Dr. Brad Tripp

Office: Kinard 339

Office Phone: EXT 4602

Office Hours: T 11-1:30

E-mail: trippb@winthrop.edu

Web site: http://faculty.winthrop.edu/trippb/

 

SOCIOLOGY OF COMPETITIVE SPORTS

 

SOCL 506, Section 001

CRN: 21129

Spring 2011

Kinard 315

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10:00-10:50

 

COURSE GOALS

 

Sport holds a central spot in current American society.  From childhood games to professional sports, various levels of athletic competition fill our thoughts and our days.  The goal for this class is for students to be able to provide a sociological and historical explanation of sports and its influence on society and the individual.

           

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

Students will be able to examine sport as being socially constructed.  This means that they will be able to see sport as an object which is experienced differently through time, by culture, and amongst different groups.  Students will also be able to analyze sport as a social structure that functions in combination with the media and the economy.

 

RELATIONSHIP TO TOUCHSTONE PROGRAM AND DEPARTMENTAL GOALS

 

This course supports our departmental mission statement as students will develop the analytical tools to understand and ever-expanding body of knowledge about the dynamics of social relationships, the nature of power and influence in complex societies, and the roles of age, class, ethnicity, gender, religion, and other social phenomena that affect viewpoints and life chances.

 

   http://www.winthrop.edu/cas/sociologyanthropology/default.aspx?id=10128

 

Additionally, this course supports the following goals in the Touchstone Program:

 

Goal Three: To use critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a variety of research methods.

Goal Four: To recognize and appreciate human diversity (both past and present) as well as the diversity of ideas, institutions, philosophies, moral codes, and ethical principles.

 

http://www2.winthrop.edu/universitycollege/Touchstone/Touchstonegoals.htm

 

REQUIRED TEXT

 

TEXT BOOK: Sociology of North American Sport

            Authors: Eitzen and Sage

 

READER: Sports Talk

            Editor: Beckelheimer

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

 

EXAMS: There will be three tests.  The final test will be a cumulative exam.  All three tests will contain both multiple choices and a written portion (essays and short answers).  Reviews will be provided for all three tests.

 

            CONTENT ANALYSIS: Students will engage in a content analysis of sports message boards.  Further information in the form of a rubric is available on my web page.  Should students have interest in publishing this research they will need to speak with me as soon as possible, so that we may move forward with IRB procedures.

           

CLASS DISCUSSION LEADER: On January 13th you will sign up in pairs to be the class discussion leaders on one of the readings from the Beckelheimer book Sports Talk.  The date on which you will have to be discussion leader will be listed on the sign up sheet.  You will be responsible for sending out a list of 7 questions about the article that we may discuss in class.  You will need to send this email to the class list serve at least 2 days in advance.  However, half of your grade will come from sending me your questions exactly one week prior to your presentation.  By doing so, I can help you out and redirect you towards any missed opportunities to address key issues.  A more detailed rubric will be available on my web page. Presentations will be limited to 20 minutes.

 

FOUR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: Students will be assigned four different homework assignments throughout the semester, which will be worth 20 points each.  The class will be sent an email explaining each homework assignment one week before the due date.

 

GRADING

Test 1 = 100 pts

Test 2 = 100 pts

Final Exam = 150 pts

Content analysis paper = 50 pts

Class Discussion Leader = 20 pts

Four Homework Assignments = (20 pts each) Total of 80 pts

Total Points Available = 500

 

 

Grade               Points

 

A                     500 - 450

B+                   449 - 435

B                     434 - 400

C+                   399 - 385

C                     384 - 350

D+                   349 - 335

D                     334 – 300

F                299 or lower

 

 

GRADING POLICIES: I expect students to take the exams on the dates scheduled and during the allotted time period.  Make-up exams are available under dire circumstances (EX: student is hospitalized.)  If you will not be at the exam during its scheduled time you must notify me in advance, we will then determine an appropriate course of action.  I reserve the right to give a make-up exam that is different from the original exam. ALL MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN ON STUDY DAY (APRIL 24TH ).

All dates given, and material covered can be changed at the instructor’s discretion, therefore it is your job to keep informed via attendance, and getting make up material from friends in class.

           

Take pride in your own work and personal preparation for exams.  Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class. Any student caught cheating on exams or plagiarizing their paper will receive a final course grade of “F.”

