Title: Halfway-Point Forum
Course: BC-Literary Studies 11-1.1.0.0-XT

Choose only one of the following questions to write a 100- to 150-word post on, clearly indicating in your title and first sentence which of the four books you are writing about and which of the four questions here you have chosen to answer:

1. How does the dystopian or post-apocalyptic world presented so far in your novel differ most from our present world? What power does the government in the world of your novel have? How do they exercise that power? If there is no power structure, what has replaced it?
2. What has changed the most about the human experience in the dystopian or post-apocalyptic world presented in your novel? What things about humanity have changed the least?
3. What evidence do you see that characters in your novel are resisting tyranny or the disorder of their world? Is their resistance secretive or in the open? How likely do you think they are to be successful in overturning the unjust power systems or inhumane conditions of the world in which they live?
4. Based on what you have read so far, what do you predict will happen to your protagonist in the second half of your novel? Make sure to base your response on information you already know about your character, using it to make an educated guess about where their motivations, feelings, and experience might take them. (Please avoid spoilers if you have read ahead or are commenting on a post about a novel that you have read).

In your post, aim to follow this model: Make a claim, support the claim, restate the claim. Make sure to note the author and page of any quotations you use in parenthesis after your quotation. For example, “The frailty of everything revealed at last” (McCarthy 28).

After you have written your post, comment on one other of your classmate’s posts, offering a further insight, connection, quotation, or charitable difference or approach you see on the topic. When commenting, do not just say, “Good job; I agree!” but instead offer a robust remark about specific elements of the original post, and your unique contribution to the content of the original comment.

Forum Rubric

 | Not Complete | Emerging | Developing | Proficient | Extending
 | 0 |  | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Initial post | Not complete | My post demonstrates an unlikely interpretation of the novel. I have provided no evidence from the novel to support my interpretation, and have articulated my perspective in a very unclear way. | My post demonstrates a less likely interpretation of the novel. I have provided little evidence from the novel to support my interpretation and have articulated my perspective in an unclear way. | My post demonstrates an accurate interpretation of the novel. I have provided evidence from the novel to support my interpretation and have articulated my perspective in a clear way. | My post demonstrates careful and insightful interpretation of the novel. I have provided specific, relevant evidence from the novel to support my interpretation, and have articulated my perspective in an organized and logical way.
Response post | Not complete | My responses demonstrate a lack of comprehension of the original post or are disrespectful. | My responses are respectful but do not add much to the conversation. | My responses are purposeful and respectful, adding to the conversation. | My responses are thoughtful, insightful and respectful, adding meaning and depth to the conversation.
(Average between posts) Total: /10