Preparation: refer to my note-taking instructions for Module 5:1: reading: Aristophanes’ Clouds = Claughton & Affleck pp.3-115 (odd pages).

If you haven’t already, that is where you will find my paper prompt for this discussion and a list of important passages.

Step One: Please start a new thread that has five statements.

In the first and second, please state:

• which one of the questions from my paper prompt you are going to address specifically, and what your answer to that question is for now.

In the third, fourth, and fifth, please state:

• three supporting reasons or points with evidence from the text.

Together the statements of your prelim thesis should be at least eight complete sentences. And you should cite the text by last names of modern editors/translators (Claughton & Affleck) and page numbers (or equivalent). If using an edition different from Claughton & Affleck, with a different editor/translator, adapt your citations accordingly.

Here’s a writing template you can use. The ellipses stand for your words and ideas as well as your paraphrase or very select quotation from the text; keep any direct quotes from the text to a bare minimum.

Writing Template

Question. The specific question from the prompt that I am going to address is: …?

Answer. And here is my answer for now: ….

Support 1. One of my supporting reasons is that …. Evidence for this is found in the passage where …. (Claughton & Affleck page/s).

Support 2. Another of my supporting reasons is that …. This can be seen in the text when …. (Claughton & Affleck page/s).

Support 3. Yet another of my supporting reasons is …. Evidence for this comes from …. (Claughton & Affleck page/s).

You can and should be rigorous and critical in the academic sense. Also be sure to be respectful, complying with the Behavior Policies and Online Etiquette in the Syllabus here.

Step Two, on the day after the threads are due: Please read each of your classmates’ threads in your small discussion group and leave one response on each thread, a response that has two review statements.

In the first review statement, please describe:

• what you think is the strongest part of their analysis or argument, and explain why you think so.

In the second review statement, please describe:

• what you think is the weakest part of their analysis or argument, and explain why you think so.

Each of your statements should be a least two complete sentences, so that’s four complete sentences per response.

Here’s a writing template you can use.

Strength. I think the strongest part of your analysis is …. That’s because I think ….

Weakness. I think the weakest part of your analysis is …. That’s because I think ….