Sports Literature Syllabus
UNIT ONE: Friday Night Lights
Nov.
22
--Introduction to course.
--Sign out Friday Night Lights
--Read preface and prologue for Monday
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Dec.
28
--Fill out surveys. What is sport?
--Quiz. Discuss readings
--Hwk: chapters 1-2
29
--Quiz over 1-2.
--In-class discussion over chapters
--Begin reading chapters 3-4
Hwk: read chapters 3-4.
30
--Quiz over 3-4.
--In-class discussion over chapters 3-4
--Read excerpt from book and discuss use of N-word in literature.
--Begin reading chapters 5-6.
Hwk: finish chapters 5-6
1
--Quiz over 5-6.
--In-class discussion over chapters: sports and education
--Begin reading chapters 7-8
Hwk: finish chapters 7-8
2
--Quiz over 7-8
--In-class discussion over chapters: racism
--Read current events article and discuss white flight, demographic segregation
--Begin reading 9-10.
Hwk: finish chapters 9-10
5
--Quiz over 9-10
--Discussion
Hwk: finish reading chapters 11-12
6
--Quiz over 11-12
--In-class discussion over chapters
--Begin reading 13-14
Hwk: finish reading 13-14
7
--Quiz over 13-14.
--In-class discussion over chapters
--Begin reading chapters 15-16.
Hwk: finish reading 15-16
8
--Discuss ending of book
--Group activity: Predict the future of the characters. Share.
--Read Epilogue, Afterword. Discuss in light of predictions
Hwk: finish readings.
9
--Read articles from 10 years after the book was written. Discuss.
--Complete post-reading questions. Have our views changed at all from the beginning of the book?
--Players then and now: powerpoint notes, Brian Chavez interview, film’s special features, etc.
12
--TEST over Friday Night Lights
--Introduce paper topics
--Review elements of an introduction
--Draft introduction for Tuesday
13
--Check in introduction
--Review elements of body paragraph
--Draft body paragraphs 1-2
14
--Finish film. Discuss.
--Listen to Brian Chavez interview
--Check in body paragraphs. Conferencing.
--Draft body 3 and conclusion.
15
--Type draft in lab.
16
--Peer review and editing
--Revise and edit paper in lab.
If you are finished by the end of the hour, you may turn in your paper. If you want the weekend to
revise, you may do so. However, your PAPER IS DUE BY THE END OF DAY MONDAY! NO
LATE PAPERS ACCEPTED. IF YOU ARE LEAVING EARLY FOR BREAK, YOU MUST
MAKE ARRANGEMENTS! CALL ME IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY—248-840-7518
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--Paper due by the end of the day
--Film: Friday Night Lights
20
--Finish film. Discuss.
21-22
--Watch clips from Hoosiers. Discuss and compare to Friday Night Lights.
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DEC 23---JAN 2: HOLIDAY BREAK. ENJOY!
-----------------------------------------------------------Jan
3
--Welcome back!
--Read background info. on “Black Sox”: news article
--Watch excerpts from Eight Men Out.
Discuss: are the players innocent or guilty? Was the punishment fair?
--Sign out Shoeless Joe.
Hwk: read Part One, pgs. 3-19
4
--Quiz over Part One
--Background on Shoeless Joe and W.P. Kinsella
--Class discussion over reading: short story, the father, Shoeless Joe
--Begin reading Part Two, pages 23-59
Hwk: read Part Two, pgs. 23-59
5
--Quiz and discussion over reading
--Review The Catcher in the Rye, its significance and relation to Kinsella’s novel, and Holden Caulfield
--Read and discuss a few excerpts from The Catcher in the Rye: Holden, Richard Kinsella
Hwk: read Part Two, pgs. 59-101
6
--Quiz and discussion over reading
--Poetry break! Read and discuss baseball poems!
--Begin reading Part Three
Hwk: Part Three, pgs. 105-153
9
--Quiz and discussion over reading
--Read article about Archibald “Moonlight” Graham.
--Discuss the difference between fiction and reality.
Hwk: Part Three, pgs. 157-186
10
--Quiz and discussion over reading.
--Review passage where characters break into stadium to play and discuss the innocence of the game
--Share student paper on breaking into UM Stadium
Hwk: read Part Three, pgs. 187-219 for Monday
11
--Quiz and discussion over reading
--Comedy break! Abbot and Costello
Hwk: read Part Three, pages 219-255
12
--Quiz over reading
--Read and discuss speech by Eddie Scissons in book. Eddie Scissons—fact of fiction?
