Invitation to History (Theme: Canada at Play - Sports and Leisure) (HIST*1050) | College of Arts

Invitation to History (Theme: Canada at Play - Sports and Leisure) (HIST*1050)

Code and section: HIST*1050*02

Term: Winter 2027

Details

Course Synopsis:

This course introduces students to the basics of the historian's craft, including interpreting primary sources, locating and critically analyzing secondary sources, and writing for history. For more detail on the content of sections consult the History Department website: https://www.uoguelph.ca/history.

This section of HIST*1050 discusses the various social processes that shaped how Canadians understood and participated in sport and leisure throughout history. The course will proceed chronologically, beginning with the first peoples and end in the later 20th century. We will discuss concepts of play in both rural and urban contexts, as well as how play fostered class exclusivity, encouraged community and national rivalries, served as a platform for political activism, acted as a barrier to inclusion, and became a symbol of modernity and progress. Topics to be discussed include the rise of certain types of sports and activities; public vs. private debates; the popularity of local, national, and international modes of play; and the impact of specific players, professionals, and innovators. Using these and other topics, throughout the semester students will work on developing a range of skills applicable to the writing and study of history.

Method of Delivery:

Two interactive lectures/discussions per week (1.5 hours each)

Learning Outcomes:

  1. You will learn how to manage your time in university for success.
  2. You will learn how to distinguish between important information and unnecessary details.
  3. You will learn how to distinguish between a scholarly and a non-scholarly source.
  4. You will develop effective written and oral communications skills and enhance listening comprehension.
  5. You will learn to analyse and interpret a variety of primary and secondary sources and construct a historical argument.
  6. You will learn how to act with academic integrity.
  7. You will learn how to cite sources appropriately in history classes.
  8. You will learn that historical interpretations change over time and in response to evidence.
  9. You will learn that history is a diverse enterprise which helps us to understand different cultures, regions, and states.

Method of Evaluation and Weights:

  • Participation and Engagement – 15%
  • In-Class Activities – 15%
  • Primary vs. Secondary Sources Quiz – 5%
  • Research Essay Proposal and Annotated Bibliography – 15%
  • Research Portfolio and Essay – 25%
  • Final Exam – 25%

Texts Required:

Assigned readings and materials will be available through the ARES Course Reserves system

 

*Please note: This is a preliminary web course description only. The department reserves the right to change without notice any information in this description. The final, binding course outline will be distributed in the first class of the semester.

**Please login to WebAdvisor, once the course schedule goes live, for instructor and room information.

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