Overview of the Activity and Guidelines

Activity: Grand Online Book Discussion Project
Objective: To encourage all members to re-read the books (all 7) in preparation for the final film installment. This activity also intends to promote student cooperation, strengthen inter-House relationships, and nurture the critical thinking skills of our members vis-a-vis Harry Potter as a literary text and as a cultural phenomenon.

Schedule and assignments: Since we only have 7 months before the release of the last film, 1 book per month should be just fine.

January: Sorcerer's Stone [Slytherin]
February: Chamber of Secrets [Gryffindor]
March: Prisoner of Azkaban [Ravenclaw]
April: Goblet of Fire [Hufflepuff]
May: Order of the Phoenix [Head Boy & Head Girl]
June: Half-Blood Prince [Faculty]
July: Deathly Hallows [Faculty]

Method: The House Prefects are the automatic Discussion Leaders per book. If the Prefects are not available, the entire House must choose 2 DLs within their ranks to do the assigned task.

Guidelines:

1. DLs may award a set # of points to exemplary messages/ideas shared by a participant in the discussion. They may also deduct a set # of points if a student posts something unnecessary (spam messages) in the thread.

2. There is a corresponding point deduction if a student commits plagiarism. If a student wishes to make a quotation, make sure the entire thing is properly cited. The purpose of this activity is for all of us to share OUR original ideas, OUR own thoughts about the texts. If you wish to strengthen your argument by quoting something you've read somewhere (whether an online resource or an actual book/journal/magazine/newspaper), you are allowed to make citations granted that the references are included in your message.

3. DLs have full control over the discussion. If they feel like moving the direction of a particular topic, they are empowered to do so. Regular participants must follow the lead of the DLs. If a student participant wants to pursue a particular point that is yet to be covered, s/he must first inform the DLs. We don't want to bypass the DLs, especially if there is a plan in the order of the points that they wish to cover.

4. Mutual respect must always be observed. I myself am highly opinionated (I think this is quite obvious, right? ) but let's articulate our thoughts with respect for everyone in mind. If somebody is too abrasive in the discussions, or if it becomes too personal for comfort, there will be a corresponding warning and/or point deduction. Suffice it to say that coarse language will not be tolerated.

5. Canon is Might. Canon is our priority. This means all JKR interviews, fanfiction, imagined outcome/alternative endings made by readers, etc. will be considered as secondary sources. If it is not in the canon, it is not official. Even if JKR herself was the one who mentioned some detail about something in some interview, as long as it's not written in the septology, we will not consider it as factual/canonical. We may mention such secondary information but we have to state that the source material is not canon. This is just to avoid possible confusion.

Corollary:
5.1 Book editions matter. We have to specify if we're using Scholastic or Bloomsbury in our discussions. Always mention the Chapter and Page #s. If you're using online versions of the text (where paginations differ from the actual book), please say so. Don't worry, I expect other DLs and vigilant discussion participants to be ready with their own copies of the books during the discussion.

Questions? Comments?

Prefect Jovan and the Slytherin students, you have the floor.

Have fun with the discussions, everyone!

I actually raised the same question sa RoR last week.

Maganda kung yung new HB and HG para kasama ka na sa Faculty and Staff assigned book, hehehe.

ok excited n ko, since medyo trip ko talaga ang ootp! haha

kung excited si FC kabado naman ako. haha!
i had a BIG BIG BIG help from Prefect Echo sa CoS namin eh. bless him!

kelan natin discuss to? PM ka lang HB

^No need to be kabado, HG! I'm confident you and HB will bring it!

BTW, mukhang nahinto ata ang pag post ng mga DLs ng Hufflepuff House. . . the DLs can always ask for help/assistance from other House members or from the other DLs. Tulong-tulong tayo.

DANDAF

HB & I will be waiting for the thread po. Thanks!

Ay, hindi ba kayo pwedeng mag create ng thread?

hehe wala kaming creation powers! haha

yep. Dandaf...
i've tried creating a new thread but sa 'Announcement & Pinned' sya nalagay...

Sige, I'll see what I can do. . .

ETA: Oops, I can't create new threads as well, just new topics. Sorry about that.

same with us po.
sige Dandaf, i'll check from time to time na lang.
we're both ready na naman po. no worries

Thanks a lot Lianne

uhm..newbie question....how to make Pinned thread....di ko makita options eh

wala lianne e. wala kaming mod tools sa main forum page ng ootp. meron lang kami sa sub sections. hehe

haha sorry for being noobs! hahaha anyways, joan was trying to create another thread called bulleting board, pero gusto niya gawings sticky thread ata. or pinned! haha ndi namin makita ung option for it

at nawala yung ginawa kong Bulletin Board yesterday
wala talagang option for sticky thread...

Question: are we only allowed to post in discussions for the book of the month? Or pwede pa rin sa previous months?

^Hi, Mandy!

Yes, pwede pa ding mag post sa mga naunang book of the month discussions. Go go go!!!

Issue of concern: The CoS Chpater threads are missing!!! Can't figure out how it happened... By any chance, are they in the basket?