Week 17: Wayne Gretzky, Ice Hockey

Mo 5.14
Class: Course review

Assignment: Extra-Credit

The game is almost over

Your extra-credit assignment asks that you reflect upon a semester's worth of reading and writing about sports. What about the subject matter struck you as most interesting? What surprised you? Did you change your mind about any particular sport? Were any preconceived notions of yours changed or challenged? In a reflection-style response, consider the experience of studying various aspects of sports in an English composition class.

Required:

• MLA Style
• Must be exactly two-full pages in length

Worth up to 10 extra-credit pts.

Due: Friday, May 18th by noon via email

Sporting News 05.07.12

San Jose's newly out gymnast hopes to compete in London

• San Jose's Josh Dixon, Stanford gymnast and Olympic-hopeful, announces he's gay San Jose Mercury News
• The New York Mets honor The Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch Yahoo! Sports
  
• Murder at the Kentucky Derby USA Today
• Boy fights to stay on all-girls field hockey team, invokes Title IX Huffington Post
• Canadian host cities for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup announced Washington Times
• This is it: Michael Phelps to retire after London games CNN

Week 16: Lance Armstrong, Cycling

Between 199 and 2005, Armstrong won a record seven Tours de France

Mo 5.7
Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Final Exam: Thesis Strategies”

We 5.9
Class: Final exam prep
Due: REFLECTION 8

Sa 5.12
FINAL EXAM: 8 AM, SH100—Bring: 1 large yellow book, pens, and a print dictionary. No electronic devices allowed during the exam.

Upcoming:

Week 17: Wayne Gretzky, Ice Hockey
Mo 5.14
Class: Course review

Reflection 08: I Want to Play!—Crossing Gender Lines in Sports

It can be challenging to break through sports' gender barriers

Sometimes, a girl just wants to wrestle. Other times, a boy just wants to cheer. But American sports are still largely separated by gender lines. Athletes and fans alike often have trouble accepting men and women entering sports traditionally played by the opposite sex. And yet, all across the country, boys and girls are challenging gender stereotypes in sports everyday. Against sometimes great odds, girls are donning hockey gear and boys are becoming synchronized swimmers. Still, why is America so resistant to athletes crossing the gender lines? Why do questions of these players' sexuality invariably arise? Will gender divisions ever be a thing of the past? Finally, are you comfortable when traditional gender roles in sports are challenged?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• 'The Curious Case of Niklas Stoepel" (ESPN)
• "Boy Cheerleader Tyler Wilson Won't Quit Despite Arm Broken by Bullies" (ABCNews)
• "Girl Football Player Sits Out Game After Foe Threatens Forfeit" (Yahoo! Sports)
• "Girl Wrestler Makes History in Iowa" (CBS News)

Required:

• MLA Style
• Must be exactly two pages in length
• A Works Cited page 

Due: We 5.08

Sporting News 05.02.12

Former NFL linebacker Junior Seau has been found dead

• An NFL legend found dead: Junior Seau dies in apparent suicide Huffington Post
• SJSU, Utah State joining Mountain West ESPN
• Troy Dumais trying to become the first U.S. male diver to compete in four Olympics USA Today
• Sharks coach Todd McLellan's future with the team unclear San Jose Mercury News 
• The NFL makes an example of the New Orleans Saints Sports Illustrated 
• MLS representative: Female superfans are a "turn-off" ESPN

 

Week 15: Serena Williams, Tennis

So far, Williams has earned 27 Grand Slam titles and 2 Olympic gold medals

Mo 4.30
Class: Watch—Dare to Dream: The Story of the U.S. Women's Soccer Team (2005)

We 5.2
Class: Lecture—“Speed Dates: Thesis Statements”
Due: EDITORIAL ESSAY

Upcoming:

Week 16: Lance Armstrong, Cycling
Mo 5.7
Class: Final exam prep; Lecture—“The Final Exam: Thesis Strategies”

We 5.9
Class: Final exam prep
Due: REFLECTION 8

Sa 5.12
FINAL EXAM: 8 AM, LOCATION TBD

Week 17: Wayne Gretzky, Ice Hockey
Mo 5.14
Class: Course review