TRINITYTOPIC

PRESENTATION IDEAS

Grade 7• My first time in England• Important people in my life• The Lord of the Rings• The Sistine Chapel• Clown Therapy• The Red Cross and me• Disney• My passion for fashion / drawing / dancing• The Rise of an Empire• My phobias / interests / obssessions• Bullying / Adolescent problems today• My talents / my future prospects / my dreams

Grade 8• The Pope / Berlinguer • “The Kite Runner” / “Twilight”• The America Dream• Obama: yes “he” can• The UK vs. the USA• Dante in Hell / Leopardi• Queen: the last rock group• Salem: Witch Hunting• Touring: Italy / Umbria / Greece / Canada / the USA• Italian Education Reforms• My town: Saviano• Global pizza• Totò in the Italian cinema

THE U.K.vs.

THE U.S.A.

My choice

My curiosities:Origins

GovernmentMusic

My opinion

Origins: The war of the Roses vs.The War of Independence

Government: Constitutional Monarchyvs. Federal Republic

What if…?

Music: Pop vs. RockWhy…?

Grade 8: The UK vs. the USA

• My choice• My curiosities – Origins: The War of the Roses vs. the War of

Independence– Government: Constituional Monarchy vs. Fedral

Republic– Music: Pop Music vs. Rock ‘n’ Roll

• My opinion

My Choice: The UK vs. the USAMy choice about this topic comes from my curiosity

to discover the differences between these two countries. It all began when I started studying English in my first years of secondary school. My teacher used to note some of the differences in the language; one example I remember her making was when she had had us write down “flat” for British English and “apartment” for American English. Then I realized there was more to it than just that. I have been studying it for almost 7 years now and I think it is time to understand more in depth why these two countries are culturally different.

My curiosityOrigins: the War of the Roses vs.

the War of IndependenceFirstly, what makes these two countries different are its origins:The War of the Roses broke out between the House of York (whose symbol was

a white rose and which was helped by the Scottish and the Welsh) and the House of Lancaster (a red rose which was helped by East England and London). The aim of each side was to win the throne of England. At the end, Henry Tudor, from the House of Lancaster won, but he married Elisabeth of York creating the Tudor dynasty which united Great Britain.

After the discovery of America by Columbus and the arrival of the Pilgrims to the New World, America thought the British government had been unfair towards them by taxing tea. They protested by dumping the tea into the port and the founding forefathers signed on the 4th of July 1776 the constitution of the United States declaring its independence from Britain. Therefore creating what we know today as the United States of America.

My CuriosityGovernment:

Constitutional Monarchy vs. Federal Republic

Naturally, both countries represent two different powers. The U.K. has a completely different government from the U.S.A. Whereas the Queen is an heir to the throne and reigns with the support of the Parliament, in the U.S.A. the President and Parliament are elected by the people.

In the U.K., there are 2 important houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. While in the U.S.A. the government is divided into three branches: the executive, the judicial and the legislative. The legislative branch is represented by Congress which is in turn divided into two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Whereas, the President of the U.S.A. stands for the executive branch.

In the United States, the president holds enormous powers and is the head of the state, in other words, war can be declared without the government’s approval. Although in the U.K. the Queen is the Head of State and the Anglican Church, she does not have such powers.

My curiosityMusic: Pop Music “The Beatles” vs.

Rock ‘n’ Roll - the king ElvisAlthough different kinds of music are popular in both countries, the first

musicians to score it big were completely unalike. The music of “the Beatles” is considered the music of the 20th century. In 1962,

four boys from Liverpool founded the first pop group that would have become the greatest and most popular pop band in the world. During their years together, kids were influenced by and copied their looks. But even today, teenagers still listen to their music. It has been reported, that one important event of their career was their encounter with Bob Dylan in America. They started to fill their songs with social and pacifist meanings.

In America, instead, one person was able to create an unknown style of music and began a new way of dancing. His name was Elvis Presley. He is considered the king of rock ‘n’ roll. He was a self-taught guitarist and put together country music and rhythm and blues and created a phenomena that is still listened to today.

My opinion about these two great nations

If all these great events in history hadn’t existed, the UK and the USA wouldn’t have become the great nations they are today. I wouldn’t be able to visit their sights and try the famous “fish and chips” at the corner shops of London and the “hot diggity dogs” on the street corners of New York.

Friends have always told me about the wonderful things they had seen and tried when they had been to these two amazing places.