This class is not about playing ball, it's not about what team is best, which sport is more important, or who you should pick for Fantasy. It is about how the culture of America is deeply affected by sports. Specifically, it is about how sports has shaped who we are as an American culture and what we, as Americans, value. It is a study of sport as a cultural influence in the widest sense of how we perceive culture.
Learning Goals
As with all classes I teach, your focus is on learning to read and respond critically. I've often told you that you are only entitled to have an academic opinion if you can support it with adequate evidence. To reach those objectives you will:
Expectations
There are three main components to your grade this semester: participation in class discussions, postings to the class blog, and completing weekly assignments and quizzes. There will not be any papers due for this class, nor will I assign exams that are of high weight; however, do not think that means you can blow off assignments. If this idea doesn't seem to be working, we can always transition toward writing papers and making presentations.This class should be an "easy A" if you participate fully in the following ways:
Rules
Please adhere to all school rules and additionally respect each other. We all process things differently and at different rates. I will not tolerate a fool or a bully. Have fun!
Learning Goals
As with all classes I teach, your focus is on learning to read and respond critically. I've often told you that you are only entitled to have an academic opinion if you can support it with adequate evidence. To reach those objectives you will:
- consider what place sports holds to our culture artistically, morally, politically, and economically;
- respond to the impact sports has had on civil liberties, specifically: race and gender;
- examine how sports has influenced the health and safety of Americans; and
- evaluate whether sports impact has been largely negative or positive in our continuing culture.
Expectations
There are three main components to your grade this semester: participation in class discussions, postings to the class blog, and completing weekly assignments and quizzes. There will not be any papers due for this class, nor will I assign exams that are of high weight; however, do not think that means you can blow off assignments. If this idea doesn't seem to be working, we can always transition toward writing papers and making presentations.This class should be an "easy A" if you participate fully in the following ways:
- Class Discussions: Each week, I will assign various articles or video clips that I expect you to view, evaluate, and discuss. Although there will be times that I will assign articles as homework, we will, for the most part, use class time to read/view together. Discussion is worth 30% of your overall grade. You will never be penalized for saying something with which the class or I disagree, but you will not be rewarded discussion points if you do not actively engage in class discussion.
- Class Blog: For those of you who had classes from me a couple of years ago, you might remember the "Weekly Weebly." Guess what? Obviously it's back. Each week I will post a question to this Weebly in the Blog section. You are responsible for fully answering all parts of the questions posted (plan on writing about 100-150 words per response). You are also required to respond to two other people's posts (substantially--as in not merely agreeing or disagreeing, but asking questions of the poster). In turn, you should respond back to at least one person's question(s) to you. This comprises 40% of your overall grade. You cannot make these assignments up after they are due.
- Weekly Assignments & Quizzes: Weekly assignments might vary from in-class evaluations of articled (SOAP responses completed in class) to short, verbal presentations voicing a particular critique. Quizzes will be given weekly over assigned readings and/or viewings and are intended to measure your comprehension of the current topic. This comprises 30% of your overall grade.
Rules
Please adhere to all school rules and additionally respect each other. We all process things differently and at different rates. I will not tolerate a fool or a bully. Have fun!