Day 17: One Shot (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 in One Shot At Forever?
4. How does Ballard's style and structure create tension not only in the games but also within characters?

Step 1: write for 40 mins and craft a crisp, concise, and thesis driven paragraph that answers one of the questions.
Step 2: Find a partner and swap work.
Step 3: Make revisions to thesis statement
Step 3: Put thesis statement on the board

Day 16: One Shot (up to 95)

Writing:
Looking only at pages 82-83, what is the author's attitude on the value and role of relationships between two males? (looking closely at diction & tone will help you answer this question)

Writing Questions --> write one question for each category // share and discuss
1. Meaning (plot)
2. Purpose & Audience (why and to whom)
3. Method & Structure (how)
4. Language (lit devices, form)

Discussion

• Review of major characters --> Where do we find conflict?
• Self v self (psychological)
• Self v other (interpersonal)
• Self v society
• p.68-72: What literary techniques does Ballard use create suspense? Look at language and style.
• How does Ballard engender sympathy in the reader? (use text as evidence)
• How does Ballard use stereotypes to his advantage? break from it?

**What themes are present in the book so far?
**What has Ballard set-up for the second half of the book?
**Passages that stand out?

**Am Dream connections?

Weekly Post #7: Athletes & Politics (due Mar 6)

This one is from the most recent edition of the NYT Magazine: Should Athletes Stick to Sports?

While it isn't focused on baseball, I thought it was interesting. Got me thinking about Jackie Robinson and his activism. What are your thoughts on the intersection of sports and politics?

Day 15: One Shot (up to 65)

Writing: 
1. "Maconites may not have agreed with his political or religious beliefs, or liked his teaching curriculum, but baseball was a common language." I want you to think about family or friends or others in your life with whom you share a common language. What is that common language and what does it transcend?

2. Lynn Sweet is a bit of an unconventional coach. Optional practices? Practicing with the players? Look back at your own life and write about an unconventional "coach" you've had. Why was that unconventional coach effective (or not)? What impact did that coach have on your experience?

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?
4. How does Ballard use stereotype to his advantage? break from it?

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

**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?

Day 14: One Shot (up to 31)

Pre-number --> For this book, your essay will be of your own design. You will craft a question and answer it in an essay of no more than five pages.

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 (method)
Macon
Sweet
Shark

Weekly Post #6: Baseball in Africa (Due Feb 20)

A good read from a while ago. Keeping up with the international baseball trend. This is a piece about the power of baseball in other countries. Specifically, this looks at the coach and he reminded me a bit of Lynn Sweet. Read, comment, reflect. What are your thoughts on George and his baseball project?

Weekly Post #5: The Lure of Baseball in the DR (due Feb 12)

Keeping our reading to the Caribbean, here's a complementary piece about baseball in the Dominican Republic. How are baseball and the dream of MLB alive and well in the DR?  What about the exploitation that's only briefly mentioned? Maybe we shouldn't be surprised as that's been a component of baseball for a long, long time. What are your thoughts?