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

American studies

14–15
Sophomore
15–16
Junior
16–17
Senior
17–18
In the year 2000, there were 76.6 million students enrolled in schools from kindergarten through graduate schools. Of these, 72 percent aged 12 to 17 were judged academically "on track" for their age (enrolled in school at or above grade level). Of those enrolled in compulsory education, 5.2 million (10.4 percent) were attending private schools 1.
Thus, education in the USA is mainly provided by public sector and public education is available. A country has a reading literacy rate at 98% of the population.
8. Higher Education (USA)
Higher Education in the United States is known as college or university and commonly consists of four years of study at an institution of higher learning. There are 4,352 colleges, universities, and junior colleges in the country.
In 2008, 36% of enrolled students graduated from college in four years. 57% completed their undergraduate requirements in six years, at the same college they first enrolled in.
Like high school, the four undergraduate grades are commonly called freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years (alternatively called first year, second year, etc.). Students traditionally apply to receive admission into college, with varying difficulties of entrance. Schools differ in their competitiveness and reputation; generally, the most prestigious schools are private, rather than public 1.
Once admitted, students engage in undergraduate study, which consists of satisfying university and class requirements to achieve a bachelor's degree in a field of concentration known as a major. The most common method consists of four years of study leading to a Bachelor of Art (B.A.), a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), or sometimes another bachelor's degree such as a Bachelor of Fine Art (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Science Work (B.S.W.), Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.,) or Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil.). Five-Year Professional Architecture programs offer the Bachelor of Architect Degree (B.Arch.).
Professional degrees such as law, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry, are offered as graduate study after earning at least three years of undergraduate schooling or after earning a bachelor's degree depending on the program.
Some students choose to attend a community college for two years prior to further study at another college or university. In most states, community colleges are operated either by a division of the state university or by local special districts subject to guidance from a state agency.
Community colleges may award Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree after two years. Those seeking to continue their education may transfer to a four-year college or university (after applying through a similar admissions process as those applying directly to the four-year institution, see articulation).
Some community colleges have automatic enrollment agreements with a local four-year college, where the community college provides the first two years of study and the university provides the remaining years of study, sometimes all on one campus. The community college awards the associate's degree, and the university awards the bachelor's and master's degrees.
Graduate study, conducted after obtaining an initial degree and sometimes after several years of professional work, leads to a more advanced degree such as a master’s degree, which could be a Master of Art (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or other less common master's degrees such as Master of Education, and Master of Fine Art (MFA). Some students pursue a graduate degree that is in between a master's degree and a doctoral degree called a Specialist in Education (Ed.S.).
After additional years of study and sometimes in conjunction with the completion of a master's degree and/or Ed.S. degree, students may earn a Doctor of Philosophy or other doctoral degree, such as Doctor of Arts, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Theology, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, and so on.
Some programs, such as medicine and psychology, have formal apprenticeship procedures post-graduation, such as residencies and internships, which must be completed after graduation and before one is considered fully trained. Other professional programs like law and business have no formal apprenticeship requirements after graduation (although law school graduates must take the bar exam to legally practice law in nearly all states).
Entrance into graduate programs usually depends upon a student's undergraduate academic performance or professional experience as well as their score on a standardized entrance exam like the Graduate Record Examination (GRE-graduate schools in general), the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Many graduate and law schools do not require experience after earning a bachelor's degree to enter their programs; however, business school candidates are usually required to gain a few years of professional work experience before applying.
Thus, fifty-five US universities are listed in the top 200 in the world in the THEA – QS World University Ranking. As a whole the population of the United States is becoming increasingly more educated.
9. American English
American English was formed in the 18th century. It has got some differences in pronunciations, spelling, meaning and usage. For example, American English has got many words from Amerindian (geographical names, animals and plants):
chipmunk,
sequoia,
savannah.
Many states, rivers and mountains have got Amerindian names:
Massachusetts,
Connecticut,
Michigan,
Mississippi.
American English borrowed many words from Dutch, German and Spanish languages:
Dutch language:
boss,
dollar
German language:
hamburger,
noodle
Spanish language:
cafeteria,
tornado.
Some English words have got different meanings (table 3):
shop, bug, pie.
Аm. bakery – Br. baker’s shop,
Аm. bank bill – Br. banknote,
Аm. administration – Br. government,
Аm. hog – Br. pig .
Table 3.
Differences in the usage of American English and British English
American
British
Russian
Apartment
Bathtub
Elevator
Faucet
Can
Candy
Cookie
Corn
French fries
Oatmeal
Grade
Kindergarten
Subway/Metro
Restroom
The movies
Store
Gasoline
Truck
Sidewalk
Line
Highway
Mailman
Mailbox
Soccer
Vacation
Last name
Mom
Pants
Sneakers
Fall
Flat
Bath
Lift
Tap
Tin
Sweets
Biscuit
Maize
Chips
Porridge
Form
Infants’ school
Tube/Underground
Public Toilet
The cinema
Shop
Petrol
Lorry
Path
Queue
Main road
Postman
Postbox
Football
Holiday
Surname
Mum
Trousers
Trainers/Gymshoes
Autumn
Квартира
Ванна
Лифт
Кран
Консервная банка
Конфеты
Печенье
Кукуруза
Жареная картошка
Овсяная каша
Класс
Детский сад
Метро
Общественный
туалет
Кинотеатр
Магазин
Бензин
Грузовик
Тротуар
Очередь
Шоссе
Почтальон
Почтовый ящик
Футбол
Каникулы, отпуск
Фамилия
Мама
Брюки
Кроссовки
Осень
Table 4.
Differences in the spelling of American English and British English
British English
American English
- re
metre
centre
theatre
-er
meter
center
theater
-our
colour
favour
honour
-or
color
favor
honor
Thus, American English has got some peculiarities, some differences in meaning, spelling, pronunciation and usage. 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 workweek1.
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 1.
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 2.
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