The course begins with the starting of a blog, weekly blog entries and columns, and the analysis of various sports writers from around the country. Be ready
VOCAB AND LITERARY TERMS EVERY JUNIOR AND SENIOR SHOULD KNOW HERE
YOU NEED TO PURCHASE A MARBLE JOURNAL. IN THIS JOURNAL, YOU WILL WRITE REGULAR REACTIONS TO 30 FOR 30'S, E60'S, VIDEOS, ARTICLES, ETC. ADDITIONALLY, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO WRITE SOME THINGS ON YOUR OWN BASED ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS. THIS IS A MAJOR GRADE FOR THE COURSE. ANY PIECE YOUR WRITE ON YOUR OWN SHOULD HAVE A HIGHLIGHT ON THE TOP OF THE PAGE
You must submit a proposal of 10 total books (I will choose the 4) you will read for outside, current reading. The books need to have been written in the last 5 years. Write a brief (3-4 sentence) reasoning for each book. Print out as many reading sheets as you need HERE
You must write a book review similar to THIS by Jason Whitlock on Paterno
FIRST OUTSIDE BOOK TO READ IS Basketball Junkie by Bill Reynolds and Chris Herren
First Day Montage: FIRST LIST AS MANY INFLUENTIAL ATHLETES OR EVENTS FROM THE 20TH CENTURY AS YOU CAN. AS YOU WATCH VIDEO, how many athletes can you spot? HERE
Closely work with Peter King's MMQB and also develop your own, unique SINGLE PAGE for day in sports which would cover a week's worth of sports news and highlights
Watch Dallas Cowboys' Jason Garrett give a speech to his team HERE and then develop your own. See below printout of delivering a motivational speech
Jason Whitlock's take on Philadelphia Eagles' Riley Cooper's racial slur HERE
Terrific Steve Rushin piece (longer) and an interview/behind the scenes look from him HERE How We Got Here
AWESOME ESPN.COM article on how Dean SMITH has become HERE
Nelson Mandela ESPN clip HERE to accompany his sheet about heroes in binder
PHENOMENAL Wright Thompson ARTICLE IN ESPN MAGAZINE ABOUT DAN GABLE AND a CLIP of his only loss (pick up at 17:14 mark) and a A full CLIP
Poignant article by great author Harlen Cobin about current sports atmosphere HERE
Article about Jeff Bauman, marathon hero. Good example of good research in writing as you prepare to do an expose on an athlete in the school HERE
Sports has the power to pull communities together and heal (Ok. City tornado) HERE
We will start our classes with 12 minute quarters for latest sports debate, intelligent issues, etc. Click HERE for timer
Each class member must do an expose on an athlete here at the high school. You must submit, along with the expose, TWO example exposes on athletes from reputable, national writers from which you drew inspiration. It must have a human interest angle and it obviously must be an intelligent, entertaining read. ONCE FINISHED, SUBMIT TO 02818/EAST GREENWICH PATCH FOR POTENTIAL PUBLICATION ASSIGNMENT HERE
Check out a former Sports Lit Blogspot. We will create our own. click
A look at corruption in college sports HERE and HERE and an E30 for 30 on Marcus Dupree
At Fort Campbell, football is escape for players whose parents are deployed HERE
Inquiry based question/essential question: What are the most powerful areas from which to gain strength during moments of adversity? Watch two E60 reports, one involving Ryan Westmoreland HERE and "The Fugitive" HERE. Take down essential quotes from each (perhaps 5-6 total). Then, answer the question based on the info you have acquired. Should have an INTRO, BEEFY BODY GRAPH, AND CONCLUSION. One page. Have a clever hook, incorporate the quotes smoothly and utilize clever, clear persuasive writing.
Great article on TOM BRADY HERE. Go and do a detailed "research paper" on an athlete from this school. Hand in all notes along with the 3 pages of story
Grantland series where they look back at older articles and see how things shaped out. Cool look at authors reflecting on the history HERE
Interesting article about Derek Jeter and autographs HERE . Write your own similar type of piece. Go to a game, take in a practice, attend an event, etc. and write a spirited, detailed and entertaining piece about it (much like this "autograph seeking mission" story). It's all about what you witness...
