PED 217 - Social Aspects of Sports

Tentative Course Outline

Week 1: Introduction

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Sociology of Sport
Topic: The similarities and differences between sport and entertainment

Readings: Chapter 1: you will choose one viewpoint from the 4 topics to read and be ready to discuss.

Week 2: Position paper #1 is due

Chapter 2: A brief history of North American Sport
The first Olympic games video
Chapter 3: Sport and Culture

Week 3: Sosa/Jack Johnson videos

Muhammad Ali video
Chapter 4: Sport and Social Organization

Week 4: Position paper #2 is due

USFL video
Sportsmanship video

Week 5: Chapter 5: Sport and Socialization

Sportsmanship article from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Cub's video

Week 6: Exam 1

Chapter 6: Sport and Social Deviance
Kobe/Babe Ruth video
OJ Simpson video
Katie Couric article with OJ
Woody Hayes video

Week 7: Sport and Social Stratification

Video on Social Class in America
High School classification exercise
Position paper #3 is due
Ben Comer article from Sports Illustrated
Assign paper from movie: RADIO
Movie: 8 Men Out

Week 8: Chapter 8: Sport and Race/Ethnicity

Baseball 5: 17 minutes on Negro League Baseball
Jackie Robinson Video
Henry Aaron Video
Begin research on paper on blacks in major league baseball

Readings: chapter 3: you will pick one viewpoint on the 3 topics to read and be ready to discuss.

Week 9: Position paper #4 is due

Chapter 9: Sport and Gender
Women's football game video
Anna Sorenstam video
Video-why there are not many blacks in major league baseball
A League of Their Own video

Readings: chapter 4: you will pick one viewpoint on the 2 topics to read and be ready to discuss.

Week 10: college sport myths: page 280

Ch. 10: Sport and education
Maurice Clarett video
SMU-the death penalty

Readings: chapter 2: you will pick one viewpoint on the 3 topics to read and be ready to discuss.

Week 11: Exam 2: 85 multiple choice questions on Ch. 6-10

Continue research on paper for blacks in baseball
Chapter 11: Sport and economics
Professional Wrestling video
Pete Rozelle and the rise of the NFL video

Week 12: Sport and dynasty video-Lakers

Activity: Sport Team Organization
Continue Ch. 11
Video: Arizona Cardinals/Milwaukee Brewers attendance and payroll
Internet paper 5: Sport and economics

Week 13: Video: Beer ads

Chapter 12: Sport and Politics
Video: Patriotism
Chapter 13: Sport and Religion

Week 14: Chapter 14: Sport and the Mass Media

10 minutes of the 1952 World Series
video: Sports Illustrated beginning: 20 minutes
Activity: commercial advertising/athlete interview

Week 15: Chapter 15: Sport, Collective Behavior, and Social Change.

Social Aspects of Sport
Ped 217 3 credits

Date/Time: M,W,F 10-10:50 am.
Instructor: Jack Hervert
jhervert@uwc.edu 521-5434

Objectives

  1. To learn a brief history of sport.
  2. To understand sport and its relationship with culture, social organization, social deviance, social stratification, ethnicity, gender, education, economics, politics, religion, and the media.
  3. To understand the relationship between sport, collective behavior, and social change.
  4. To learn an awareness of the varied opinion of our society regarding sport.
  5. To view sport objectively based on the concepts of this course.

Textbook

A Sociological Perspective of Sport: Wilbert Marcellus Leonard, fifth edition: Allyn and Bacon: 1998.

Class Participation

Discussion and participation are important aspects of this course. Students will be asked to discuss topics from readings and videos, complete in class activities and article/video reviews. You are encouraged to express opinions, and be able to listen to the opinions of others. Some of your grade is based upon participation and knowledge of subject matter: YOUR OPINION WILL NOT DETERMINE YOUR GRADE.

Article Reviews

At the end of each chapter there are lists of references in which the student will find the article or a similar article on the internet and write a position paper. These papers will be typed and contain a minimum of 200 words. Usually they will be required on the Friday of each week that they are assigned according to the syllabus.

Attendance

You are allowed three absences. Beginning with the fourth absence your class grade will lower one level (from an A to an A-) unless the instructor is informed of a prolonged absence or family emergency. If you are absent for an exam, you must contact the instructor before hand, or there is a strong chance that you will not be allowed to make it up.

Evaluation

Exam 1, 2, and 3: 20% (60% total)
Book quizzes 20%
Video, article reviews and participation: 20%

Core Proficiencies for Ped 217

  1. Analytical Skills
    1. To analyze, synthesize, evaluate and interpret information and ideas.
    2. To construct and support hypotheses and arguments.
    3. To recognize fallacies and inconsistencies.
    4. To gather and assess information from printed sources, electronic sources, and observation.
  2. Communication Skills
    1. To read and listen with comprehension and critical perception.
    2. To write and speak clearly, precisely, and in a well organized manner.
  3. Aesthetic Response
    1. To respond to the world and creative expression with knowledge and sensitivity.

The UW Colleges wide assessment program has been put into place to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the curriculum, programs and services of the institution. As part of this assessment program, students in Physical Education will be assessed on quantitative skills, specifically, the ability to interpret graphs, tables and diagrams.

In addition, students in this course will be assessed on the skill of (recognizing the correlation between concepts learned and personal lifestyle: recognizing the growth and continual evolution of sports, fitness, and wellness trends), which the department has deemed vital to all students taking a lecture based course.
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