Discussion Boards
20% of Unit
I have sent you a PDF version of Thomas Foster’s How to Read Like a Professor.
The Foster book contains 26 chapters dedicated to helping literature students analyze
fiction and poetry. I have listed the general topics of each chapter below and grouped
some of them together.
1. The Quest or Journey
2.,3. Eating
4. Poetry
5. Archetypes /Stereotypes
6., 7., 8. Allusions/Myths
9. Greek myths
10. Weather
11. Violence
12. Symbols
13. Political Statements
14. Christianity in Literature
15. Fleeing/flying themes
16. 17. Sex
18. Rebirth, death, water
19. 20 Geography, seasons
21. 22. 23. 24 Scars/disabilities
25. Understanding context
26. Irony
Every Thursday, you must each choose a DIFFERENT chapter to read and briefly
summarize. Then, write a reflection relating that chapter to the book. (First come, first
serve) When you read The Alchemist, comment on how you now “see” -in the novel what Foster was trying to show in his book. By Monday, you must respond to the other
students’ reflection in a meaningful way. Some chapters relate better than others to
The Alchemist. I would suggest chapters: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 19.
Discussion Board Rubric
4
3
2
1
a timely fashion,
giving others an
opportunity to
respond.
Entries re made in a
timely fashion,
giving others an
opportunity to
respond.
1 entry was not
done on time
More than one
entry was not done
on time.
Entries give a
critical analysis of
the book in light of
a thorough
understanding of
How to Read Like a
Professor with wellchosen and specific
references to both
texts.
Entries give a
thoughtful analysis
of the book in light
of a good
understanding of
How to Read Like a
Professor with wellchosen and specific
references to both
texts.
Entries make
accurate but
limited connections
between the book
and How to Read
Like a Professor
with at least one
specific connection
to each text.
Entries make
superficial
connections
between the book
and How to Read
Like a Professor.
Makes no
connection to one
or more of the
texts.
Makes thoughtful
connections that
provoke further
conversation.
Makes meaningful
connections.
Makes limited
connections.
Repeats what has
already been said.
Accurately
summarizes most
main ideas of text
in own words.
Accurately captures
most main an idea
of text but uses the
author’s own words
often.
Ideas are missing or
inaccurate and/or
mainly use the
same phrasing as
the text.
Responsibility Entries are made in
1.
2.
3.
Entries
1.
2.
3.
Responses
1.
2.
3.
Summaries
1.
2.
3.
Accurately and
succinctly
summarizes main
ideas of text in own
words.