MIAMI UNIVERSITY
Department of Physical Education, Health and Sport Studies
PHS 276 The Meaning of Leisure
Fall 2001
Cindy Miller Veraldo; Rm. 121 Phillips Hall; 529-1444/2700; veraldcm@muohio.edu
Office Hours: M & W 12 – 2 and F 2 - 4, Other times by appt. only
Reading Materials:
Kelly, J.R., & Freysinger, V.J. (1999). 21st Century Leisure: Current Issues. Boston,
MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Reading Packet available at Oxford Copy Shop.
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the concept of leisure from historical, socio-cultural, and
personal perspectives. The role and meaning of leisure in the U.S., on both the individual
and societal level, is explored through readings, films, lectures, class discussion and
personal experience. Consistent with the goals of liberal education, this course is designed
to encourage students to think critically, understand contexts, engage with other learners,
and reflect and take action. In providing students with a critical understanding of the
concept of leisure, this course is a ND, H Liberal Education Foundation Course and fulfills
CAS-S requirements.
Course Goals:
1. Develop a critical understanding of current concepts of leisure in the U.S.
2. Come to understand from socio-cultural and historical perspectives the changing role and meaning of leisure
in western cultures (the U.S., specifically) in relation to changing economic systems, social conditions, and
religious beliefs.
3. Examine factors that shape the individual’s experience of leisure in the contemporary U.S. (e.g., social class,
gender, race, ethnicity, and age).
4. Explore popular culture as leisure and how dominant images of social class, gender, race, ethnicity, and age
are produced, reproduced and challenged in this context.
Expectations:
- Students will come into the course with an open mind and a willingness to consider and try to understand
perspectives that may be different from their own.
- Students will take responsibility for their learning by attending all classes, being on time for class, being
prepared for class discussions, actively participating in and contributing to class discussions, raising questions
about the readings, lectures, and discussions that are unclear or not understood, and turning in thoughtfully
completed assignments as due.
- There is no opportunity for make-up exams without an authorized absence (see Miami Bulletin). All decisions
regarding rescheduling of exams are the decision of the professor.
Evaluation: The following criteria will be used to award grades.
A: (90-100%) To earn an “A” the student will exhibit a breadth of knowledge about the meaning of leisure as
presented in readings, lectures and class discussions. The student will be clearly superior in the sophistication
with which problems or issues are analyzed and discussed. The student will demonstrate a serious attempt to
achieve clarity of style expected in academic work. The student will make major contributions in class for
discussion/understanding of issues and problems. Critical thinking and integration of class materials will be
evident.
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B: (80-89%) To earn a “B” the student will exhibit obvious good effort and demonstrate knowledge and critical
analysis of course content in exams, class assignments and participation.
C: (70-79%.) To earn a “C” the student will indicate results no more than average performance expected of
undergraduates and will demonstrate a reasonable grasp of course content.
D: (60-69%) To earn a “D” the student will indicate less than average performance and results expected of
undergraduates and will display a less than average grasp of course content.
F: (59% or less) To earn an “F” the student will exhibit poor performance and results, poor to no understanding
of course content, little effort, and/or will not meet course expectations.
The plus/minus system is used in this course as follows: A+ (97-100), A (93-96), A- (90-92), B+ (87-89), B (8386), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72), D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D- (60-62), F (<60).
Please note: If you are taking this course credit/no credit you must earn at least a C on each Exam and Position
Paper to earn at least a C for your final grade.
Requirements/Grading Criteria:
1) 4 Exams (see last page of syllabus)
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Final Exam
15%
15%
15%
15%
2) Debate Paper
15%
3) Outside Event/Reaction Paper
15%
4) Assignments/Attendance/Participation
10%
100%
Exams
These exams will include multiple choice, T/F, matching, short answer, and short essay questions. The
final exam will not be cumulative.
Debate Paper 3-4 pages, double-spaced, single-sided, and typed. The purpose of this paper is to critically
explore issues discussed in class readings about which we will hold a “class debate” (see further
information on these papers/debates at end of syllabus)
Outside Event/Reaction Paper
You will be attending an event during the semester to experience/study
leisure firsthand. This will be a new leisure experience of your choice. All students are expected to
make arrangements to attend. Tickets may need to be purchased. A critical reaction paper to this
experience is due by an assigned date. (See further description later in the syllabus)
Assignments/Attendance/Participation
** Written assignments must be completed and turned in when due for any credit to be earned. If you miss
a class when an assignment is due, your assignment must be turned in ahead of time or by someone else in
class for any credit to be earned. Assignments will be announced and explained in class. Please check the
3
calendar for the reading and written assignments. You are responsible for finding out about reading and
written assignments if you miss a class. A missed class is not an acceptable reason to miss an assignment.