Prompts: What's one moment in sports history you wish you could have prevented and why? What's one moment in sports history you wish you could have witnessed live and why? Choose one subtle moment in sports history that, looking back, had a major impact (though it may not have been seen as major at the time). Choose one moment in sports history that.....FILL IN THE BLANK)
Look at an article about sports reporting and coverage: click
Outside Book Reading: theme of INSPIRATIONAL SPORTS MESSAGES. READ ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: Winning Every Day by Lou Holtz, Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston, Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker, How to Succeed in the Game of Life: 34 Interviews with the World’s Greatest Coaches by Christian Klemash
PTI two person debates (see sheet in binder). Here are some clips to watch for examples
Reverse class: do some research on this topic and THEN read the article. Be ready to discuss. Article is HERE
Another Reverse class: research the history of the Munich games and political unrest at the time and then read THIS Write a two page reflection on what you learned incorporating four quotes from article
Best sports journalism EVER according to Bill Simmons
RISK TAKING: Watch this E60 clip HERE and then answer, on a 4x6 card, the following essential question(s): What are the essential things needed to take risks in life? What are the benefits? How does one overcome FEAR involved in risk taking? INCORPORATE QUOTES FROM THE VIDEO INTO YOUR ANSWER
Athletes and TWITTER: use for debate on social media HERE
You are going to write a "research paper" on someone famous in the field of sports. An example on Peter King can be found HERE. Profile a writer and indicate how his/her life influenced their writing and how his/her career has evolved. You must send out
Look at Tennyson's "Ulysses" HERE and Housman's "To an Athlete Dying Young" HERE (an analysis if you'd like HERE )as you will write your own poem based on the prompt of whether it's better to die at the height of success or to limp off into the sunset, thinking about past success...also read THIS article to get into the mood first and WATCH this
Looking at the role of agents in sports: HERE and more recently HERE. Anything changed??
CLASS DEBATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SPORTS PRO/CON: THIS ARTICLE BY AP'S PAUL NEWBERRY WILL GET YOU STARTED
Look at the top 200 events in sports history HERE and write a 2 page analysis of the information as a whole. What is the overall theme of the list and why?
Using "Remember the Titans" as a basis for cultural acceptance. Do other research where sports has famously brought people/races/religions together. Check out contemporary article about RTT school HERE
SPORTS LIT 7-10 minute presentations. Get the info HERE
Analyzing the style of Rick Reilly. Start HERE and then go to his archive. You must read the following, print out, and mark up for his writer choices: start halfway down with 'NEVER READ ME AGAIN' (AFTER INITIAL OPENING, HIT "CLICK HERE") THROUGH ROTISSERIE ROAST
Check out a Steve Rushin article and then write your own: click
Amazing story of Steve Gleason and ALS here and then watch this video HERE
GREAT piece of sports journalism on CONCUSSIONS HERE
Develop your own weekly NICHE article HERE and watch THIS to get Peter King inspiration
DURING FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, READ THIS AND COMPARE TO ODESSA
Gary Smith tribute HERE and Pat Tillman article HERE and Tillman/Couric story HERE
Ten Great Pieces of Sports Writing. Let's analyze each HERE. Then go out and find some on your own and share with class
Field of Dreams literary analysis handout HERE and exemplar HERE
CHECK OUT THESE VARIOUS SPORTS STORIES AND REACT HEREHEREHEREHERE
Sports Literature Final
Mr. Brocato
You are to create a 10 minute speech (approximately 5 pages of written text) that synthesizes many of the themes we have talked about throughout the course.
In the speech, you should first settle on a theme.
Do you want to make it general? Inspirational? Merely informational?
Perhaps you settle on a theme like “in like, much like in sports, one must overcome numerous obstacles in order to reach ultimate success. NOTHING is handed to you.”
Once the theme is ironed out, your job is to then research to find allusions, anecdotes, connections, references, etc. in order to back up your thematic foundation.
You then want to focus on the good writing elements we have talked about in class:
1. Hook your reader in from the start
2. Have excellent metaphors
3. Use rich language
4. Entertain your audience while also informing
5. Maybe expand a moment, play with chronology, etc. Think of the lessons you have learned from the authors we read this quarter
Your grade will be based on both your content and delivery