Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Social sciences for Primary education

Level of Democratization in Iran

The definition of an illiberal democracy is a democracy in which so-called democratic processes, such as elections, take place, but these are accompanied by limitations on civil liberties.

While Iran may have started out as an illiberal democracy, several factors point to significant repression:

• Prevalent executions
• Forcing women to wear the hijab
• Ill treatment of homosexuals (often officially denied as existing in Iran)
• Silence imposed upon religious minorities (such as Sunnis and Baha'is)
• Repression of political opposition
• Censorship of media, internet, and culture
• Oversight by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance

Political protests, such as the Green Revolution and the 2018 protests against the Ayatollah, may...

Women's and Gender Studies Exam Preparation

You will likely face two parts on your exam:

1. Matching/definitions (all those terms and people listed).
2. Essay questions (the bolded items + fairy tale analysis).

This study sheet breaks down the material into matching-style definitions and practice essay answers for the key topics from the Introduction, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2.

Part I: Matching – Key Terms & Figures

(Definitions are brief for quick matching.)

Introduction & Lectures

• Women’s & Gender Studies (WGS) – An interdisciplinary field examining how gender shapes society, power, identity, and inequality.
• Feminist/Feminism – A movement and ideology seeking gender equality, challenging patriarchy, and valuing women’s rights/experiences.

Middle English Literature [Fifth Slide]

Characteristics of Old English and the Norman Conquest

In conjunction with the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the language use in the Middle English period also went through a vast change. While the ruling elite spoke strictly French because of their Norman heritage, English remained the language of the commoners.

"Why didn't the use of English fade throughout time?" you might ask. There are two distinct reasons for this:

• English was already too established among the Englishmen despite William's attempts to move in with French.
• The Normans began immediately intermarrying with the Englishmen, creating a huge impact on English vocabulary and grammar.

Grammar and Linguistic Shifts

The majority of the changes...

The Effectiveness of Prisons

Many people think that prisoners are not effective. They say that prisoners who are released often go on to commit other crimes. The question is, however, does this mean prisons are a waste of money?

Arguments Against Incarceration

On the one hand, some people believe that putting criminals together makes crime seem normal to offenders. As a result, their experience of being in prison does not help them to live a crime-free life when they are released. Furthermore, as huge amounts of money are spent on prisons, it is often said that prisons are a waste of money.

Arguments for Incarceration

On the other hand, others believe that prisons are essential. They claim that serious offenders must be punished for their actions...

Ezra Pound's Indifference to Traditional Criticism

Pound remains entirely indifferent to three specific areas of literary study:

• History of criticism: He rejects traditional historical frameworks.
• Biographical approaches: He criticizes what he terms "washlist criticism," which places excessive importance on biographical data.
• Ahistorical analysis: His method judges a poem according to intrinsic qualities rather than the period in which it was written. He does not believe the passage of time affects the quality or consideration of a literary work.

The Timeless Nature of Poetry

Pound argues that poetry is "always the same; the changes are superficial." While styles, feelings, topics, and vocabulary evolve, the core remains constant.

"What we need is...

Balto-Slavic Languages

This branch contains two sub-branches: Baltic and Slavic.

The Slavic Branch

These languages are primarily confined to Eastern Europe. In general, Catholic populations use the Latin alphabet, while Orthodox populations use the Cyrillic alphabet, which is derived from Greek. Indeed, some of these languages are very similar, differing only in the script used (for example, Croatian and Serbian are virtually the same language).

Key languages include:

• Bulgarian: One of the oldest Slavic languages.
• Russian: The most widely spoken Slavic language.
• Others: Polish, Kashubian (spoken in parts of Poland), Sorbian (spoken in parts of eastern Germany), Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Macedonian, Bosnian, Ukrainian, and Byelorussian.

Slavic languages...

Leavisite Critique of Mass Culture

The Pre-Industrial Ideal vs. Mass Civilization

The Leavises argued that everything was different prior to the Industrial Revolution. As an example, the world of Shakespeare's contemporaries was one that boasted an organic, vital, common culture; the Industrial Revolution was seen as shattering the unity of this healthy organic, common culture. Mass civilization was characterized by increasing commercialism and declining standards. So, the Leavises associated the consumption of mass culture with passive diversion.

Consequences of Industrial Culture

There were, according to the Leavises, important consequences for the definition of culture. Given the worst effects of industrial culture, there was a need for society...

Ancient Education: A Comparative Study

Greek Educational Models

Athens

During the Homeric period, physical prowess was highly valued. The Golden Age shifted the focus to cultivating good citizens. Sophists emerged, emphasizing rhetoric and mayeutics. Mayeutics, a method of systematic questioning, aimed to guide individuals towards truth and understanding.

• Assumption: The questioner assumes the person being questioned does not know.
• Process: Systematic questioning leads to definition and conclusion.

Women's education was primarily domestic, overseen by mothers or male family educators.

Physical education included activities like wrestling, running, discus throwing, and javelin throwing.

Sparta

In Sparta, the state controlled the educational process,...

Causes of the 1979 Islamic Revolution

The 1979 Islamic Revolution occurred because many citizens felt the country was becoming excessively modernized and Westernized. Islamic fundamentalists sought to eliminate the influence of the US-backed Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, whose rule was seen as a departure from traditional values.

Democratic Aspirations and the Role of the Shah

Several groups initially pushed for the Shah's ousting in hopes of establishing a more democratic system. These included:

• Liberals and Merchants: Those who sought political freedom.
• Capitalists and Business People: Individuals who had profited from the White Revolution but grew tired of the Shah's controlling and autocratic governance.

Why the Revolution Became Fundamentalist

Despite...

1989 Constitutional Amendments and Institutional Changes

• Institutionalization of Power: Following the death of the Ayatollah, the informal practices he established were institutionalized.
• The Expediency Council: This body was institutionalized to resolve conflicts between liberals and conservatives. While it existed previously, its role was expanded and formalized.
• Assembly of Religious Experts: The amendments also expanded the number of members in the Assembly of Religious Experts.

Impact of Oil Dependence on the Iranian State

• The Rentier State: Iran receives sufficient revenue from oil to disregard its internal tax base. This causes the Iranian state to become independent of society; since there is little taxation, there is little public representation