American studies

P L A N
Introduction……………………………………………………………3
Theory………………………………………………………………….4
1.Outline of geographical position, climate, states of the USA………..4
2.Government of the USA…………………………………………………6
3.Parties and Elections (USA)………………………………………………7
4.Population composition. Melting pot……………………………………..8
5.A historical topic (USA)…………………………………………………12
6.American holidays, customs and traditions…………………………….15
7.Secondary Education (USA)…………………………………………….16
8.Higher Education (USA)………………………………………………...19
9.American English………………………………………………………...21
10.The capital city of the USA and major cities……………………….24
Activization……………………………………………………………27
Conclusion…………………………………………………………….33
Bibliography…………………………………………………………..34

The history of the United States influences on American English.
10. The capital city of the USA and major cities
Washington is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790. The City of Washington was originally a separate municipality within the Territory of Columbia until an act of Congress in 1871 effectively merged the City and the Territory into a single entity called the District of Columbia. It is for this reason that the city, while legally named the District of Columbia, is known as Washington, D.C.
The city is governed by a major and a thirteen-member city council. The city is located on the north bank of the Potomac River and is bordered by the states of Virginia to the southwest and Maryland to the other sides. The District has a resident population of 599,657; because of commuters from the surrounding suburbs, its population rises to over one million during the workweek.
The centers of all three branches of the federal government of the United States are located in the District, as are many of the nation's monuments and museums. Washington, D.C. hosts 174 foreign embassies as well as the headquarters of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The headquarters of other institutions such as trade unions, lobbying groups, and professional associations are also located in the District.
Washington is a national center for the arts and music. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Art is home to the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera and Washington Ballet.
The major cities of the United States are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Boston .
New York City is the largest city in the United States. It is a leading global city, because New York influences on global commerce, finance, culture, art, fashion, entertainment. New York is an important center for international affairs. It is the most densely populated major city in the United States.
New York was founded as a commercial trading post by the Dutch in 1624. The settlement was called New Amsterdam until the colony come under English control. It served as the Capital of the United States from 1785 – 1890.
Boston is the 5th largest city in the United States. Boston Harbor has always been an important port. Boston is the capital of Massachusetts, one of the 50 states and one of the original 13 states .
Thus, the United States has got a lot of major cities. They are very beautiful and old. They are centers for the arts, music, national sports.

ACTIVIZATION
1. What do you know about the USA? Choose the answer.
1. Who discovered America?
a) Christopher Columbus
b) George Washington
c) The pilgrims
2. Who was the first president of the USA?
a) Abraham Lincoln
b) George Washington
c) Franklin D. Roosevelt
3. What is the national symbol for America?
a) The rose
b) The bald eagle
c) The shamrock
4. What is the United States capital?
a) New York City
b) Los Angeles
c) Washington, D. C.
5. Where is the Statue of Liberty?
a) New York
b) Massachusetts
c) California
6. The American flag has:
a) thirteen stripes
b) thirty stripes
c) fifty stripes
7. Where is the tallest building (sky-scraper) in the world?
a) New York City
b) Chicago
c) San Francisco
8. When do Americans celebrate Independence Day?
a) July 4
b) December 25
c) February 14
9. What is the national sport in America?
a) football
b) soccer
c) baseball
10. Who was the first man on the moon?
a) Yury Gagarin
b) John Glenn
c) Neil Armstrong
Key: 1a, 2b, 3b, 4c, 5a, 6a, 7b, 8a, 9c, 10c
2. Write down as many American words as you can.
British English American English
Flat _____________________________
Bath ______________________________
Sweets ______________________________
Shop _______________________________
Maize _____________________________
Lift _____________________________
Chips ______________________________
Petrol ______________________________
Queue ______________________________
Postman _______________________________
Mum _______________________________
Porridge _______________________________
Football ________________________________
Tube / Underground _______________________________
Holiday _______________________________
Public Toilet _______________________________
Form ________________________________
Autumn ________________________________
The cinema ________________________________
Trainers / Gymshoes _________________________________
3. Compare British and American English and underline differences.
British English American English Have you got a brother?
to get, got, got
He is in hospital.
at the weekend
She lives in Main Street. Do you have a brother?
to get, got, gotten
He is in the hospital.
on / over the weekend
She lives on Main Street.
4. Use either American or British English.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
American English British English
When do you get up?
I get up at six thirty. I get up at half past six.
Do you use the elevator / lift?
I usually take the elevator. I don’t usually take the lift.
What do you like to eat?
I like to eat candy and cookies. I like to eat sweets and biscuits.
What is your favorite sport?
Soccer is my favorite sport. Football is my favourite sport.
What grade / form are you in?
I’m in the eighth grade. I’m in the eighth form.
5. Give a word for the following definition.
1. A special day for Mom.
2. The most scary day of the year.
3. Americans celebrate Independence Day during this month.
4. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought against racial___________.
5. He visits on Christmas Eve.
6. Match the holiday with the picture.
b. c. d.
Mother’s Day Halloween Valentine’s Day Christmas
7. Match holiday and definition.
1. Presidents Day
2. Mother’s Day
3. New Year’s Day
4. Valentine’s Day
5. St. Patrick’s Day a. Americans honor their mothers on the second Sunday in May.
b. Americans celebrate the start of a new year.
c. It is a day of love and friendship.
d. This holiday honors the greatest presidents of the USA.
e. On this day Americans decorate their houses, schools, and streets with green shamrock.
8. Guess the following words.
1. An American river.