--Read article: Scissons Syndrome
Hwk: finish novel
13
No school.
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No school.
17
--Discuss ending of novel: the rapture of J.D. Salinger, the significance of The Catcher in the Rye, the speech.
--Read and discuss letter to Salinger from Kinsella. Share other letters to Salinger.
--Begin Field of Dreams
18
-- Finish Field of Dreams. Watch special features on author, screenplay, and field. Discuss.
19
20
--Group activity: characters, dreams, symbols
--Review for TEST
Hwk: study for test!
--TEST over Shoeless Joe
--Creative writing assignment overview: write your own extension chapter to the book
--Ideas for writing, sample essays, etc.
Hwk: begin drafting paper!
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--Writing day in lab
--Conferencing
24
--Writing day in lab
--Peer review and conferencing
Hwk: finalize papers—due at beginning of hour tomorrow!
25
--Shoeless Joe chapter DUE—NO LATE PAPERS ACCEPTED!
--Share papers
--Check out The Contender
--Hwk: read chapters 1-4 for Thursday
26
--Research: famous American boxers. Group assignment and presentation
Hwk: finish project for tomorrow; be prepared to present. Read chapters 1-4
27
--Quiz over Chapters 1-4. Discuss reading: Alfred, definition of contender, Harlem, race
--Group Activity: Name a Contender.
Hwk: read chapters 5-8
30
--Quiz over chapters 5-8. Discuss.
--Present your work on Name a Contender
--Read articles on Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali.
--Discuss their influence and impact on sport and African Americans
--Begin reading chapters 9-10. Finish for homework.
Hwk: read chapters 9-10.
31
--Quiz over 9-10
--Discuss reading
--Read excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
--Discuss Angelou’s account of Louis’ fight and compare to yesterday’s discussions.
--Begin reading chapters 11-13
Hwk: finish reading chapters 11-13
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--Quiz over 11-13.
--Discuss reading.
--Read/learn about Ruben Carter (listen to Bob Dylan’s Hurricane) and Jack Johnson
--Read chapters 14-16. Finish for homework.
2
--Quiz and discussion over 14-16
--Discuss reading
----Learn about and discuss another famous boxer: Mike Tyson. Read and article and an essay.
--Discussion: what distinguishes this boxer from previous ones discusses. Which resemble whom in the novel?
--Begin reading chapters 17-20
Hwk: Read chapters 17-20
3
--Quiz and discussion over 17-20
--Review for test
Hwk: study for test!
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--TEST over The Contender with essay
--Overview of compare/contrast assignment
7
--Begin watching Million Dollar Baby. Take notes, record comparisons and quotes!
8
--Finish film
--Discuss ideas for comparisons
Hwk: form comparisons, fill out outline for in-class essay.
9
--In-class essay. Bring notes, outline, quotes to use on essay!
10
Introduction to Into Thin Air: Watch IMAX film.
Discussion: why do people take risks?
Group activity: Survival Challenge
Hwk: Read chapters 1-3
13
Turn in Worksheet. Take quiz.
Read Chapters 4-5. Finish for homework.
14
Turn in worksheet. Take quiz over 4-5
Read chapters 6-7. Finish for homework.
15
Quiz over chapters 6-7; turn in worksheet.
Read chapters 8-10. Finish for homework.
16
Quiz over chapters 8-10; turn in worksheet.
Read chapters 11-12. Finish for homework.
17
Quiz over 11-12; turn in worksheet.
Read chapters 13-14. Finish for homework.
20
No School.
21
Quiz over 13-14; turn in worksheet.
Read 15-18. Finish for homework.
22
Quiz over 15-18; turn in worksheet.
Read chapters 19-epilogue. Finish for homework.
23
Go over worksheets. Review for test. Study!
24
TEST over Into Thin Air
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--Introduction to Brian’s Song. Background on Brian Piccolo and Gayle Sayers
--Elements of a screenplay
--Sign out books and begin reading
28
--Continue reading.
29
--Continue reading
1
--Finish play and discuss.
Hwk: review reading and complete worksheets
2
Brian’s Song film
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--Finish film
6-9
--ACT / MME (juniors)
--Miracle.
--Read Blood Feud and discuss.
--Review for exam
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Trimester exams