1a. What does the speaker in "First Love" say he could do before he was sixteen?
2a. What did the speaker do every day?
3a. In "Point Guard," what is the movement of the ball faster than?
4a. What does the big girl do?
5a. In "First Love," what words describe the speaker's views about his abilities as a young basketball player? What words indicate the speaker's views on the abilities of the offensive team in "Point Guard"?
6a. How well does "First Love" convey the sensations of playing or watching basketball? How well does "Point Guard" achieve the same?
1b. Why might the speaker point out that he could do these things before sixteen?
2b. Why might the speaker have done this every day? What benefits could there have been?
3b. What does this achieve for the team with the ball?
4b. What position might the big girl play? Who is the point guard?
5b. Summarize the speaker's main idea in "First Love." Summarize the speaker's main idea in "Point Guard."
6b. What different but rewarding aspects of the game does each poem focus on? Which of these two poems most interests you? Why? What is most appealing about the poem you relate to? How does it reflect an experience that you have had?
Point of View. What point of view is used in "First Love"? What point of view is used in "Point Guard"? How does the point of view influence your experience as a reader? How do you experience "First Love"—as a participant or a spectator? How do you experience "Point Guard"?
Tone. How do you characterize the tone in "First Love"? How is the tone revealed? How would you describe the tone in "Point Guard"? How is that tone revealed? How does each writer's point of view affect the tone of his poem? Use the graphic organizers below to sort your thoughts for each poem. Use direct evidence from the poem to form clues. Describe the tone of each in your own words.
1. Write a critique evaluating a friend's strengths and weaknesses in performing a certain activity.
2. Write a slogan persuading other young people to become involved in your favorite sport.
3. Write directions for executing one specific skill in a sport of your choice. Imagine you are assisting someone who has never played that sport.
Writing Definitions. "First Love" and "Point Guard" contain several sports terms that some people may not be familiar with. Create a "Basketball Glossary" by writing definitions for each of the words listed below. You might wish to consult a dictionary or a book about basketball, or work with other members of your class to write your definitions.
Example fake—pretend to take a shot
1. rim
2. dead spot
3. backboard
4. set shot
5. jump shot
6. layup
7. hook
8. court
9. play
10. key
Sports Writing and Broadcasting. By yourself or with a partner, plan to report on a local sporting event, either in print or on video. You may want to start by reviewing articles or sportscasts to see how well they draw in the reader or viewer. What elements of the articles or sportscast would you want to use? On what elements could you improve?
View a local sporting event, taking notes on the progression of the game, meet, or race. Then write a short article or videotape a report of the event. Incorporate vivid language without being wordy. Review your writing or videotape and revise and edit it as needed. When finished, share your work with the class.
Basketball Past and Present. Complete this timeline on your own paper with major changes and developments in basketball from the 1890s to the present.