** Attendance will be taken in all classes. You have 3 free absences. Use them as you like. For each and
every absence over 3 (excused or unexcused), your final grade in this course will be reduced by 1
percentage point.
** Active and thoughtful participation in class discussions is expected and credit earned for such. Credit is
given for participation in both lectures and discussion. In lectures, you will often be called upon to answer
questions so be prepared!
Note: Policy on written assignments, Debate Papers and Outside Event/Reaction Papers: To be eligible to earn
full credit, written assignments and papers must be turned in at the beginning of class on the date due.
Assignments that have already been discussed in class will not be accepted late. Debate Papers will not be
accepted late. To be fair to all students in the class, there are no exceptions to this. If you miss a class, it
is your responsibility to be prepared for the next class. That is, a missed class is no excuse for not being
aware of or missing readings, written assignments, tests, lecture notes, videos, etc. Make sure you know
someone else from class from whom you can find out what you have missed.
Note: No extra credit can be earned in this course. Hence, it is important that you are prepared for and do your
best on each assignment, paper, and test. Assignments and papers are graded for accuracy, completeness,
thoughtfulness, and clarity of writing (i.e., grammar, spelling, and organization). If you are concerned
about your writing skills, contact the Office of Learning Assistance (CAB Building). They assist students
in improving their writing skills. Take advantage of this service as clear written and verbal communication
are skills that will benefit you throughout your life!
You are ultimately responsible for the quality of performance in all course requirements. The best way to
do well is to be prepared; i.e. attend and actively engage in all classes, keep up with class readings,
thoughtfully complete all assignments, and ask questions when you don't understand something. Also, if
you are not performing as well as you would like, see me as soon as possible to talk about strategies to
improve your performance.
Course Content, Readings, Assignments and Exams (assigns. and dates are subject to change):
I. Concepts of Leisure: Introduction
What is leisure? Why study leisure?
Readings:
Kelly & Freysinger chaps. 1,2,7,11 (pp. 134-136), & 12
Reading Packet (pp.1-16; 26-29)
Videos:
Sailboarding/Extreme Skiing
Assignments: 1 (What is Leisure?), due: 8/24
2 (Time Budget Diary), due: 8/29
3 (Leisure is Free Choice), due: 8/31
4 (Discussion Questions Chap. 12), due: 9/5
Class Meets:
Tuesday, 9/4 (exchange day)
Debate Paper 1:
Leisure is a Public Responsibility, Wednesday, 9/12
Friday, 9/14:
Exam 1: What is Leisure? Why Study Leisure?
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II. Leisure Yesterday and Today: The Impact of Economic Systems, Social Conditions, and Religious
Beliefs on Leisure in Western Cultures (and the U.S., specifically)
Ancient Greece and Rome: Development vs. Exploitation & Social Control
Readings:
Kelly & Freysinger chap. 3
Videos:
Roger and Me
Assignments: 6 (Ancient Greece/Rome vs. Roger & Me), due: 9/24
The Protestant Reformation: Development of Capitalism & the Work Ethic
Readings:
Kelly & Freysinger chap.4
Assignment: 7 (Is The Work Ethic Disappearing?), due: 10/1
Post-Industrial U.S. Society
Readings:
Kelly & Freysinger chap. 5
Reading Packet (pp. 17-25) & (pp. 30-68)
Videos:
Running Out of Time
Assignments: 5 (Running Out of Time Discussion Questions), due: 10/5
Debate Paper 2:
Leisure is Social Control, Monday, 10/8
Wednesday, 10/10:
Exam 2: Leisure Yesterday and Today
III. Leisure, Work and Family in the Contemporary U.S.: And Social Class, Gender, Race and Ethnicity
Leisure, Work and Family: And Gender
Readings:
Kelly & Freysinger chap. 13
Reading Packet (pp. 81-116)
Videos:
Still Killing Us Softly
Debate Paper 3: Gender & Leisure, Tuesday, 10/26
Leisure, Work and Family: And Social Class
Readings:
Kelly & Freysinger chap. 15
Reading Packet (pp. 69-90)
Videos:
Fast Food Women
Assignments: 8 (Allison & Duncan Questions), due: 10/31
Leisure, Work and Family: And Race and Ethnicity
Readings:
Kelly & Freysinger chap. 15
Reading Packet (pp. 115-132)
Videos:
Color Adjustment
Assignment: 9 (Social Class, Race and Leisure), due: 11/7
Thursday, 11/14: Exam 3: Leisure in the Contemporary U.S.
