Presentation Post #2

From Joe & Connor R

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/04/16/67-years-after-jackie-robinson-broke-the-color-barrier-major-league-baseball-looks-very-different/

What is the significance of Jackie Robinson's debut today for all minorities? How has his legacy been shaped by the influx of international players?

From Connor T & Griff

As you may know the Cardinals do not have a very racially diverse team. Do you think racial divides in the game (like one their team) transfer to the fans and other teams/people? Is there anything in here that surprised you?

http://www.diversityinc.com/news/st-louis-baseball-fans-mock-use-slurs-ferguson-protesters/

Presentation Posts #1

Please respond to both articles if not presenting.

From Morgan & Duncan

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/sports/baseball/10rhoden.html

Do you agree with the author's claim that Bonds' prosecution was a matter of race-related arrogance? Do you think the author's comparison to Jack Johnson is a valid one?

From Sam & Angus & Jack

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2467848-will-a-rod-suffer-same-fate-as-barry-bonds-when-yankees-contract-expires

How does the article portray Bonds? Why is it that both Bonds and A-Rod expressed the desire to keep playing even after establishing themselves as great players? What are your thoughts?

Weekly Post #13: What Chris Rock Got Wrong

Perfectly timed for our conversations about Latinos in MLB.

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2015-05-10/arfrican-americans-baseball-chris-rock-latinos

What are your thoughts? How can you connect this piece to our work this semester?

Eastern Stars up to 168

Similar to Grapes of Wrath and A Small Place, Eastern Stars uses place as a way to enhance the reader's understanding of the different characters. Looking at one of the ball players mentioned in the book so far, answer the following question:

How does the description and history of the Dominican Republic enhance your understanding of the character? How is your character's sense of place influenced by the details about the DR?

Write a thesis. Find four pieces of evidence to support your ideas.

Eastern Stars up to 133

Julio Franco Video
Franco grand slam ... oldest in MLB history

George Bell grand slam
Bell walk-off home run in final game

Sammy Sosa interview
Sammy Sosa skin --> looking at Sosa and his current situation, what are we to think abut the racial implications of the Am Dream? Do the constructs of race inhibit someone from really achieving the dream? acceptance? Is the Am Dream only available to some/dominant culture?

Great read but too long

Taking Their Ball and Going Home

Eastern Stars up to 113

1. Baltimore, baseball and America

• Read article from NYTimes. Watch some clips.
• Question -- is baseball baseball without the fans? What has changed in the game in there isn't anyone in the stands?
• Does MLB need to do more. It managed segregation and riots and 9/11. Why close its doors now?

2. The Eastern Stars ...

• Value of language in creating community? (107)
• Construction of race in the DR, and how that conflicts with US racial tensions?
• What has the MLB done to help latino players?
• Idea of one representing the whole. One Latino man integrating. What pressure does that put on a person? How does that inform their experience?

Eastern Stars up to 79

1. Some Ken Burns ... finish part about Barry Bonds. Go back and look at Latin presence.
2. Read handouts ...
3. Working in groups of three: Lots of history about the DR and baseball. Boil it down. What are the key moments and how did they influence both the DR's history and baseball's presence in the country?

Weekly #12: Bryce Harper

This is one of my favorite baseball articles of the last few years. The content is good. The media is good. The combination of the two is awesome. I'm not asking you to think about larger themes or ideas, just respond to what you read. What did you learn? What did you think of this baseball package? I definitely look at this as a great example of alternative story-telling, and that's why I think it's great. Enjoy.

Game of Shadows & Eastern Stars

Game of Shadows

Writing: What is the cost of striving for the American Dream? No book. No evidence. Just your thoughts. Respond to the question in terms of Games of Shadows.

Recap
Major themes?
Take-aways?

The Eastern Stars

The prologue and first chapter of Eastern Stars contain an anecdote and a lot of history.

• How does the author create tension?
• Craft the DR as a major character of this book (think about the details shared ... what are we to think of the DR? what emotion are we to feel about the country?)?
• What are some themes alluded to in the opening two sections? Please cite the text specifically.

In your group, read the three articles and answer the following questions:

What must you sacrifice to achieve the American Dream? What role does sacrifice play in achieving the Am Dream? Use text evidence.

Weekly Post #11

Batting around. Every heard of that phrase? I have, and it's not as straight forward as I thought. What do you take away from this piece? What made you go hhhmmmm?

Great questions for Lance. He was so impressed with the breadth and depth of the questions. Nice work!

Weekly Post #10

Since the authors of Game of Shadows are coming to class on Monday, this week's assignment is to pose questions for the writer's. Do make sure you read what others have asked and try not to repeat. It'll pay to post early. You can ask Lance & Mark anything about the book, the process, their lives as writers.

Please post 3 questions about the text and 1-2 questions about anything else.

