Pre-AP English I
Literature – Gothic Novels
Gothic Novel Discussion Forum Threads via Google Classroom
Directions:
1. Read through this handout to understand discussion forum protocol and etiquette.
2. Log into Google Classroom and use the correct class code to join the group and discussion board for your novel.
Activities for Home:
Guidelines for Posting
Each student is required to answer each discussion question using the assertion/opinion, introduction of evidence, citation, and
analysis (AIQDC) format discussed in class. Once you have answered the question, you must comment on the postings of at least two
other students. To respond to a discussion thread, comment underneath. Use the “reply to this comment” arrow/button next to
specific comments that you would like to reply to.
Comments must further the discussion. Ask questions that inspire others to think about the novel and to rethink their positions on
the posted questions. Resist the temptation to simply praise, demean, criticize, or troll. If you struggle to phrase your questions, use
these prompts:
o Have you considered _______ as a motivation for _______’s actions? This is illustrated by _______.
o I disagree about _______, but I agree that _______ because _______.
o I think the author intends to show _______ instead of _______ as you mentioned, because of _______.
Posting Etiquette
1. Media: Currently, for a thread, you have the ability to post links to: pictures, YouTube videos, audio files, and websites;
however, do not post large files, as they take up space on the discussion thread. Refrain from posting unnecessary or
unrelated images. If a picture is deemed inappropriate (in poor taste, profane, or simply just not witty) the post and all of
its contents will be deleted, and you will not receive credit for the post.
2. Polls: Respond to any polls as they appear in the thread.
3. Profanity of any kind will not be tolerated. In fact, most inappropriate words have been censored; however, should a word
slip through the filter, your post will be deleted and you will receive a failing grade for your posts.
4. Be thoughtful, kind, constructive, and courteous in your responses to each other.
(Mostly Approached at Home) Online Forum Participation
1. Respond to each discussion thread posted for your novel. See the attached schedule for when to respond to a particular post.
Use the AIQDC format for your response.
2. Comment on at least two posts of your peers. Be sure to follow the guidelines for posting.
3. Respond to any polls as they appear in the discussion thread.
Activities for Class
Daily Literature Circle Activities
● Hold group members accountable for adhering to the reading schedule.
● Come to class prepared to discuss assigned chapters. Ms. Icaro/Ms. Mishriky will check your progress and discussion each
day in class.
● You talk! The daily projected guidelines for discussion are meant to inspire, but not dominate, your conversations. Use them
as springboards for conversation. You could also use the online discussion as inspiration for conversation. My expectation is
that you can have productive conversations about your book for the full time I provide you in class.
● Use the projected guidelines to help facilitate your discussion. The idea is to engage with each other on a level that makes
sense to you. That being said, you are expected to incorporate elements of literary analysis (literary concepts such as theme,
tone, symbol, etc.) in your discussion.
● Generate 1 Poll Question on a sheet of paper and submit to the teacher by the end of class that day.
● Pick out one quotation from your novel that you feel best represents the Gothic elements discussed that day. Add that
quotation to the class list (either via Google Doc or by hand on a poster) by the end of class that day.
Online Forum Grade
Your participation in the online forum over the next month will be counted as one holistic quiz grade. There will be three online forum
posts that you must participate in. The scores for each of the three online forums will be added up to equate to your quiz grade in the
gradebook. For EACH online forum, you must:
● Respond ONCE to the teacher’s question/prompt using AIQDC format.
● Respond to TWO comments made by your peers. Hit the “reply to this comment” arrow/button next to the name and comment
of the student whom you wish to reply to.
Your grade will be calculated as follows:
● Forum 1: Points for Response to Teacher + Points for Response to Student + Points for Response to Student
=
x
(9 total possible points)
● Forum 2: Points for Response to Teacher + Points for Response to Student + Points for Response to Student
=
y
(9 total possible points)
● Forum 3: Points for Response to Teacher + Points for Response to Student + Points for Response to Student
=
z
(9 total possible points)
● Final Quiz Grade = (
x + y + z
) / 27 total possible points
Point Value
Requirements
1
Post does not include all elements of AIQDC.
Writing is mostly summary and lacks true analysis or insightful commentary.
Post does not include a quotation, or quotation is missing an in-text citation.
Comments to peers’ responses are surface-level and do not build new meaning.
2
Post sometimes follows AIQDC formatting.
Commentary is present but may not be analytical or may be redundant.
Some mistakes are made in citing textual evidence.
Comments to peers’ responses address specific details but do not necessarily make a
connection to a new idea. Agreeing or disagreeing to a peer without building further
meaning or supporting your opinion will earn you a 2.
3
Post successfully follows AIQDC formatting with insightful commentary that brings
new ideas to the online discussion.
Student offers strong text-based analysis to support insights.
Comments to peers’ responses add ideas to build meaning. Students makes clear
connections between new insight and specific detail or element of peer’s idea.
All in-text citations are correctly formatted.
Gothic Novels Reading Schedule
Follow the reading schedule below for your Gothic novel. These are
due dates
, which means you need to have finished the designated
chapter by the beginning of class that day. Refer to the Meeting Schedule Calendar posted below.
Dracula
Meeting #2—Through: Chapter 4
Meeting #3—Through: Chapter 8
Meeting #4—Through: Chapter 11
Meeting #5—Through: Chapter 13
Meeting #6—Through: Chapter 15
Meeting #7—Through: Chapter 17
Meeting #8—Through: Chapter 21
Meeting #9—Through: Chapter 24
Meeting #10—Through: Chapter 27 (End)
Jane Eyre
Meeting #2—Through: Chapter 4
Meeting #3—Through: Chapter 10
Meeting #4—Through: Chapter 14
Meeting #5—Through: Chapter 18
Meeting #6—Through: Chapter 22
Meeting #7—Through: Chapter 26
Meeting #8—Through: Chapter 32
Meeting #9—Through: Chapter 35
Meeting #10—Through: Chapter 38 (End)
Frankenstein
Meeting #2—Through: Chapter 4/ Volume I Chapter III
Meeting #3—Through: Chapter 8/ Volume I Chapter VII
Meeting #4—Through: Chapter 10/ Volume II Chapter II
Meeting #5—Through: Chapter 12/ Volume II Chapter IV
Meeting #6—Through: Chapter 14/ Volume II Chapter VI
Meeting #7—Through: Chapter 16/ Volume II Chapter VIII
Meeting #8—Through: Chapter 20/ Volume III Chapter III
Meeting #9—Through: Chapter 22/ Volume III Chapter V
Meeting #10—Through: Chapter 24 (End)/ Volume III Chapter VII (End)
Wuthering Heights
Meeting #2—Through: Chapter 4
Meeting #3—Through: Chapter 10
Meeting #4—Through: Chapter 13
Meeting #5—Through: Chapter 16
Meeting #6—Through: Chapter 19
Meeting #7—Through: Chapter 22
Meeting #8—Through: Chapter 28
Meeting #9—Through: Chapter 31
Meeting #10—Through: Chapter 34 (End)