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What are the milestones in human history? e.g. major developments in the fields of transport, communication, medicine, food production, ...

Science and technology - blessing or curse? How does modern technology make our lives easier? Where do you spot dangers?  What are the ethical implications? Data Security, Privacy, Surveillance, Robot technology, AI, Genetic Engineering, ... Be able to give specific examples. Have a personal opinion.

Visions of the Future in literature: Utopia/Dystopia

Definitions: utopia and dystopia, sci-fi

examples of dystopian fiction (novels, movies, TV-Series,...)

Typical elements of dystopian fiction (propaganda, surveillance, illusion of a perfect world, censorship, restriction of freedom, independent thought and individualism, constant control, ...)

dystopian protagonists (feel trapped, question the system, struggle to escape, ... we see the negative aspects of the dystopian world through their from their point of view, typical mode of narration: first person narrator, selective omniscience, stream of consciousness, ... )

Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" and George Orwell's "1984" as two examples of  classical dystopian novels (future societies, similarities, concept of happiness, ...)

"Gattaca" (1997) and "The Circle" (2017) (novel 2013)) as two modern examples of dystopian fiction. (plot, future societies?, what do the authors criticise? intention?)

Reasons for recent popularity of sci-fi literature? Personal opinion?

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definition "globalisation"

history of globalisation: when did it start? different eras of globalisation?

consequences of globalisation: advantages (international flow of money, goods, ideas, ...) and disadvantages (cultural, ecological, social, personal,...)... be able to give examples.

winners and losers of globalisation (e.g. outsourcing: sweatshop workers in Banglasesh, environment: global climate crisis, ...)... be able to give examples

how does globalisation affect you personally? Now and in the future? Keep in mind the changing world of work.

Do you see any solutions for the problems globalisation causes? (international organisations, power of consumers: Fair Trade, Fridays for Future, ...?)

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India: From post-colonial experience to rising nation

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India: From post-colonial experience to rising nation

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brief history of India: from trading post to colony  to Commonwealth country.

India under British rule: The Raj, colonizers and colonized, British influence today, ..

Gandhi's independence movement: Salt March, civil disobedience

The partition of India, Pakistan and (later) Bangladesh: consequences?, a reason for post-war migration to Britain

Indian society today: largest democray, demographic situation, Janus-faced country: standard of living, health issues, working conditions, role of religion today: caste system, arranged marriage, role of women, child labour, crime, ....

political situation: largest democracy, partition of India still source of conflicts between India and Pakistan

economic situation: centre of high tech and IT industry, major role in a globalized word, global player?

The postcolonial experience as seen by modern writers of Indian or Pakistani descent:
a) Movie: Damien O'Donnell: East is East (1999) - Life in a bi-racial family in the 1970s

plot, setting (Salford/Manchester 1970s), genre (comedy)

central themes (clash of cultures, the search for identity, racism in society ...)

characterisation of the family (bi-racial, mixed religion, relatively poor (fish and chips shop), several children, ...)

characterization of the main characters (George & Ella, the children) and their different conflicts and problems (role of religion, being gay, arranged marriage, circumcision, ...)

is the Khan family an example of a British family? Do they feel British? Are they considered British?

typical cinematic devises: irony, slapstick. Comment/personal opinion: Can a serious topic be told in a funny way? Personal opinion on the movie?

significance of the title: Rudyard Kipling "East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet". Opinion?

b) Short Story: Hanif Kureishi: My Son the Fanatic (1994) - teenage son turns into religious fundamentalist

plot (Parvez, Punjabi taxi-driver, has lived in London for 20 years, has an English friend (Bettina, a prostitute) lives a Western life, he notices a change in his son Ali, who has turned Muslim, Parves tries to talk about it but it turns out to be a disater

central themes (search for identity, prejudices, religion, first generation vs second generation immigrants ...)

characterisation Parvez, Ali, Bettina and their relationships to each other (signs for Ali's change? Bettina's role?, who is the fanatic - father or son?)

Personal opinion on the short story? Reasons for fanaticism? (boredom? disappointment? experiences with racism? looking for one's place in the word?,...)

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Geographical facts (Difference GB, UK, British Isles, capitals, flags,...)

the rise and fall of the British Empire (definition, historical facts, expansion, ...)

the Commonwealth (definition, aims, Great Britain's role within the Commonwealth ....)

modern British society (population, national characteristics: Britishness, multiculturalism/ethnic diversity, stance on refugees, Brexit, ...)

