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Linguistics (Trường Đại học Ngoại ngữ- Đại học Quốc gia Hà Nội)

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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.

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· 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 group A city-state is an Empire is an A form of government

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

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· 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.

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· 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.

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· 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?

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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.”

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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.

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 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.

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· 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

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· 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.

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 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

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· 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

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· 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

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· 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

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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:

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 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:

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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.
 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.
 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

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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.

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=> 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

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