Just past the trap-door you'll find two types of discussion topics:

OFFICIAL MONTHLY DISCUSSION

and

INSPIRED POSTS OF RELEVANCE


The first are those topics started by me for each monthly extra credit. There I will start the post with a discussion topic about the month's lesson. I maintain the right to steer the conversation to a new topic if I wish.

The points given as extra credit will be based on certain criteria. First, simply making a comment on the topic will award the base points. Points will be added based on the quality of the post. Remember, this is a discussion. Reading what your classmates post and then responding to them will earn you more points. Keeping the conversation flowing, bringing up new points, and offering supporting evidence will earn you a significant number of points for you house. At the end of the month I will write up a conclusion and award special notice to the student with the best input for the month. (Anyone want to come up with a name for this special honor? Or should we just put a silencing charm on them? :D )

The other type of posts can be started by anyone. Have you read a book with an interesting take on the eternal battle between good an evil? Do you have a favorite tv where the main characters suffer the same cliches as The Trio? Does analyzing Harry Potter make those real-life literature classes more endurable? These posts can be related to Harry Potter, the class, the class lessons, or any combination. If I don't think its relevant, I'll just delete it. So don't be afraid to voice your opinion. As long as its not blatant spam, there will be no points deducted.

Professor, up to how many points can a student receive for participating in the monthly discussion?

And a name for our special ickle honor for talking too much... The Special Ickle Inputter? LOL, sorry I'm lost for ideas.

~Nagini~

The maximum of extra credit for a month is 30 points, I believe. To let you in on my point-awarding, here's a scale.

5-10: Base points. Saying something relevant to the topic

10-20: Satisfying the discussion. Saying some genuine that shows insight and thought.

20-25: Bettering the dicussion. Satisfying the discussion topic plus commenting on what others have said. You can't have a discussion with yourself. A discussion requires multi-persons involved.

25-29: Doing all of the above and shining in it. You've truly been imaginative and mature in atleast one of your points.