TALK OF THE CLASS DIRECTIONS

OVERVIEW:

The intent of this project is to encourage you to talk to each other both:
BEFORE and AFTER
the play is formally discussed in class.

"Talking" means posting e-mail-like notes to each other on the Theat 145 bulletin board. Since everything is viewed by everyone, virtually instantaneously, this interactive capability is the electronic equivalent of a class discussion, with the added advantage that there is a permanent record of what everyone has said. At any time, day or night, you can respond to what somebody has said, or you can create a totally new "thread" of discussion.

EXPECTATIONS:

Printouts of your specific contributions to the "Talk of the Class" are due four times during the semester. The due dates for each of the four printouts are coordinated with the four in-class exams and, in fact, each printout is valued as 50% of an exam grade.

For each of the four submissions, the overall expectation is that you actively and regularly participate in posting messages. Here are the minimum guidelines for each of your submission:

• The total number of single spaced pages for each of the four submissions is:

  3 pages 1 1/2 single spaced pages of BEFORE postings 1 1/2 single spaced pages of AFTER postings

• BEFORE SUBMISSIONS:
  For half of the total number of your required plays, create new postings or respond to someone else's posting BEFORE the play is formally discussed in class. The message board program automatically records the dates of the messages, so make sure you include the date with each of your messages. Clearly label this portion of your project: BEFORE.

• AFTER SUBMISSIONS:
  For the other half of the the total number of your required pages, create new postings or respond to someone else's posting AFTER the play has been formally discussed in class. Maybe, for instance, your message elaborates or contests something that was mentioned in class, or maybe you want to respond to a much earlier posting that now takes on a new light because of something you heard in class. Clearly label this portion of your porject: AFTER.

• In comparison to the type of writing you would do for a final paper, the writing style of your messages can be considerably less formal. What is most important is not so much how you say it, but the quality of your thinking--i.e. your conceptualizing, raising significant questions, etc.

• Each printout is worth 1/2 of your "exam grade." This is why the four printout due dates coincide with the four in-class exam dates. The printout must be handed in at the beginning of class, before you take the exam. Linking the Talk of the Class with your in-class exams is my way of dramatizing how potentially valuable I feel this new tool happens to be.

PRESENTION:

In your Course Packet there is a cover page for this project. Complete it, and staple to it your finished "hard copy" presentation.

Cut and paste your postings together so that I can get a hard copy of everything you have written.

• For those of you who are computer savy, simply cut and paste each posting onto a word processing document.

• For those of you who shiver at the thought of silicon technology, simply print out the files and literally cut and paste them on paper.

Make sure to include the dates as you cut and paste the files.

Back to: Theat145 DISCUSSION BOARD

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