The start of Game of Shadows

Initial reactions to the text?

What are the consequences of striving for the American Dream?

Through what lenses can we see American Dream thus far?

What are some of the versions of the American Dream set up in the opening chapters of GoS?

How is Bonds characterized at the start of the story? What does this foreshadow? Is this an open and far characterization?

Tenth Inning (chpt 2-5). Chpt 10 about Sosa

Weekly Post #9: When Jim Crow Got Cut From Spring Training

A great read on baseball's segregation issues from back in 1947. So much for baseball being accessible to all people. Even America's National Pastime struggled with how to manage racial relations in the late 40s. How then could it be America's National Pastime if it wasn't representative of the country? What new bit of information did you learn from this piece? What's your take-away?

Weekly Post #8: The college try

A fun piece on the tradition of MLB teams playing college teams during spring training. I feel like this piece captures some of the magic, the dream the field can hold. What are your thoughts? Opinions? Responses? How does this piece play into any themes we're discussed thus far?

Giving it the Old College Try

This post is due on Monday night as we don't have classes on Monday.

One Shot @ Forever

(From last class)

1. Larger questions on gender

Looking at the text thus far, how does the text deal with the themes of ...
1. Father/Son dynamics
2. Masculinity
3. Adolescent males

How do these themes manifest themselves in the text and what conclusions are we to draw from the text about each theme? Use text evidence to support your ideas.

2. Free writing
The focus of last night's reading was the game against Lane Tech. Notice how much longer the description was and how much more detail there was about the game. Why was that game more important? Why did Ballard move quickly over the final game? What does this tell us about the point of this story?

3. Question generation for essays
Questions on meaning (plot?)
Questions on purpose & audience (why?)
Questions on method and structure (how?)
Questions on language (tone, literary devices, style, characterization)

Questions I asked you
1. What's one important symbol in the text so far and what does it represent?
2. How does Ballard create both realistic and mythical characters?
3. What role does masculinity and heroism play in achieving the American Dream?
4. How does Ballard's style and structure create tension not only in the games but also within characters?

One Shot @ Forever: Up to p. 170

Writing

Lynn Sweet finally comes to see an Ironmen game. Ballard writes, "And yet, now the son was on the verge of doing something impressive. Not in teaching, or writing, or some other pursuit of the mind, but in athletics, a language his father was fluent in, even if he'd never been much of a baseball fan.

What other language are you fluent in? You can think about this language in terms of friends or family, but I want you to think about what this language affords you? With whom does it connect you? With whom does it disconnect you?

Chpt. 14 Question
1. Why does Ballard craft Shartzer and Sweet's stories in parallel? What impact does this have on the narrative? on the characterization of the men?

Larger questions on gender

Looking at the text thus far, how does the text deal with the themes of ...
1. Father/Son dynamics
2. Masculinity
3. Adolescent males

How do these themes manifest themselves in the text and what conclusions are we to draw from the text about each theme? Use text evidence to support your ideas.

Question generation for essays
Questions on meaning (plot?)
Questions on purpose & audience (why?)
Questions on method and structure (how?)
Questions on language (tone, literary devices, style, characterization)

Weekly Post #7: Some questions for Ballard

Seeing as Chris Ballard is coming to class on Monday March 9 -- so cool! -- I want to use this week's post as a forum for posting questions for him. Do make sure you read what others have asked and try not to repeat. It'll pay to post early. You can ask Chris anything about the book, the process, his life as a sports writer.

Please post 3 questions about the text and 1-2 questions about anything else.

Here's his bio, if you're interested.

Weekly Post #6

Out Of Nowhere, There is Baseball

This is a more recent piece about the power of baseball in other countries. Specifically, this looks at the coach and he reminded me a bit of Lou Sweet. Read, comment, reflect. What are your thoughts on George and his baseball project?

Hope minicourse was lovely.

One Shot @ Forever: up to 128

Some writing practice

1. What's one important symbol in the text so far and what does it represent?
2. How does Ballard create both realistic and mythical characters?
3. What role does masculinity and heroism play in achieving the American Dream?
4. How does Ballard's style and structure create tension not only in the games but also within characters?

One Shot @ Forever: up to 95

Writing:
David and Goliath. What do you know? What do you think of? Modern day examples? Value of this allusion?

Discussion
1. Looking at Ballard's early characterization of the team, what conflicts does this set up? What surprises? (p.35-41)
2. How does Ballard weave together evidence of promise and failure and what is the effect of those pieces of description?
3. Ballard includes a number of side stories about Sweet. Look at one of them and discuss the added value of the details and story.
4. How does Ballard contrast Shartzer and Sweet? Be specific. Use the text.
5. p. 52: Heneberry characterization
6. p.68-72: How does Ballard create suspense? Look at language and style.
7. How does Ballard use stereotype to his advantage? break from it?
8. How would you describe Ballard's language and style?


