In the following forum, consider one of the following for your initial thread posting.

• Identify and discuss a major or minor theme. What is a primary concern of the literary text? How is it identified within the text? What does the text say about this theme?
• Analyze a major or minor character. What is the character like? Why is the character present; i.e., what role does he or she play in the action? How does the character change, or does she? What relationship does the character have with the protagonist?
• Read a passage closely. What are the rhetorical elements of the passage; i.e., how does the author’s choice of words and grammar affect an interpretation? Why is the passage important to the overall work? What ideas are developed in the passage? What particular plot point is developed or made clearer?
• Examine a metaphor, symbol, simile, or motif. Are there any dominant comparisons made in the text? How are they operating? What do these analogies imply? What is being compared?
• Analyze a scene. What scene is crucial to the development of the text? What are the primary components? Who is involved? How do things change for the course of the text after the scene?
• Compare or contrast two elements or texts. Are there opposing or supporting themes within or between texts? Are there metaphors that work together or against each other? What conflicting or supporting roles do two characters play? Does this text remind you of another we’ve read in the class?
• Answer a question. Find questions online about the text you’re reading and answer one. Answer one of your own questions about the text.
• Respond to a critic. Read a critical article about the text (hint: there are many on HumX) and respond to the points the critic makes. Reading criticism is always a good way to begin to understand and then write about a literary text.
• Write a combination of the above. (But be careful not to try to do too much.)

After posting an initial thread, be sure to comment on at least one other thread. Remember: each forum is worth a maximum of 10 points, but each post within a forum (called a “thread”) is worth a maximum of 5 points. To receive full credit for a forum, you must post a minimum of twice.

Before posting, be sure you read around in the forum a bit to be sure you’re not repeating something that’s already been posted. Also, be sure you give your thread a clear and precise title. You might also consult the following before posting, or to remind you the goals of the forum assignments.

• Blogging and Forum: Some Considerations
• Forum Top 5
• Strong Forum Post Example
• Second Forum Example
• Third Forum Example
• Commenting Online

Read more on HumX.