British politics (politcal system, parties, role of the monarchy, role of the Queen, the Royal Family, ...)

Britain and the EU (splendid isolation, BE: "Europe" = Continental Europe, 1973 Britain joins the EU (then EC) but not the monetary union and not the Schengen Argreement, Eurosceptics: EU too powerful, dominated by France and Germany, imposes too many regulations, corrupt and money-wasting, a security risk with its open borders, host to millions of (illegal) immigrants =>  Brexit)

the English language (roots, influences, role of the English language today: lingua franca, importance for you personally, ...)

Role of the monarchy in modern British film : Stephen Frears: The Queen (2006)

The death of Pricess Diana and its impact on England and  the monarchy

plot, topic (criticism of the queen, background information: the death of Lady Di, personal opinion on the movie)

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USA: The impact of the American Dream then and now

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USA: The impact of the American Dream then and now

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Brief history of the United States (first modern democracy, "land of the free", superpower ...)

Different waves of settlement (which settlers came when and why? situation today?)

Connection between America's history and the American Dream (why did the concept originate there? Why is it typically American?, does the concept apply to other nations, too? )

Elements of the American Dream (pursuit of happiness, equality, justice, liberty, freedom, from rags to riches, manifest destiny, New Canaan ..... differentiate between pos. and neg. elements)

Examples of the American Dream in American society today (role of religion, focus on the individual, "world police",... )

Change of the American Dream over time (today: emphasis on financial success)

American Dream vs American Reality (American Reality as presented in "Forrest Gump", Donald Trump - the twitter president, NSA and surveillance,... )

The American Dream for African Americans:

History of black Americans: slavery, situation for blacks before the Civil Rights Movement, ...

Civil Rights Movement (definition, key events)
Key players in the Civil Righs Movement (Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, John F. Kennedy,,...)
Differences between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X (who do you prefer? reasons?)
Role of African Americans today? (Barack Obama first black president, Racial tensions, ghettos, police violence against blacks, Black Lives Matter,...)

Relations between America and Europe (different views on each other, current situation, ...)

The American Dream in modern American Drama: Lorraine Hansberry: A Raisin in the Sun (1959)

drama: definition, typical elements, classical vs contemporary drama

ARITS: plot and setting (what happens, where, when?) theme (racism against Blacks, exclusion from the American Dream)

the characters: who are the main characters? characterisation, differences, different dreams, relationships, conflicts,...

message?(personal level: live your dream, constantly renew your dream | politcal level: equality, need to adjust the concept of the AD, make it a reality for everyone)

Significance of the drama at the time it was written (Civil Rights Movement)

Significance of the title (Harlem Renaissance: Langston Hughes poem "a dream deferred" => rich black culture in US society despite discrimination!)

personal opinion on ARITS

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USA:     The impact of the American Dream then and now
UK:       Tradition and change - Monarchy and modern democracy, multicultural society
INDIA:  From post-colonial experience to rising nation

SHAKESPEARE: Shakespeare in the 21st Century
GLOBALISATION and global challenges - economic, ecological and political issues, studying & working in a globalised world
VISIONS OF THE FUTURE: ethical issue of scientific and technological progress; UTOPIA & DYSTOPIA

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- his life - who was Shakespeare? what do we know for sure?
- his time (Elizabethan Age: Golden Age, England emerged as a world power but  class ridden society, belief in witchcraft still widespread,..), role of theatres, Elizabethan English,....)
- his plays (comedies, tragedies, historical plays - be able to name a few, typical themes/topics ...)
- his language (Shakespeare as "wordsmith", iambic pentameter, puns, soliloquies; characteristics of Elizabethan English,...)
- his sonnets (definition, difference: Italian/Petrarchan Sonnet vs English/Shakespearean Sonnet, background information on his sonnets like who did he write them for? what are the they about? )
- the relevance of Shakespeare today? (influence on English language, literature und everyday life, Shakespeare in modern pop culture,... be able to give examples.)
- personal opinion on the Bard and its role in our educational system?

Shakespearean drama: Macbeth (first performed 1606)
- plot, setting, genre
- topics (ambition, chaos and disorder, ... )
- characters (difference between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, their relationship, ...)
- relevance of the opening scene (content, setting, atmosphere, witchcraft, sense of foreboding,...)
- effect of the play (on an Elizabethan audience, a modern audience, you?)
- the theatre in Elizabethan times (Wooden O, The Globe (Shakespeare's theatre), actors, audience, special effects, Elizabethan theatre vs modern theatre vs TV adaptations,...)