COMM 337: New York Times recalls a classic baseball story. Baseball? No, a classic story in every way ... AND A WRITING ASSIGNMENT FOR YOUR BLOGS

In today's New York Times, Charles McGrath recalled John Updike's story on Red Sox baseball legend Ted Williams' last game at Fenway Park in Boston. Updike's headline "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu" made fun of generations of sportwriting cliches, but the story is a classic of well-written magazine journalism. It is archived here on The New Yorker's website.

[It's timely now because Tuesday is the 50th anniversary of Williams' last game, on Sept. 28, 1960.]

Here's the assignment. It comes in three steps:

1. Read Donald Murray, especially Chapters 3-4, on "reporting for surprise" and finding the flow (Murray calls it "tension" of a story. As you read Murray, try to figure out what he means by "surprise." It's almost impossible to explain, but it's important. It may be the single most important thing that makes your work stand out in the crowd.

2. Read "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu." How does Updike develop the tension of the story? Are there any surprises in it as you read? What other techniques and/or attitudes that Don Murray suggests do you find reflected in Updike's story?

3. Post your thoughts (about 1,000 words) to your blog, and email me when you've finished. If you can't complete it by the end of the week, email me anyway and let me know how you're doing on it.

>As always, if you have questions, comments or suggestions, please don't hesitate to get back to me.