive and Judicial. Each branch has a clear role and
with an equal claim to legitimacy. The Congress makes the laws, the
Supreme Court interprets them with reference to the Constitution, and
the president implements them.

· In the UK: there Is no absolute doctrine of Separation Of Powers.

However, there is also a system of Checks and Balances to prevent
abusive of power.

4. The appreciation of the people’s rights:

- How it works:

- Examples:

C. Conclusion:·

Essay Question 2

It is often said that the end of the Cold War in 1991 marked the beginning of a post-
political era where people’s major concern was shifted from politics to economics.
However, politics is understood, on the basis that politics and economics entwine,
the claim is questionable. Nevertheless, it may draw our attention to the rise of
neoliberalism on a global scale during the last decades. Neoliberalism elevates self-
interests over a common social organization that works for all. It goes with free trade
and immigration policies that favor capitalist interests and has been considered a
synonym for globalization.

Globalization does not benefit everyone. This could be seen in arguments in support
of Brexit in the UK and Trump’s presidency in the US. As many (not all) supporters of
Brexit or Trump care about how their nation and they themselves are performing
economically, they think strict national borders should be maintained so as to protect
their group’s economic interests. This prompt invites you to write an essay of 300
words on the extent to which advocacy for Brexit or Trump’s presidency has been
influenced by economic reasoning as well as implicates identity politics and
nationalism.

OUTLINE

A. Introduction:

This essay will discuss not only how advocacy for Brexit or Trump’s presidency has
been influenced by economic reasoning but also implications of identity politics and
nationalism.

B. Body:

1. The Economic reasoning:

The case of Trump: Trump’s Immigrant Policies (Travel ban and US-Mexico
border wall) as an attempt to prevent immigrants, drugs and terrorism so as to
save the national industries and workers.

The case of Brexit: Brexit as an attempt to impdede EU immigrants and to

protect the national economy.

2. Implication of Identity Politics and Nationalism:

Identity Politics: a tendency for people of a particular religion, race, social

background, etc., to form exclusive political alliances.

● BREXIT: identity politics is implicated through the anti-immigration sentiment.

· A body of British people were concerned about the vast numbers of people
coming to the UK – millions of whom have done so under the EU’s freedom of
movement rules in recent years.

· They were afraid that British lifestyle would be affected by the newcomers.
 ð They wish to regain "British identity" by restricting immigration. =>
support BREXIT.

● TRUMP:

· The white seemed to have lost their superior status due to several
historical and cultural developments like mass immigration, the election and re-
election of a black president.

ð This triggered white identity politics.

· To win votes, Trump exploited white identity politics by making promise to

restrict immigration and “make American white again”.

C. Conclusion:

Essay Question 3

The education system is seen as both the result of and solution to social problems.
Use examples from the course to elaborate your understanding of the statement.

OUTLINE

Introduction

- This essay will briefly explain my understanding of the statement before

providing some typical examples found in both British and American
education.

Body

- Explain the statement

· The statement refers to the concept known as "educationalization" which

demonstrates a significant relation between education and social problems.

· Education is responsible of both reflecting social issues and addressing

them.
- Examples of British education

· In the fight against the gap between the rich and the poor, Bulter Act
was passed, making all school free and compulsory until the age of 15.
The primary aims of this Act were to create a better educated society and
encourage more working-class children to enter university and achieve
greater social mobility. Then, seeing that the middle-class still
predominated in grammar school and higher education as a result of
testing weakness, many elective schools were replaced with
comprehensive schools, which students did not have to sit the test to
enter. That schools were made free and compulsory had reduced the
illiterate rate and also create opportunity for people to get access to
proper education à learnt the knowledge and skills to prepare themselves
with the ability to earn a good job.

- Examples of American education

(1) The surge of immigration to America after 1865 leads to the increasing
assimilation through education

· 1865-1900: people from Europe (Germany, Ireland, Italy…) and Asia

(Russia, Serbia…) flock to America with a view to leading a better life
with freedom, liberty and job opportunities.

=> These newcomers must be immediately Americanized to fit the lifestyle,

beliefs and values in the US society.

=> The curriculum must include English, principles of American democracy

and the skills needed for the workplace.

· Social problems caused by immigration like unhealthy tenement

housing, child labor

=> compulsory school attendance was adopted.

 (2) In response to racial discrimination, public school desegregation was
implemented.

· Context: Before 1954, students attended school near their houses =>
blacks and whites study in different school districts.

· Solution: bussing students to other districts to reach racial balance.

Conclusion

● Restate and emphasize the statement.

PART 3

How do you understand the following figurative expressions?

“America is not a place. It’s a dream.” ~ Clotaire Rapaille

Source 5:

https://www.academia.edu/38004158/
Revising_on_the_course_Introduction_to_British_and_American_Studies

Topic 2:

Outline:
Brexit:
An abbreviation of “British Exit” referring to the possibility of Britain’s withdrawal
from the European Union (EU). Main question “Should the UK stay or leave the EU?”

Economic reasoning:
- Membership fees- the amount of money the UK gives to the EU
+ The EU now costs the UK over £350 million every week and nearly £20
billion a year. The UK can use this money to invest in other things to improve
the living standard or health care system of the citizens.
- Trade & economy: could be better by leaving the EU
Burden on small businesses by bureaucratic red-tape from Brussels
Evidences: Even the 80% of British companies that do not export have to follow EU rules on
standards, employee rights, union representation, health and safety, paternity leave and
other bureaucratic red tape.
→ Leaving the EU, Britain will get rid of a lot of unwanted Brussels legislation in many
fields (eg: consumer protection or employee rights).
→ British firms will become more efficient and profitable.
● Avoid financial aid: the Greek financial crisis in 2010
The UK pays around 14 per cent of the EU budget and it was used to secure €8.6 billion in
loans to Greece. Experts said that it could expose the treasury to around £850 million of
liabilities in the event of a default.

Identity politics and nationalism:

● Border control: Leaving the EU would give more control over who is admitted to the
country. Europe’s open border policy means that terrorists can freely move between
countries that pose a direct threat to Britain. For instance, Terrorists entered Europe through
the continent’s southern borders disguising themselves as refugees from Syria,
Libya and other war-torn places.
● Sovereignty: Too many British laws have arisen from EU directives. As a result, this
created a lot of troubles for business, given workers too many rights, interfered in areas
such as food labeling, and limited the UK’s right to deport convicted EU criminals. They also
believe many of the directives coming out of Brussels conflict with British traditions and
culture.