1. Midterm Exam
Worth 25%
Short paragraph answer questions. There are some questions that will require more than one paragraph.
Multiple choice
Cover lectures 1 though 5.
Video: Doping for Gold
Speakers: Cathy Mills and Andrea Bundon
Journal articles:
Eitzen, S. (2003). Sport is healthy, sport is destructive. In S. Eitzen (Author), Fair and foul: Beyond the myths and paradoxes of sport (pp ). New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Sage, G. (1998). A sociological perspective of sport. In G. Sage (Author) Power and Ideology in American sport: A critical perspective (pp. 1-15). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

2. Readings
Donnellly, P and Harvey, J. (1999). Class and gender: Intersections in sport and physical activity. In P White and K. Young (Eds). Sport and gender in Canada (pp40-64)
Donnelly, P. & Young, K. (1999). Rock climbers and rugby players: Identity construction and confirmation. In J. Coakley & P. Donnelly (Eds.) Inside Sports (pp ). New York, NY: Routledge.

3. Readings
Messner, M. (1992). Out of the limelight: Disengagement from the athletic career. Chapter 6 in Power at play: Sports and the problem of masculinity (pp ). Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
Robinson, L. (1998). Young gods: A convicted felon makes the all- star team. In. L. Robinson (Author), Crossing the line: Violence and sexual assault in Canada’s national sport (pp ). Toronto, ON: McClelland and Stewart..
Beal, B. (1995). Disqualifying the official: An exploration of social resistance through the subculture of skateboarding. Sociology of Sport Journal, 12,
 Can bring in one page of notes, both sides, for the midterm.

4. Midterm sample question
Which social theory (perspective) is an organized system of interrelated parts and sport is studied in terms of contributions to the system and any research is on sport participation and positive outcomes for society and those who participate.
Using this theory, what social action would a theorist undertake?
What are the major weaknesses of this theoretical perspective?

5. Answer Social Theory: Functionalist Theory (1) Social Action:
Promote the development and growth of organized sports
Increase sport participation opportunities to foster individual development
Increase the supervision and control of athletes
Mandate coaching education programmes
Highlight success in elite programmes (2.5)

6. Answer Major weaknesses:
Overstates the positive consequences of sport in society
Assumes that all social groups benefit equally from sports
Does not recognize that sports are social constructions that privilege or disadvantage some people more than others (1.5)

7. Short answer question
Identify and describe three stages of identity construction according to the Donnelly and Young reading: ‘Rock Climbers and Rugby Players’. Refer to examples drawn from the Donnelly and Young article:
Selection and Recruitment – when an individual makes direct contact to become a participant (1)
Socialization – accurate identity construction begins during this stage. There are a number of common rookie errors (1)
- accuracy of presocialization – if the presoc exp are accurate the rookie will have few problems – ie how should act (.5)

8. Selection and Recruitment – when an individual makes direct contact to become a participant (1)
Socialization – accurate identity construction begins during this stage. There are a number of common rookie errors (1)
- accuracy of presocialization – if the presoc exp are accurate the rookie will have few problems – ie how should act (.5)

9. Multiple choice question
Social theories are useful and practical because they:
A. justify our personal biases and enable us to put those biases into action.
B. discourage us from taking actions that could get us into trouble.
C. enable us to make sense out of life and learn from our experiences.
D. often impress other people who lack formal education and training.
Answer: C

10. Multiple choice question
The overviews provided in class suggest that the people who have had the greatest impact on sports throughout history have usually been those who:
A. are the best athletes.
B. manufacture the equipment for sports.
C. have the most power in the society.
D. come from families with traditions of sport participation.
Answer: C

11. Multiple choice question
When conflict theorists have studied socialization, they focus on issues such as:
A. how athletes are victimized by those who control sports.
B. the characteristics of significant others in the socialization process.
C. how sports serve general "system needs" in a society.
D. the ways that sport participation builds positive character in athletes.
Answer: A

12. Multiple choice question
The sport ethic becomes a source of dangerous “deviance” in sports when:
A. athletes raise too many questions about its meaning.
B. people in sports do not set boundaries to limit overconformity to the ethic.
C. athletes reject the norms of the sport ethic and make up their own rules.
D. referees do not take the sport ethic seriously when they enforce rules.
Answer: B

13. Multiple choice question
As defined in the class on deviance, intimidation refers to:
A. any verbal behavior grounded in anger or frustration.
B. physical behavior that is motivated by strong feelings.
C. words or actions that threaten violence or aggression.
D. all efforts to influence another person.
Answer: C