Students

SOC 320 – Sport, Culture and Society

2017 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Raj Velayutham
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
39cp at 100 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
The unit outlines the various sociological theories and analyses of sport. It examines such issues as: sport and media, sport, globalisation and human rights; sport, gender and race; the conduct of spectators and players; gambling and sport; on and off-field violence; professionalism and corporate sponsorship and ownership. It illustrates these concerns by referring to the various forms of professional football in Australia, cricket, and sporting competitions such as the Olympic Games, the soccer and rugby World Cups. You will be encouraged to draw upon contemporary sporting events and news in your assignments.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • To introduce students to key texts and themes in the sociological literature on sport, culture and society. • To critically evaluate a variety of theoretical approaches to understanding the connections between sport and culture. • To explore current trends and new directions for research in the field of sport, culture and society. • To encourage students to develop capacities for creative and independent thinking as well as the ability to closely read and interrogate textual material. • To work closely with the body of course material and produce new research in the areas of your interest. • To encourage students in the development of writing skills.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research Essay 25% No Week 6
Group Presentation and Report 25% No Week 10
Class test 30% No week 13
Tutorial contribution 20% No ongoing

Research Essay

Due: Week 6
Weighting: 25%

Why is there still racism in sport?

Using a recent example, examine the underlying reasons for racial discrimination in sport. You must use at least 4 sociology references in this essay.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • To introduce students to key texts and themes in the sociological literature on sport, culture and society. • To critically evaluate a variety of theoretical approaches to understanding the connections between sport and culture. • To explore current trends and new directions for research in the field of sport, culture and society. • To encourage students to develop capacities for creative and independent thinking as well as the ability to closely read and interrogate textual material. • To work closely with the body of course material and produce new research in the areas of your interest. • To encourage students in the development of writing skills.

Group Presentation and Report

Due: Week 10
Weighting: 25%

Group presentation and individual written report scheduled for week 10 during the lecture.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • To introduce students to key texts and themes in the sociological literature on sport, culture and society. • To critically evaluate a variety of theoretical approaches to understanding the connections between sport and culture. • To explore current trends and new directions for research in the field of sport, culture and society. • To encourage students to develop capacities for creative and independent thinking as well as the ability to closely read and interrogate textual material. • To work closely with the body of course material and produce new research in the areas of your interest. • To encourage students in the development of writing skills.

Class test

Due: week 13
Weighting: 30%

Class test is based on the required readings and lecture content covered in the unit.

 

 

 

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • To introduce students to key texts and themes in the sociological literature on sport, culture and society. • To critically evaluate a variety of theoretical approaches to understanding the connections between sport and culture. • To explore current trends and new directions for research in the field of sport, culture and society. • To encourage students to develop capacities for creative and independent thinking as well as the ability to closely read and interrogate textual material. • To work closely with the body of course material and produce new research in the areas of your interest. • To encourage students in the development of writing skills.

Tutorial contribution

Due: ongoing
Weighting: 20%

Tutorial attendance is compulsory. Students are expected to actively contribute to tutorial discussions.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • To introduce students to key texts and themes in the sociological literature on sport, culture and society. • To critically evaluate a variety of theoretical approaches to understanding the connections between sport and culture. • To explore current trends and new directions for research in the field of sport, culture and society. • To encourage students to develop capacities for creative and independent thinking as well as the ability to closely read and interrogate textual material. • To work closely with the body of course material and produce new research in the areas of your interest. • To encourage students in the development of writing skills.

Delivery and Resources

  • Students must complete all the assessments in order to pass the unit.
  • Seminar attendance is compulsory. Students will incur a 5% penalty for every seminar that they miss. Only one medical certificate accepted.
  • REQUIRED READINGS: Purchase a course reader from Co-op bookstore.
  • RECOMMENDED READINGS: Refer to the Macquarie University Library catalogue.
  • Students are expected complete required readings and contribute to tutorial discussions.
  • REFERENCING: use Harvard (author-date) referencing style.
  • Research essay must be submitted through TURNITIN.
  • PLEASE CONTACT the unit convenor if you have any queries about the course, assignments and or require extension or special consideration.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment task

  • Group Presentation and Report

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • To introduce students to key texts and themes in the sociological literature on sport, culture and society. • To critically evaluate a variety of theoretical approaches to understanding the connections between sport and culture. • To explore current trends and new directions for research in the field of sport, culture and society. • To encourage students to develop capacities for creative and independent thinking as well as the ability to closely read and interrogate textual material. • To work closely with the body of course material and produce new research in the areas of your interest. • To encourage students in the development of writing skills.

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • Group Presentation and Report
  • Class test
  • Tutorial contribution

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • To introduce students to key texts and themes in the sociological literature on sport, culture and society. • To critically evaluate a variety of theoretical approaches to understanding the connections between sport and culture. • To explore current trends and new directions for research in the field of sport, culture and society. • To encourage students to develop capacities for creative and independent thinking as well as the ability to closely read and interrogate textual material. • To work closely with the body of course material and produce new research in the areas of your interest. • To encourage students in the development of writing skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Group Presentation and Report
  • Class test
  • Tutorial contribution

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • To introduce students to key texts and themes in the sociological literature on sport, culture and society. • To critically evaluate a variety of theoretical approaches to understanding the connections between sport and culture. • To explore current trends and new directions for research in the field of sport, culture and society. • To encourage students to develop capacities for creative and independent thinking as well as the ability to closely read and interrogate textual material. • To work closely with the body of course material and produce new research in the areas of your interest. • To encourage students in the development of writing skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Group Presentation and Report
  • Class test
  • Tutorial contribution

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • To introduce students to key texts and themes in the sociological literature on sport, culture and society. • To critically evaluate a variety of theoretical approaches to understanding the connections between sport and culture. • To explore current trends and new directions for research in the field of sport, culture and society. • To encourage students to develop capacities for creative and independent thinking as well as the ability to closely read and interrogate textual material. • To work closely with the body of course material and produce new research in the areas of your interest. • To encourage students in the development of writing skills.

Assessment task

  • Research Essay

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • To introduce students to key texts and themes in the sociological literature on sport, culture and society. • To critically evaluate a variety of theoretical approaches to understanding the connections between sport and culture. • To explore current trends and new directions for research in the field of sport, culture and society. • To encourage students to develop capacities for creative and independent thinking as well as the ability to closely read and interrogate textual material. • To work closely with the body of course material and produce new research in the areas of your interest. • To encourage students in the development of writing skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Group Presentation and Report
  • Tutorial contribution

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • To introduce students to key texts and themes in the sociological literature on sport, culture and society. • To critically evaluate a variety of theoretical approaches to understanding the connections between sport and culture. • To explore current trends and new directions for research in the field of sport, culture and society. • To encourage students to develop capacities for creative and independent thinking as well as the ability to closely read and interrogate textual material. • To work closely with the body of course material and produce new research in the areas of your interest. • To encourage students in the development of writing skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Group Presentation and Report
  • Class test
  • Tutorial contribution

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • To introduce students to key texts and themes in the sociological literature on sport, culture and society. • To critically evaluate a variety of theoretical approaches to understanding the connections between sport and culture. • To explore current trends and new directions for research in the field of sport, culture and society. • To encourage students to develop capacities for creative and independent thinking as well as the ability to closely read and interrogate textual material. • To work closely with the body of course material and produce new research in the areas of your interest. • To encourage students in the development of writing skills.

Assessment tasks

  • Class test
  • Tutorial contribution