SEMINAR 4  SPORTS SCIENCE

Task 1   Draw an affinity map of sports science with all the sub-disciplines and related fields of
study.

Task 2  Tenses

Change the form of the verbs given in brackets to fit each gap.

Sport science is a discipline that __________ (study) the application of treatment and prevention
of injuries related to sports medicine. The study of sport science traditionally incorporates areas
of physiology, psychology, and biomechanics but also includes other topics such as nutrition.

Sport scientists and performance consultants __________ (grow) in demand and employment numbers,
with the ever-increasing focus within the sporting world on achieving the best results possible.
Through the study of science and sport, researchers ____________ (develop) a greater understanding
of how the human body reacts to exercise, training, different environments and many other stimuli.

Sport science can trace its origins to ancient Greece. The ancient Greek physician Galen (131–201)
__________ (write) 87 detailed essays about improving health - proper nutrition, aerobic fitness,
and strengthening muscles.

New ideas upon the working and functioning of the human body _________ (emerge) during the
renaissance as anatomists and physicians challenged the previously known theories. These spread
with the implementation of the printed word, the result of Gutenberg's printing press in the 15th
century. Allied with this was a large increase in academia in general, universities __________
(form) all around the world. Importantly these new scholars went beyond the simplistic notions of
the early Greek physicians, and shed light upon the complexities of the circulatory, and digestive
systems. Furthermore by the middle of the 19th century early medical schools (such as the Harvard
Medical School, formed 1782) __________ (begin) appearing in the United States, whose graduates
went on to assume positions of importance in academia and allied medical research. (wikipedia.org)

Task 3  Speaking

Read the titles of scientific articles below. What disciplines do they belong to? Which of them
would you like to read?


1)     Effects of an extreme endurance race on energy balance and body composition – a case study

2)     Participation, motivation and student´s physical activity among sport students in three
countries.

3)     Aging of running shoes and its effect on the mechanical and biomechanical variables

4)     Psychological skills usage and the competitive anxiety response as a function of skill level
in rugby union

5)     Using sports against the Italian Mafia: Policies and challenges on the path of cultural
renewal


Task 4 Vocabulary

Read the tasks students have been given. Identify the key verbs commonly used in academic English.


A) Discuss some of the problems involved in investigating attitudes to diet and health. Write a
critical review of an investigation you have read about, or describe an investigation you yourself
could conduct. Consider the advantages or disadvantages of different methods.


B) Starting from rest, an aircraft accelerates to its take-off speed of 60m/s in a distance of
900m. Illustrate this with a velocity-time graph. Assuming constant acceleration, find how long the
take-off run lasts.


C) The fact that nations agree to follow international law demonstrates that we can identify ideals
that are trans-national and trans-cultural. How far is this statement true? Critically analyse any
recent event which supports or challenges the statement.


D) Examine how industrial growth has affected any two developing countries. Provide statistical
evidence where necessary and include a discussion of likely future trends.


In academic style, noun phrases can often be used instead of some of the key verbs. Complete each
phrase with the appropriate noun. Use a dictionary if necessary.

1.      investigate = conduct, carry out an _______________ into/of

2.      illustrate = provide an _______________ of

3.      analyse = provide, carry out an ______________ of

4.      affect = have an ________________ on

5.      attempt = make an ______________ to/at

6.      classify = make, provide a _________________ of









Task  5  Writing up research: the Abstract

An abstract (sometimes referred to as a synopsis) is a brief summary of a thesis or journal
article. It typically includes some or all of the following elements. What is their most likely
order?

Purpose    Conclusion    Results    Introduction    Methods


Complete the abstract below with the given phrases:

analysis also demonstrated        purpose of this work was to

results showed                            these results it may be stated

was conducted                             a significant role


The ____________________(1) determine if public communication of science and technology (PCST) has
any influence on people´s decision to become dedicated to scientific research.


For this reason, a national survey involving 852 researchers from all disciplines
__________________ (2) in Argentina.


The _______________(3) that the factors affecting scientific vocation are many, and that,
regardless of differences in gender, age or discipline, the greatest influence on the decision to
go into scientific research is exerted by teachers. The ________________ (4) that different
manifestations of PCST (science books, press articles and activities such as visits to science
museums) play ______________ (5) in awakening the vocation for science.


From _______________ (6) that PCST – in addition to its function of informing and forming citizens
– exerts a significant influence in fostering scientific vocation.


Match the parts of an abstract from above with the individual paragraphs of this abstract.

(Hewings, M; Thaine, C. Cambridge Academic English Advanced. CUP, 2012)