**What themes are present in the book so far?
**What has Ballard set-up for the second half of the book?
**Passages that standout?
**Am Dream connections.

Weekly Post #5

The 83F Project: Sign Here, Please

Another great piece that reflects back some of the themes we've encountered thus far. What are your thoughts? Keeping it open to any thought this week. Go wild!

For me, I love the line near the end when the idea of fraud is mentioned. Rather than give into that idea, Mortimer, "chooses instead to have faith." For me, baseball is the ritual, the worship, the commitment. Off the field, in the wee hours of the night, Mortimer found a faith that binds him to others. That's baseball at its best, and it transcends almost everything else in communities.

One Shot @ Forever: up to 31

1. America in late 60s and early 70s
2. How is nonfiction storytelling similar and/or different fiction? (focus on basic elements of a story: character, setting, conflict plot, theme AND exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution)

Write: Chris Ballard said, "This book isn't really about baseball; it's about the memory of an event and how those memories changed lives." Think about memories, about major events in your life. How do memories turn into myths?

Characterization (in groups w/text evidence)
1. The town
2. Lynn Sweet
3. Britton
4. Steve Shartzer
5. Bill McClard

Style
1. How would you describe Ballard's style?
2. What techniques does Ballard use to characterize people and places?
3. How does Ballard set up the conflict early on in the book? Is it effective?

Handing in the essay

1. Save the document as a PDF.
1. Word users: FILE --> SAVE AS --> PDF (make sure to unclick the "hide extension" box)
2. Pages users: FILE --> EXPORT --> PDF (make sure to unclick the "hide extension" box)
3. Google users: FILE -->EXPORT -->PDF (make sure to unclick the "hide extension" box)
2. Go to dropitto.me/mcollie to send paper to Mary.
3. Password: EnglishRocks
4. File name: Shoeless_Name.pdf

You will lose points for the following:
1. Improperly naming the file
2. Not submitting a PDF

Check MyMA for next book and reading!

First day writing workshop

THESIS!!

Work through these questions alone ....
Work through them with your group ...

1. Does this thesis answer the prompt?
2. Is the thesis arguable? specific? concise?
3. Does this thesis move beyond observation  and more to interpretation (making meaning)? Think about how? why? cause & effect.
4. Is this thesis ONE amazing, action packed sentence?
5. Suggestions? Revisions? Rewrite.

Weekly Post #4: Baseball Cards

This piece from the NY Times has all of the trappings of baseball literature: religious overtones, myth, legend, dedication, magic, and loss. Focus on one of these themes and discuss what role it plays in not only this article but also in baseball as we've learned about thus far.

Keep up the good work on your posts. Loving the insights and thoughtful writing.

It's over?! What ... they all died?

1. Revisit the Hero's cycle/chart. Fill it in. Discuss.
2. What's the difference between Gypsy & Richard? What changes in Richard --?p. 255
3. The fall with Karin
4. Salinger's sermon
5. Where does Salinger go?
6.  What is the perfect dream that Salinger refers to before leaving?

**Bringing it all back to Eight Men Out --> Why does WP Kinsella use the nostalgia of Eight Men Out to craft his story? What does this tell us about dreams? The American Dream? About the nature of sports and heroes? What's the connection between dreams and sports?

Shoeless Joe: 196-233

1. Review essay questions & timeline (3 class periods to work, drafts in stags, due end of class Friday 2/6)

2. Write 3 discussion questions pertaining to last night's reading?

• One of the questions must be focused around a single passage (no longer than a page).
• One question must be about characterization.
• One question must be about theme?

3. Narrow down ... break into groups ... each group select top three (one from each category) ...discuss

Eddie
"But I understand Eddie Scissons. I know that some of us, ... sweet love" (218-219). What role does self-delusion play in life and dream fulfillment? Is Ray or Salinger or any of the seers delusional? How does delusion play into one's ability to see the field?

What connections are we to make between the Kid Scissons and Eddie Scissons? What does the field reveal about the dreamers?

Eddie's sermon (227-229). **In what way is baseball a universal language?

Why is is Eddie who gives Ray permission to see/speak to his dad? Why does Ray need permission? "Last inning of a perfectly played ball game (231).

The Others (just like Lost)
220-221: Idea of Field of Shared Dreams. Idea of payment for dreams. Can real dreams bring in money? Maybe only as an unplanned benefit? Why is Ray so reluctant to accept money? "The magic has been broken" (221).

Weekly Post #3: The scorer

An article on the official scorer of the game, this piece looks into some of the subjectivity present in baseball. Sure there are the umps who seem to be the arbiters of the game, but the scorers are like the gatekeepers of stats.

Two questions:
1. With instant replay and so many eyes on the field these days, do you think an official scorer is still necessary? Of course there would be someone collecting balls and strikes and hits, but why put the work on one person?
2. What new piece of baseball information did you learn from this article?