 

COURSE SCHEDULE

 

1/9: INTRODUCTION

 

1/16: NO CLASSES – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

 

1/11-1/20:

·         Lecture: Sociology of Sports

·         CH 1: The Sociological Analysis of Sport in Society

·         READER: Reflections: Why We Play the Game

·         READER: The Prehistoric Origin of Sports

·         READER: The Olympics: A History of the Modern Games

 

 

1/20-1/27:

·         Lecture: History of Sports

·         CH 2: Social and Cultural Sources of the Rise of Sport in North America

·         READER: Sports: The All-American Addiction

·         READER: The Whole World Isn’t Watching

 

 

1/30-2/3:

·         CH 3: Sport and Societal Values

·         READER: NASCAR Nirvana: R.V.’s, Rock Bands, and Jell-O Shots

 

2/6-2/10:

·         CH4: Children and Sport

·         REVIEW AVAILABLE ONLINE (2/9)

 

2/13: TEST 1

 

2/15-2/20:

·         CH 5: Interscholastic Sport

 

2/20-2/24:

·         CH 6: Intercollegiate Sport

 

2/24-2/29:

·         CH 7: Social Problems in North American Sport

·         READER: In NFL, Violence Sells, But at What Cost?

·         READER: Where is the Budo in Mixed Martial Arts?

 

 

3/2-3/9

·         CH 10: Sport and the Economy

·         READER: Sporting Metaphors: Competition and the Ethos of Capitalism

 

3/9-3/21:

·         CH 11: Sport and the Mass Media

·         REVIEW AVAILABLE ONLINE (3/21)

 

3/12-3/16: SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES

 

3/23: TEST 2

 

3/26-3/30:

·         CH 12: Sport, Social Stratification, and Social Mobility

 

4/2-4/9:

·         CH 13: Racial-Ethnic Minorities and Sport

·         READER: Indian Wars / Polls and Prejudice

·         READER: Joe Louis’ Biggest Knockout

·         READER: Debate on Women at Augusta

 

4/11-4/16:

·         CH 14: Gender and North American Sport: Continuity and Change

·         READER: Sex Sells, and Many Athletes are Cashing In

·         READER: Boys to Men: Sports Media – Messages About Masculinity

 

4/18-4/23:

·         CH 15: Contemporary Trends and the Future of Sport in North America

 

 

4/23:

 

FINAL EXAM: FRIDAY APRIL 27TH,  8AM

 

Students with Disabilities

 

Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education.  If you have a disability and require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at 803-323-3290.  Once you have your official notice of accommodations from the Office of Disability Services, please inform me as early as possible in the semester.

 

Phone and Texting Policy

 

There will be absolutely no usage of phones or mp3 players in this class.  If your phone rings, do not answer it.  Everyone forgets every now and then so, first time offenders will not be penalized.  Multiple time offenders will be asked to leave the class.  Students who answer phone calls will be asked to leave class for the day.  Likewise, students caught texting during class will also be asked to leave.  If a person is caught texting a second time they will have 10 points taken off of their FINAL GRADE.  Failure to comply with these regulations will result in failure in the class.  Should you have a personal/family emergency and need your phone to remain active, talk with me before class and we will come to an arrangement.

 

Student code of conduct

 

As noted in the Student Conduct Code:  “Responsibility for good conduct rests with students as adult individuals.” Additionally my attendance policy is the same as is listed in the student handbook.  Both the attendance policy and the policy on student academic misconduct are outlined in the “Student Conduct Code Academic Misconduct Policy” in the online Student Handbook:

 

http://www2.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/StudentHandbook.pdf

 

 

Attendance Policy

 

The attendance policy is for this class is the same as the University policy: If a student’s absences in a course total 25 percent or more of the class meetings for the course, the student will receive a grade of N if the student withdraws from the course before the withdrawal deadline; after that date, unless warranted by documented extenuating circumstances as described in the previous section, a grade of F or U shall be assigned.

 

http://www.winthrop.edu/majors/default.aspx?id=9242&ekmensel=db97ad6c_546_548_9242_1

 

 

Winthrop’s Academic Success Center

 

Winthrop’s Academic Success Center is a free resource for all undergraduate students seeking to perform their best academically.  The ASC offers a variety of personalized and structured resources that help students achieve academic excellence, such as tutoring, academic skill development (test taking strategies, time management counseling, and study techniques), group and individual study spaces, and academic coaching.  The ASC is located on the first floor of Dinkins, Suite 106.  Please contact the ASC at 803-323-3929 or success@winthrop.edu.  For more information on ASC services, please visit www.winthrop.edu/success.

 

The Office of Victims Assistance Syllabus Statement

 

The Office of Victims Assistance (OVA) provides direct services to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking as well as campus-wide educational programming to prevent these crimes from occurring. The staff provides counseling services and assists with obtaining sexual assault forensic exams, STI testing/treatment, pregnancy prevention, housing options, legal prosecution, and access to other support services including assistance with class or course problems resulting from victimization (i.e. missed classes, trouble concentrating or completing assignments). The OVA is located in 204 Crawford and can be reached at (803) 323-2206.  In the case of an after-hours emergency, please call Campus Police at (803)323-3333, or the local rape crisis center, Safe Passage, at their 24-hour hotline, (803)329-2800.

 

For more information please visit: http://www2.winthrop.edu/victimsassistance/Default.htm