Writing and Test Requirements

Discussion participation
You should post on the discussion boards as instructed for every story, but before you post, you should read and reread the assignments, taking notes for your posting (this is to be done BEFORE the class time, of course) . During the class period, you should spend your time reading postings and writing thoughtful responses. (note that the program does register the times of your postings). Be sure that you read everything that is in the discussion soon after it is completed, as that is the "meat" of the course and you will be expected to refer to relevant points in your essays and most test questions will be drawn from the points raised there. There will also be face-to-face discussions that you should participate in. Your participation in the discussions will be graded on quantity and quality and will take into account whether you spend the full class time participating in the discussion.
I realize that there may be times when you cannot participate during the class period for some reason, or that you may want to read the discussion after the class time and then add your responses. Be aware that what you write after the class time may not be responded to, however; what you post early probably will be. I will "open" the discussions about 24 hours before the class time and close them about 24 hours after. Late work will not count as much but it would be better than no participation; I hope you won't make a habit of posting late. (30 course points--10 for each course unit)

Papers
1. Fiction paper--write a paper either on one work we've studied, doing a "deep reading" by drawing from the Exploration areas of the LitWeb works , or choosing a similar topic which you clear with me. Make sure that you support any ideas you present substantially from the text.  You might find this web site of particular help. You will have a week to discuss these papers in your critique groups before I collect them for grading. For all of these critiqued papers, your critique should be thoughtful, detailed and helpful, and it will be part of your paper grade. (10 course points
2. Poetry paper--on three poems (you may include one from our text which we have not discussed in class) on one of the following topics. You MUST use at least one LibWeb poem! Topics to be announced...
3. Drama paper (10 points)
4. Exploration/research paper or final exam. Either write a paper involving extensive Web and/or library research on a LitWeb work with your topic drawn from one of the Exploration sections or write a final exam essay which draws together works from the three genres we've read during the semester. (10 points)

Tests
1. Fiction test--short answer but detailed test on the readings (10 points).
2. Poetry test--ditto (10 points)
3. Drama test--ditto (10 points)