Learning objectives
Expected learning outcomes: knowledge of the proposed texts.
Knowledge and understanding: critical attitude, with the aid of human sciences and their interdisciplinary intersections.
Ability in applying knowledge and understanding: making use, as independent as it is possible, of the critical tools and historical insights acquired.
Making judgments: it is the overarching goal of the course, with particular reference to the acquisition of an awareness of the concept of historical distance and of the longue durée of the investigated phenomena.
Communication skills: acquisition of a language not necessarily technical, but able to distinguish and give an account of the characteristics of a pedagogical text generalizations of reference manuals.
Learning skills: in proportion to their individual abilities.
Prerequisites
None.
Course unit content
American Education. Birth of a nation
Full programme
See "Contents".
Bibliography
Quadro storico:
- Arnaldo Testi, La formazione degli Stati Uniti, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2003
Teoria e storia dell'educazione:
- Luana Salvarani, Sunday School Literature, Roma, Anicia, 2012;
- Luana Salvarani, Nascita di una nazione. Esperienze e modelli dell’educazione nell’America dell’Ottocento, Roma, Anicia, 2015
Lo sguardo letterario:
1. un libro a scelta tra:
- Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn, traduzione e cura di Riccardo Reim, ed. integrale, Newton Compton 2011;
- Frank Norris, La Resa di Santiago e altri racconti di guerra e di frontiera, Milano, Edizioni Medusa, 2011;
- Bret Harte, Storie del West, editore Mattioli 1885, 2006;
- Sherwood Anderson, I Racconti dell'Ohio (oppure Winesburg. Ohio a seconda delle edizioni), Newton Compton 2012 o Einaudi 2011.
2. un romanzo di Steinbeck a scelta tra La Valle dell'Eden e Furore (qualsiasi edizione purché integrale).
Teaching methods
Selected passages from the texts proposed in bibliography will be read during the lessons, with comments intended to highlight the cultural context and the main decisions made by the authors. Through the comment and, when possible, the discussion with the students, critical skills and independence of judgment of the students will be trained.
In addition to lectures, complementary educational activities will be provided in the form of seminars conducted by young scholars and experts.
Assessment methods and criteria
Final assessment will consist of an interview in which the student has to show:
- The ability to set out clearly, with appropriate vocabulary, features, content and historical context of a pedagogical text. Special emphasis will be given to the logical and communicative skills;
- Knowledge of the historical background and the major philosophical and pedagogical elements of the proposed texts, by questions raised by the teacher in the context of the presentation offered by the student.
- The threshold of pass mark is defined by the presence of both parameters:
a. full reading of the proposed texts;
b. Implementation of a research / individual reflection on the text with the elaboration of individual proposals and criticism.
Other information
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