JAN 116 - Sports Writing: The “I” in Team

Instructor(s):  Volmer, Mary
Email:  mvolmer@stmarys-ca.edu

Despite the clichéd phrase, “there is no I in team,” a team is a collection of I(s): individuals with needs and goals distinct from and, at times, in conflict with team goals. In this course we will use all kinds of sports writing (journalism, creative, scholarly, reflective) to explore the difficulties and rewards of being an individual on an athletic team, and by extension an individual within a community. 
 
Fear not. To take this class you do not need to be an athlete. We will be exercising our minds and the topics we investigate have far-reaching implications. How does one best satisfy and balance individual needs with the needs of a collective (be it a team, family, corporation, theater troupe, campus, class etc.)? What is a “team player?” Are/How are sports a religious activity, a patriotic activity, a selfish or selfless activity? How do we view race, gender, and sexuality through the lens of sports? We will explore these questions and more in our reading, in our writing, and in our discussions. Our goal is to gain a broader understanding of the place of sport in our own lives and in our society. 
 

Prerequisites & Notes
None

Credits: 3-CU