Culture and history of UK & US
Keep up with current events through quality newspapers or other media!
Assessment:
UK and US together
Yes/No Q, True/false Q, fill in the blank, blank maps, open Q, multiple choice Q
Example questions s.8
News literacy
People on slide
Tabloids
o Zoom in on sensational topics
o Subjective
o Puns, slang
Quality newspapers
o In-depth coverage, serious
o Objective ( yet doesn’t exist in UK)
o Sober tone
o Formal register
Print media
o Tabloids more popular
o Online media way more popular
focus on quality newspapers
Broadcasting Media
o BBC one most popular
o Difference between most trustworthy and most popular
o Media bias charts show how reliable newspapers are ( use this)
1
,Introduction to the United Kingdom
Overview:
United Kingdom = Great Britain + Northern Ireland
o England - capital: London
o Scotland - Capital: Edinburgh
o Wales - Capital: Cardiff
o Northern Ireland - capital: Belfast
Population: c. 67 million
o See slide
Inhabitants
o England - English or British
o Scotland - Scottish or British
o Wales - Welsh or British
o Northern Ireland - Irish and/or British (depending on religion)
Currency
o Pound Sterling – British Pounds – GBP
o £
Place names
o Pay attention to pronunciation on place names
o Really watch out with Welsh place names (pretty long and complicated)
Terminology:
Relatively recent (see map slide 29) recent variations
Important due to political volatile situation
British Isles
o Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the
Northern Isles (Orkney and Shetland), and over six thousand smaller islands.
Crown dependencies*
o Channel Islands: Guernsey & Jersey
o Isle of Man
*Three offshore island territories in the British Islands that are self-governing possessions of
the British Crown:
2
, Monarchy
o Is monarchy good? majorly positive view on monarchy
o Currently: house (Mountbatten-)Windsor’s
o Regarded largely unfavourably by population
o Charles is remarkably less popular than Elizabeth
UK politics
Overview:
Constitutional monarchy
o Head of state: King Charles III
Parliamentary democracy
o Head of government: Prime minister
Ability to make and pass legislation resides with Parliament
3
, Political overview
o Asymmetric system different powers e.g. Scotland education, Welsh not
UK Government
o Prime minister (PM) = Rishi Sunak
o 20 key members
o Chancellor of the Exchequer = most important member / right hand
o Government departments/ministries staffed by Civil Services
o Some powers have been devolved
o Downing street 10, no doorknob or handle always sb inside to open door
Office/residence of the PM
House of parliaments
o Palace of Westminster
o Two chambers
House of Commons – 650 MP’s (elected)
House of Lords – 783 peers (not elected)
o Debates on legislation can start in either chamber
Debates in the commons
o Green paper
No commitment to specific action –> says something needs to be done
o White paper
Authoritive report
Statement of government policy (research conducted)
o Royal Assesment to become a statute/ law (purely official)
4
Keep up with current events through quality newspapers or other media!
Assessment:
UK and US together
Yes/No Q, True/false Q, fill in the blank, blank maps, open Q, multiple choice Q
Example questions s.8
News literacy
People on slide
Tabloids
o Zoom in on sensational topics
o Subjective
o Puns, slang
Quality newspapers
o In-depth coverage, serious
o Objective ( yet doesn’t exist in UK)
o Sober tone
o Formal register
Print media
o Tabloids more popular
o Online media way more popular
focus on quality newspapers
Broadcasting Media
o BBC one most popular
o Difference between most trustworthy and most popular
o Media bias charts show how reliable newspapers are ( use this)
1
,Introduction to the United Kingdom
Overview:
United Kingdom = Great Britain + Northern Ireland
o England - capital: London
o Scotland - Capital: Edinburgh
o Wales - Capital: Cardiff
o Northern Ireland - capital: Belfast
Population: c. 67 million
o See slide
Inhabitants
o England - English or British
o Scotland - Scottish or British
o Wales - Welsh or British
o Northern Ireland - Irish and/or British (depending on religion)
Currency
o Pound Sterling – British Pounds – GBP
o £
Place names
o Pay attention to pronunciation on place names
o Really watch out with Welsh place names (pretty long and complicated)
Terminology:
Relatively recent (see map slide 29) recent variations
Important due to political volatile situation
British Isles
o Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the
Northern Isles (Orkney and Shetland), and over six thousand smaller islands.
Crown dependencies*
o Channel Islands: Guernsey & Jersey
o Isle of Man
*Three offshore island territories in the British Islands that are self-governing possessions of
the British Crown:
2
, Monarchy
o Is monarchy good? majorly positive view on monarchy
o Currently: house (Mountbatten-)Windsor’s
o Regarded largely unfavourably by population
o Charles is remarkably less popular than Elizabeth
UK politics
Overview:
Constitutional monarchy
o Head of state: King Charles III
Parliamentary democracy
o Head of government: Prime minister
Ability to make and pass legislation resides with Parliament
3
, Political overview
o Asymmetric system different powers e.g. Scotland education, Welsh not
UK Government
o Prime minister (PM) = Rishi Sunak
o 20 key members
o Chancellor of the Exchequer = most important member / right hand
o Government departments/ministries staffed by Civil Services
o Some powers have been devolved
o Downing street 10, no doorknob or handle always sb inside to open door
Office/residence of the PM
House of parliaments
o Palace of Westminster
o Two chambers
House of Commons – 650 MP’s (elected)
House of Lords – 783 peers (not elected)
o Debates on legislation can start in either chamber
Debates in the commons
o Green paper
No commitment to specific action –> says something needs to be done
o White paper
Authoritive report
Statement of government policy (research conducted)
o Royal Assesment to become a statute/ law (purely official)
4
