U. S. Sports History

MW 6:55-8:10 p.m.

Room 212

Dr. Leslie Heaphy

 

Office:  310 D

Office Hours: MW 1-2 p.m., W 4:30-5:30 p. m., TR 1-2 p.m. or by appointment

Phone: 330-244-3304

E-mail: Lheaphy@stark.kent.edu

 

Course Description

This course will examine the growth and development of sporting and leisure activities in America from the colonial period to the present.  This examination will involve exploring a variety of topics through the lens’s of race, class, gender, politics, economics, religion to name a few.  We will rely on lectures, films, discussions and guests to explore America’s sporting heritage.

 

Course Objectives

1.      To give students a greater understanding of sport history

2.      To help students explore the idea of sports through a larger historical context

3.      To encourage students to look for connections between the past and present

4.      To develop students ability to communicate in written and spoken formats through discussions and various writing assignments

5.      To help students learn about the skills and methodology used by historians through a research project

6.  To help students develop their critical thinking skills

 

Required Texts

Only the Ball was White—Robert Peterson

Sport in America—David Wiggins

Whatever it Takes--Sandoz

And class handouts

 

Grading

Two Exams ………200 total (100 pts each)

Project…………….150 total

Museum paper ……………. 50 points

Web site review ……………30 points

Class Participation ………………….30 points

Film Review …………………….. 40 points

 

Total………………………………..500 points

 

Scale

A 450-500

B 400-449

C 350-399

D 300-349

F Below 300

 

Policies/Services

            Students with Disabilities

University Policy #3342-3-18 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content.  If you have a documented disability and are seeking academic accommodations please contact Kelly Kulick in the Office of Student Disability Services at 330-244-3287.  Students need to understand that if they will be requesting academic accommodations they are required to present medical documentation that addresses their disability before they are eligible for assistance through the Office of Student Disabilities.  After the middle of September the Office will be relocated in the new Campus Center.  The new office number for the Office of Student Disability Services will be #47.  The new phone number will be 330-244-5047.

 

Academic Honesty

All work that students hand in is expected to be their own.  Failure to do so is plagiarism and students could be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the "Cheating and Plagiarism" section of the University's Digest of Rules and Regulations.  Your instructor may use software to identify portions of papers which have been copied from websites.

 

Writing Center

            Located in Main Hall, room 202, the Writing Center offers students help and instruction on any writing assignments in this class or any other.  They offer tutorials, handouts and brochures, and information on their website:  www.stark.kent.edu/writing.  There is no cost to use this service.

           

Testing Center

            The Testing Center will be located in the lower level of the new Campus Center.  Call for hours and other information.  Currently the office is still located in the lower level of the library.

 

Campus Theme

This year the Campus Theme is Globalization.  The campus theme is designed to help students see connections between the classes they are taking as different disciplines may introduce the same topic but deal with it in different ways.  The book Globalization:  A Short History is available in the library for those interested.  

 

Assignments

            Exams

Students will complete two exams during the semester, one at midterm time and one during final exam week.  Each exam will be a take home exam and directions will be handed out separately for each exam.

            Exam 1

            Exam 2

 

            Museum Review

Each student will complete one museum visit and critical review.  Directions will be handed out separately.

 

            Website Review

Each student will complete one web site review using the handout given out separately that provides the guidelines for this project. 

 

            Film Review

Each student will complete one film review on a film of their choosing, that must relate to the topics of the class.  Directions will be handed out separately.

 

            Class Participation/Attendance

Attendance is expected in all classes.  More than three absences will result in a lowering of the student’s grade.  There will be lots of opportunity for class discussion and in-class assignments that students will receive credit for.  These are things that cannot be made up so if you miss class you risk losing points on these mini assignments.

 

Project

See Separate handout with all the directions for this assignment.

 

            Trivia Questions

 

Course Outline

The following outline is tentative and subject to change depending on the material covered in each class.  Students are expected to complete all readings in a timely manner.  Failure to keep up with the readings could result in occasional pop quizzes.

 

Week 1                        Introduction/Overview and definitions

                                                Read Chapter 1 in Wiggins

Week 2                        Colonial Sporting Practices

                                                Read Chapter 2 in Wiggins

Week 3                        Southern Sporting Culture

                                                Read Chapters 3and 4 in Wiggins

                                    ***Topics Due 9/15***********

Week 4                        Women’s Leisure

                                                Read Chapter 5 in Wiggins and start Sandoz

Week 5                        Modern Sports?

                                                Read Chapters 6 and 7 in Wiggins

Week 6                        Industrialization and Sport

                                                Read Chapters 8and 9 in Wiggins

                                    ***Thesis and outline due 10/6

Week 7                        Sport as Business

                                                Read Chapter 10 in Wiggins

                                    *******Web Review due 10/13********

Week 8                        Sport and War

                                                Read Chapter 11 in Wiggins

                                    *****1st Exam due on October 20th *************

Week 9                        Sport in its Golden Age

                                                Read Chapter 12 in Wiggins and start Peterson

 

Week 10                      Sport and Race

                                                Finish Peterson and Chapter 13 in Wiggins

                                    ***Rough Draft due 11/3**************

Week 11                      Sport and Society

                                                Read Chapter 14 in Wiggins and continue Sandoz

                                    ********Film Review due 11/10**********

Week 12                      Changing America

                                                Read Chapters 15 and 16 in Wiggins and continue Sandoz

 

Week 13                      Sporting Problems

                                                Read Chapter 17 in Wiggins

 

Week 14                      Sports and Consumers

                                                Read chapters 18 and 19 in Wiggins

                                    *****Museum Review due 12/1*********

Week 15                      Recent Sporting Trends

                                    *****Final Paper due 12/8*************

Week 16                      *****Final Exam Due on Wed. December 15th at 6 p.m.*****