IV. Leisure in the Contemporary U.S.: Age and Popular Culture
Adolescents, Deviant Behavior, Schooling and Leisure
Readings:
Kelly & Freysinger chap. 9
Reading Packet (pp.133-167)
Assignments: 10 (Csikszentmihalyi & Corrigan), due: 11/21
Debate Paper 4: Adolescents, Schooling & Leisure, Tuesday, 11/28
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Popular/Mass Culture as Leisure
Readings:
Kelly & Freysinger chap. 16 & 17
Reading Packet (pp. 168 – end)
Debate Paper 5: Regulation of Leisure, Thursday, 12/7
Final Exam: Final examinations must be taken at the time scheduled unless you gain approval to change the time
according to University policy (see Miami Bulletin). The final will be cumulative. The final is scheduled for
_____________________________.
Written Assignments and Class Participation
Assignments are due as indicated in syllabus. *
Throughout the semester there will be brief written assignments (approximately 10). The purposes of the
assignments are to guide your reading, to help you prepare for exams, and to facilitate class discussion. These
assignments will be graded for accuracy, thoughtfulness, and completeness (5/A to 0/F). Some of these
assignments will have to be done before (outside) of class and must be turned in at the beginning of class on the
date indicated. * Assignments not turned in when due will not be accepted if the assignment has already been
discussed in class, and will receive a penalty otherwise. There will also be some “in-class” assignments. The inclass assignments cannot be made up (i.e., you must be in class on the day when they are done to get credit for
them). The assignments that you complete outside of class do not have to be typed IF they are written legibly.
Absence from class is no excuse for a missed assignment. If you know ahead of time that you will be missing a
class, any assignment due must be turned in beforehand. The bottom line is: you are responsible for completing
all reading and written assignments as due.
*Note: Assignments and their due dates are subject to change. Please check the calendar each day for written
and reading assignments. If you miss a class, be sure to ask me or another student about assignments and their
due dates before the next class. A class missed for whatever reason will not be accepted as an excuse for a
missed assignment.
Outside Event/Reaction Paper
Due on assigned date
You must participate in an activity or event in which you have not previously participated and which you expect
to be enjoyable or fun (e.g., pro wrestling, monster trucks, opera, Rocky Horror Picture Show, the ballet, palm
reading, rock climbing, bingo, spelunking, etc.). You may participate in this activity or event with a friend or
another person in the class. You must tell me the activity/event in which you are interested in participating before
you participate.
The purpose of this assignment is to experience a new activity and to analyze if it was leisure for you. A 3-4
page, typewritten paper reacting to this activity/event is due by your assigned due date. The paper must address
the following questions:
1) What did you anticipate (physical setting, social context, action, and your feelings)? (20%)
2) What was the reality (physical setting, social context, action, and your feelings)? (20%)
3) Was this experience leisure for you as defined by Kelly & Freysinger? Why/why not? (20%)
4) Discuss this experience in relation to another issue/concept discussed in class. (20%)
5) Would you participate in this activity again? Why/why not? (10%)
The other 10% of this grade is based on clarity of writing (organization, spelling, grammar, etc.).
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Debate Paper
For this course you must write a paper and present this in a Debate. You will be assigned #1, #2, #3, #4, or #5.
I will inform you of your paper/debate topic. Each paper is due in class on the day of the debate (see syllabus).
The purpose of these papers/debates is to allow you the opportunity to think further about and integrate the
readings on a topic discussed in class: leisure as a public responsibility vs. personal trouble; leisure as a means of
social control; the impact of gender on leisure; adolescent deviance and leisure; and the regulation of leisure.
These 5 topics are central to discussions surrounding free time, recreation and leisure today. Further information
on these papers/debates will be provided when I meet with you.
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PHS 276 The Meaning of Leisure
Exam Contract
There will be 3 exams during the course plus a final exam given during exam week. You may decide what the
distribution of points will be for these exams with 4 stipulations:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Exams 1, 2, & 3 must account for at least 20 pts. of your final grade.
The final exam must account for at least 30 pts. of your final grade.
Use 5 point increments only (i.e., 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, etc.).
Once you have decided on the distribution there can be absolutely no changes in this.
Please complete the following IF you want to change your grade distribution to something other than 20 pts.
(Exam 1), 25 pts. (Exam 2), 30 pts. (Exam 3), 35 pts. (Final exam). Turn this into me once completed, signed,
and dated. This form must be turned in to me by Thursday 9/16 IF you want the point distribution to be
something other than 20 pts. (Exam 1), 25 pts. (Exam 2), 30 pts. (Exam 3), 35 pts. (Final exam). Make a copy
of the completed form for your own records.
I,
following way:
(please print name), want my exams to count toward my final grade in the
Test 1
pts.
Test 2
pts.
Test 3
pts.
Final
pts.
(at least 30 pts.)
110 pts.
Total Exam Points
Signature
(Exams 1, 2, and 3 must count at least 20 pts. each)
Date