2. Jack London went to it to find gold.

3. Alexander Graham Bell was born in it.

4. Elvis Presley was called the _____of rock ‘n’ roll.

5. Frank Lloyd Wright was a great______ .

9. Unscramble these cities, states or places.
l y o H l o d o w _________________
s i p i i p s M s s i_________________
s M s i i o r o________________
o l s i I i n i_________________
n e c C o i t u c n t_____________
Exercise 10. Find out any American names.
a l a s k a h a w a i i n e w y o r k l o s a n g e l e s w a s h i n g t o n m a s s a c h u s e t t s c a l i f o r n i a c h i c a g o b o s t o n v i r g i n i a
Conclusion
The future of the United States of America rests in the hands of the generation of young people. I am optimistic that American young generation will serve and work their country well, thereby ensuring not only its future prosperity, but securing their own destiny as well.
Some problems exist in the United States of America. This country also is increasingly dependent on foreign sources for workers. This is true for blue collar, low wage laborers and also highly skilled white collar workers.
In many respects, the U.S. educational system has failed to adequately prepare young people to compete in a postindustrial, information age, global economy. The country is unable to meet its demand for highly skilled scientists, engineers, technicians, physicians, and others.
America’s economy is the world’s strongest, having produced nearly $14,5 trillion in goods and services during 2007. For decades, the primary threat to the country’s economic supremacy appeared to be from Japan. Today, however, the challenge comes from China ($11,5 trillion), rather than from Japan ($6 trillion). Spend a few moments looking around your home—how many items can you find with a “Made in China” label.
The Future will answer the following question: Will the country continue to be a prosperous and powerful beacon of hope within an increasingly troubled and fragmented world?
Pessimists believe that dusk is settling on America’s “moment in the sun.” Optimists, however, see a bright future for the country and its more than 300 million people. Who is right? The Future will show.
Bibliography
1. Atlas of the United States of America. Washington, D.C. United States Department of the Interior—U. S. Geological Survey, 1970. – 488c.
2. Garrett, Wilbur E., ed. Atlas of North America. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 1985. – 245c.
3. Gritzner, Charles F. The United States of America / Charles F. Gritzner. – Chelse House: South Dakota State University, 2008. – 144c.
4. King, David C. Smithsonian Children’s Encyclopedia of American History. New York: DK Publishing, 2003. – 356c.
5. McKnight, Tom L. Regional Geography of the United States and Canada. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education, 4th edition, 2004. – 214c.
6. Rooney, John F. Jr., Wilbur Zelinsky, and Dean R. Louder, eds. This Remarkable Continent: An Atlas of United States and Canadian Society and Cultures. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1982. – 368c.
Web sites
1. CIA World Factbook https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the?world?factbook/geos/us.html
2. Facts on the United States
http://www.infoplease.com/states.html
CIA World Factbook https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the?world?factbook/geos/us.html
Gritzner, Charles F. The United States of America / Charles F. Gritzner. – Chelse House: South Dakota State University, 2008. – C.76 - 77
CIA World Factbook
CIA World Factbook
Gritzner, Charles F. The United States of America / Charles F. Gritzner. – Chelse House: South Dakota State University, 2008. – C.131 - 133
Gritzner, Charles F. The United States of America / Charles F. Gritzner. – Chelse House: South Dakota State University, 2008. – C. 65
King, David C. Smithsonian Children’s Encyclopedia of American History. New York: DK Publishing, 2003. – c.124 - 125
CIA World Factbook
Facts on the United States http://www.infoplease.com/states.html
. CIA World Factbook https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the?world?factbook/geos/us.html
King, David C. Smithsonian Children’s Encyclopedia of American History. New York: DK Publishing, 2003. – c.236.
Facts on the United States http://www.infoplease.com/states.html
Gritzner, Charles F. The United States of America / Charles F. Gritzner. – Chelse House: South Dakota State University, 2008. – C.87.
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The branches of Government
Executive branch
Legislative branch
Judicial branch
The levels of education in the USA
Elementary schools
Middle schools
High schools