The Natural way to hand things in ...

1. Save file as a PDF and title as such: Name_Natural.pdf
2. go to dropitto.me/mcollie
3. Password: EnglishRocks
4. Submit your paper
5. Give Mary a high-5
6. Wish your peers a merry spring break
7. Get thee gone!

We start our study of Shoeless Joe upon return, so please bring that book to class.

Weekly Post #10: Strikeouts

A piece about strikeouts from last year's spring baseball preview. Not going to lie, March Madness is killing my baseball reading. Alas, this piece has some interesting stats on strikeouts, the how and the why, and more. Think about Roy and is strikeout issue (Roy from the novel, not Roy from the film). Be sure to check out the interactive graphic. What to comment on: 1. coolest fact, 2. something you didn't know, and 3. role of strikeouts in today's game (either for batter or pitcher).

This post isn't due until the Sunday night before we return from spring break. That's April 13.

The Natural: it's all over

Pete Rose 
1. Video
2. Article

Baseball's Gambling Scandals

Black Sox Scandal

Roy: strikeout scene and final chapter.

On to The Natural -- How has your character changed over the course of the novel? What role did your character  play in the fulfillment of Roy's hero's cycle?

Big question: What are we to think of Roy?

Weekly Post #9: Bernard Malamud

An interesting book review about two new books by Bernard Malamud. While this is not baseball related, it is some current news about the author of our current novel. I learned lots of interesting things about Malamud -- I always knew the baseball book was an anomaly in her collection -- but what new information did you learn about Malamud the author?

Share your thoughts. Thanks for being insightful! Keep up the good work.

The Natural: Day 5

To begin: How has Malamud linked masculinity to the concept of a hero? In other words, how is Roy's success and failure expressed in terms of gender and gender expectations? Look for specific evidence from the text to support your ideas.

Some small group work: Quote sheet

Discussion
1. In what way does the American definition of a hero conflict with that of what a hero really should be?
2. Compare and contrast Iris & Roy.
3. How does blind ambition conflict with having measured values?

Weekly Post #8: Tommy & Frank

A great video and article about Dr. Frank Jobe and the pitcher Tommy John.

Dr Frank Jobe died on Thursday, and this is a great piece talking about his impact on the game and the legacy he's left behind. Any thoughts? Comments? Insights? New information learned? Not looking for monster comments. Just respond to the video and article.

The Natural: Day 4

Back in groups for 5-10 minutes to check-in ...

• Roy — Grace, Cameronn, Luc, 
• Pop — Ruby, Wes, Maddy
• Judge — Trevor, Emily, Paul
• Memo —Patchy, Ben L, Nick, Beth
• Whammer/Bump — Ben E, Kate, Colin
• Max Mercy — Amanda, Noah, Sandy

Once all is said and done ...

**Imagine your character was a student at MA. Describe a typical day for your character. Classes, friend, group, after-school activities.

**Comments and grades are coming up shortly, so write one comment for your character from any teacher you like. You can imagine your character in any grade.
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Maybe?? Gehrig's Farewell Speech

Free write:

Vengeance/revenge: noun — punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong

Justice: noun — the quality of being fair and reasonable; the administration of the law or authority in maintaining this.

Is Roy seeking justice or vengeance/revenge for what Harriet Bird did to him? Does the distinction matter? Does a hero seek out one over the other?

Discussion

1. 105-106/110: Uncertainty in Roy's language.

2. "You work at is so — sometimes you even look desperate — but to him it was a playful game and so was his life" (107/111). What is Memo's take on Roy as a baseball player? How does that compare with how she saw Bump? How would Memo define the word hero? Does this quote change the idea of Bump as a failed hero?

3. Where in the reading can we see signs of Memo's toxic nature? What does her toxicity tell us about Roy? About Roy's ability? 

4. How are Roy & Memo are like Gatsby & Daisy? Odysseus & the Sirens?

5. Read aloud: "He woke in the locker room, stretched out on a bench. ...All night long he waited for the bloody silver bullet" (126-8/133). In what ways does this passage demonstrate Roy's failure to understand his role in terms of healing the Fisher King? What does this passage tell us about Roy's truest desires?

6. What does the woman in the stands stand up for? What does she give Roy that Memo cannot?

The Natural: Day 3

Benching a Legend

How does this piece by Roger Kahn relate to the major themes presented in The Natural? How does Musial compare/contrast to Roy Hobbs? What universal ideas are both Kahn and Malamud trying to convey?

Character Analysis and Baseline Understanding (see handout ... a real, paper handout)

• Roy — Grace, Cameronn, Luc, 
• Pop — Ruby, Wes, Maddy
• Judge — Trevor, Emily, Paul
• Memo —Patchy, Ben L, Nick, Beth
• Whammer/Bump — Ben E, Kate, Colin
• Max Mercy — Amanda, Noah, Sandy

Once all is said and done ...

**Imagine your character was a student at MA. Describe a typical day for your character. Classes, friend, group, after-school activities.

**Comments and grades are coming up shortly, so write one comment for your character from any teacher you like. You can imagine your character in any grade.

Week #7: Jobs off the field

While not thematically linked to our reading, I love this article for the behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of a baseball player. We're not talking the big guns and the high paid stars; we're talking about the utility players, the minor and major leaguers who are in the game for the game and because clearly they're not making much money.

What are your thoughts on this piece? Learn anything?

Keep up the good work.