British Studies seminars

English and

Interpreters’ Faculties

2010-2011

BRITISH STUDIES SEMINARS

Seminar 1. Geographical position and physical features of the British Isles

1. Describe the geographical position of the British Isles in the world (composition, advantages and disadvantages of their position). Speak about the size of the country and of its parts. Define the term “continental shelf” and speak of its importance for the British economy. Characterize the coastline of Great Britain and surrounding seas. Contrast the nature of the eastern and western coasts. Give a survey of the main islands in the system of the British Isles.

2. Describe the main relief features of Great Britain, mentioning the chief mountain areas. Speak about Highland and Lowland Britain (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland).

3. Give an account of the main rivers and lakes of the British Isles, their importance for the economy.

4. Outline the climate and the weather of the British Isles. Which factors influence the variations in Britain’s climate? Examine the major features of the distribution of the mean seasonal temperatures, rainfall and sunshine over the territory. Give reasons why south-east England is the warmest part of the British Isles in summer and Cornwall (south-west England) is the warmest part of the British Isles in winter. Discuss the influence of the climate on the distribution of crops and agricultural specialization. Why is weatherspeak so important in everyday life in the U.K.?

5. Give an account of the chief mineral resources of Great Britain and their major deposits: a) coal; b) oil and gas; c) iron ore; d) other metallic and non-metallic minerals. Outline their importance for the economy.

6. How did geography and history affect the British character? How different are the British from the other Europeans?

Literature:

Panorama of Great Britain, pp. 10-43

How do you do, Britain? Units 1-5

British Studies. Minsk, 2004, 2006, pp. 7-22

Lecture notes

Seminar 2. The main stages in the formation of the British nation

1. Describe the most ancient population of Great Britain before the coming of the Celts. Stonehenge and its importance. Give an account of the invasion of the Celts and their heritage. Give the origin of the words: Britain, London and other place names.

2. Describe the Roman invasion of Britain. What traces are there of Roman rule in Britain? Name some English words of Latin origin which reflect the Roman occupation of Great Britain.

3. Give an account of the Anglo-Saxon conquest and its consequences. Speak briefly of the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to the Christianity in the 7^th century and of its influence on the cultural development of Britain.

4. Describe the Danish raids on Britain and the struggle of Alfred the Great. The Scandinavian heritage.

5. Discuss the Norman Conquest and its consequences. What is the Domesday book? Why is it an invaluable source of information? How did the Norman Conquest influence the development of the English language?

6. Give a full account of the gradual formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, highlighting and commenting the following dates:

1169 – the first attempt to conquer Ireland, the Pale;

1282 – the actual takeover of Wales with Prince Llewellyn and his brother killed;

1534-1542 – the formal Union of England and Wales;

1603 – the monarchial Union of England and Scotland (James VI of Scotland becomes James I – king of England). The consequences.

1707 – the dissolution of the Scottish Parliament, Scotland loses independence becoming part of Great Britain;

1801 – Act of Union of Great Britain and Ireland. Ireland loses its independence.

1921-1922 – Partitioning of Ireland: Southern (Catholic) Ireland becomes independent forming the Irish Free State, later the Republic of Ireland (Eire); the Northern part with Protestant majotiry remains part of the U.K. The troubles in Northern Ireland in the 1960-1970s (reasons) and the solution in 2007.

1998-1999 – Devolution (origin of the term) and its consequences: the formation of the local Parliaments in Wales and Scotland in 1998-1999 and in 2007 the Northern Ireland Assembly (Parliament).

7. Describe the 3 crosses of the Union Jack and the Coat of Arms of the U.K. What do their components signify?

8. Give a general description of the present population of U.K. (size, density in different parts, urban, rural). The role of immigration. The visible minority and its role.

Literature:

Panorama of Great Britain, pp. 46-58

How do you do, Britain? Units 6-10

Q&A: Conflict in Northern Ireland (article)

Chronological Outline (handout)

British Studies, pp. 23-31

Seminar 3. State system of the United Kingdom

1. Explain what is meant by “constitutional monarchy”, when was the system basically formed. The role of Magna Carta (1215). Nmae the main Acts (1679, 1689, 1701) which contributed to the formation of the system. The role of the practice of precedent. What are the major functions of the monarchy today? Examine the social and political influence of monarchy in present-day Britain.

2. Give an account of the electoral system in Britain. Show how fair the “majority electoral system” is. The General elections of 2010. Their results.

3. Give an outline of the composition and the main functions of the Houses of Parliament and comment on the organization of their work. The reform of the House of Lords. Devolution. The legislatures in the national parts of the United Kingdom, their role and functions.

4. The role of the Commonwealth in the present world (short history, membership).

Literature:

British Studies, pp. 40-45, 48-68

Topical aspects of the Contemporary British Social Scene, pp. 4-12, 15-34, 38-45

How do you do, Britain? Units 12, 13

Commonwealth can lead again… (article)

Seminar 4. Political parties and government of Great Britain

1. Comment briefly on the formation of the party system in Britain.

2. Give a survey of the history, nature, role and organization of the parties listed below: a) the Conservative Party; b) the Labour Party; c) the former Liberal Party and its present legacy – the Liberal Democrats; d) the other minority parties.

3. Examine the composition of the British government, referring to the functions of the Prime Minister and other ministers. Explain the meaning of the term “the official opposition”, “Shadow cabinet”.

4. Account for the composition and major functions of the Cabinet, examining the reasons for the growth of its power. What is meant by the Parliamentary government?

5. The May 2010 elections. The formation of the coalition government of the Conservative and Liberal Democratic parties headed by David Cameron.

6. David Cameron – the U.K. Prime Minister (biography and political outlook).

Literature:

British Studies, pp. 80-94, 69-71, 50-51

Topical aspects of the Contemporary British Social Scene, pp. 13-14, 35-37, 46-62

How do you do, Britain? Unit 14

Cameron – konservator novoi formatsii (article) (Russian)

Seminar 5. The British economy and the regions

1. Expand on the place of Britain in the World economy. Describe the socio-economic conditions which influence the development of the economy. The disparity between the “South” and the depressed “North”. Britain and the European Union. A general survey of the British economy.

2. The main economic regions.

3. The South industrial and agricultural region. The main industrial centers. The Midlands and its centers.

4. Lancashire and Yorkshire, their main centers. The North and its industrial centers.

5. Scotland and Wales and their economic contribution to the U.K. Northern Ireland, its centers and role in the economy of the U.K.

Literature:

Panorama of Great Britain, pp. 234-236

How do you do, Britain? Units 19-22

British Studies, pp. 33-37

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