Keep up the good work!

Shoeless Joe: up to 196

Questions about the story? Plot lines? Confusions? Questions?

Character Inventory

1. Karin & Annie
2. Eddie Scissons
3. Salinger
4. Doc Graham
5. Richard & Mark

Group 1: Ally, Joe, Connor T

Group 2: Chloe, Connor R, Bryan

Group 3: Katarina, Cooper, Angus

Group 4: Jack, Kirsta, Samantha

Group 5: Duncan, Sam, Griff

Each group needs to answer the following and use TEXT to support your ideation.

• What does this character offer Ray? / What role does this character play in Ray's journey?
• What does Ray offer this character? 
• How has WP Kinsella developed this character?
• What themes are expressed by this character?
• How would this character define the American Dream?
• Significant detail, quote, action? (optional)

Everyone should work on this document.

Shoeless Joe: up to 153

Baseball Nation Map

1. Ray's sermon 84-85 --> what do we learn about Ray in this speech? What does he want Salinger to learn?

2. Read 96-101 aloud.

• final two paragraphs on 97  before the break -- Ray is a dreamer. How does Kinsella employ imagery to convey mythology?
• What's the difference between myth and religion?
• What does Ray learn from Salinger? Salinger from Ray?
• How does Ray convince Salinger to go? Look specifically at the language.
• Ray is tuned into baseball while others are tuned into religion. What is Salinger tuned into?
• Big question -- why do people believe or have faith?

3. Compare & contrast Salinger and Ray. Use text to support your ideas.

4. p.112 --> mud --> TRUE!

5. Board work .... connect to themes, characterization, Am Dream, and more


Maybe .... Ray is on this mission to collect players and people and bring them to his field. He's facilitating dream realization for not only himself but also strangers in need. Put yourself in Ray's shoes. Imagine you've heard a voice and gotten a call.

1. What do you build?
2. Who do you bring to your location?
3. Why have you brought this person(s)?
4. What lessons do they offer you?

Weekly Post #2

Inspired by the awesome responses about a fallen hero and the American Dream, here's an article to balance the life of A-Rod. Chipper Jones. What a guy. Very different departure from baseball than what A-Rod is likely to experience.

Some questions ... How does this article play into the sentimentality surrounding the game of baseball and the idea of heroes? Is Chipper the anomaly or the norm? Let's play arm chair psychologist for a moment: why was Chipper able to resist the pull of steroids when A-Rod could not. Give me your best psycho-analysis.

Loved the insights and honesty of last week. Keep up the good work. Remember -- be insightful but be concise. I love your thoughts.

Shoeless Joe: up to 77

Free write: Look at the quote that prefaces the book. Why do you think W.P. Kinsella began the book with this idea?

"Some men see thing as they are, and say why, I dream of things that never were, and say why not."

A bit more insight into the novel. And what is magical realism?

Discussion questions:

1. What do we know about the main characters thus far: Ray, Karen, Annie, JD. What description does the text offer us?
2. Hero's cycle?
3. You are Ray. How do you define the American Dream? Use text to support ideas.
4. Sentimental: excessive, self-indulgent. Nostalgic: longing for
How can we see these two feelings thus far in the novel? What is the nuanced difference as expressed through Ray?

Other questions

• How is Ray's epiphany on p.16 related to the magic on the field?
• Where in the reading can we find magic (not literally the word)? Why is it important to weave that in from the start? What is W.P. Kinsella trying to show us? What is he asking of us?
• In what ways do Karin & Annie differ? Why is their difference essential to Ray's success/failure?
• How does Annie's faith in Ray mirror his faith in baseball? And why has W.P. Kinsella created such similar faiths? What commentary might he be making on faith in general?

Cleveland

Cleveland 

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh at night, post-game

Yankee Stadium

Yankee Stadium at night

1981 Yankee Stadium

Some bat info: see 1.10

Bat Technology from Louisville Slugger

MLB Groundskeepers DOn't Mind Getting Dirty

Hitters with Blue Eyes are Wary of the Glare

J.D. Salinger Obit

Weekly Post #1

A Cruel Bargain for A-Rod and Boys With Baseball Dreams

I'll start the semester off with a great read about A-Rod. And no I'm not posting this because I grew up rooting for the Yankees; rather, I think this article and the steroid issues address one of the major themes we'll cover this semester: the fallen hero. Forget what you think of the over-paid geezer; A-Rod has an impressive baseball resumé and relationship with the game. But then things changed.

What are your thoughts on the idea of A-Rod as a fallen hero? Was his trajectory unavoidable? Is the pressure to be better, faster, stronger partly to blame for his fall?

2015 Day 1: It begins

1. Who are you?
2. Who am I?
3. What's this course? the details ...
4. To the movie!