Discussion+Forum+Guidelines+and+Expectations

Miss Vernon will have students draw a literary username, and she will issue the passwords. Students are to keep their usernames secret until the end of the year. They will be held responsible for anything posted via their names on any projects or in any discussion forums. Disciplinary measures will be taken for inappropriate posts on the Wiki. This year, we will also be doing group projects through the Wiki. The guidelines and expectations for the Wiki are as follows: Via the discussion link, you will see various questions that will help you in course of our discussions of the novels, plays, short stories, and poems that we read in class. //Example: Act II of __A Midsummer Night's Dream__ will have four threads; you need to post on at least two of them.//
 * You will be expected to adhere to the guidelines and meet the assignment requirements. The expectations will be stated in the initial post on each assignment by Miss Vernon.
 * When completing a discussion forum assignment, you need to post on at least half of the postings for each section that we read, unless I instruct you otherwise (due to an odd number of threads or other reasons).


 * I am only requiring two posts for each thread instead of three. (To clarify: You must post to half of the total number of threads, and you must post to each thread you choose __twice (two threads required = four posts)__. The first is your response to the question posed. The second is a response to someone else's answer.)
 * Threads will be locked until we start the section and locked again when we finish it. This will keep you from procrastinating too much.
 * Threads will be graded at the end of each section instead of at the end of the nine weeks.
 * All threads for the pieces we read will be placed on the discussion board before we begin reading them so you can begin to formulate your responses. This will take the surprise out of the assignment, in some respects, but it will keep you on task and focused.
 * You can add threads, but I reserve the right to delete them without notice. The goal of the Wiki is for us to have thought-provoking discussions. You may come across something you want to share. As long as it is school appropriate (I trust that you know what is appropriate and what is not.), you may share ideas and discussions related to English, education, global issues, literary styles, cultural literacy, etc. here. From time to time I will post a video clip for you to watch and respond to via discussion.
 * The messaging system works and is a great way to communicate with me if you need something. HOWEVER, with it comes responsibility. If it is abused or used in violation of the school's Acceptable Use Policy, the penalties will be enforced as set forth in the student handbook.
 * ** EACH POST MUST CONSIST OF AT LEAST FOUR COMPLETE SENTENCES. Spelling and grammar do count! Due to the fact you cannot edit or delete your posts, I suggest composing your thoughts on paper or in a Word document before posting. **
 * //**__ ANY POST THAT HAS TEN ERRORS OR MORE WILL BE AN AUTOMATIC ZERO. __**//** There is no reason to have 62 errors in four sentences. This is still English class, and I expect you to treat it like anything else you would write for class. __I give you three free errors per post due to the fact you cannot edit after posting, but that is all.__ Try to keep it to the three or less if you can. **
 * Be aware that Wikispaces has changed how the forum displays posts. Instead of placing the discussion posts on sequential pages, you now need to click to view more posts (It is a similar method to the one used with comments on Facebook.).
 * ** Be sure you are viewing all posts and taking time to read them. The purpose of Wiki exercises is to promote critical and analytical thinking and the use of argument skills (argument = providing evidence to support your thoughts – not fighting about who is right or wrong). **
 *  As of this time, the site does not allow you to reply directly (thread) to another. Therefore, it is important all students follow the guideline to place TO and a character’s name at the top of their posts where they are responding to a peer. Be sure to put your peer’s username in all caps at the top of that post followed by a colon. For example:

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;"> TO GOLLUM17: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For parents, the Wiki will provide insight into our lessons as well as resources to help their children perform at the highest level in English II. The Wiki has links to helpful Web sites on one of its pages.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Refrain from being negative toward someone else's posting.** All English II students will participate in the same discussion forums. ** If you abuse the system or behave in an inappropriate manner, you will be referred to the principal's office. **Keep it clean. Keep it appropriate.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**NO PROFANITY!**
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__Screen names are to be kept secret until the end of the year.__ **If you change your screen name at any time, or post a picture other than a picture of the character in your screen name OR the author who created that character, you will be given a zero on ALL threads for the SEMESTER!**
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If someone else beats you to stating your ideas, you must add something new to it. Repetitive posts will receive point deduction. Post early and often.
 * <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To access the discussion forum, click the Discussion link in the menu on the left side of the page.