FIT Discussion: Growing Pains

The three components of a FIT Discussion, explained in detail below, allow students to become personally and actively involved with the materials they read. In your word processor, compose a FIT discussion for three of the literary readings in this module.  You should use a different story for each component (ex. the FACT for “from Some Account of the Fore Part of Elizabeth Ashbridge,” the INTERPRETATION on “from Some Consideration”,” and the TIE-IN on “from Letters from an American Farmer”).  DO NOT USE THE CONTEXTUAL/AUTHORIAL BACKGROUND READINGS FOR FIT DISCUSSIONS—USE THE LITERATURE. 
Compose this in your word processor (ex. Microsoft Word) and save as a .docx or .rtf file to upload to the discussion forum as an attachment; avoid just typing in the discussion box, as this doesn’t allow you to format appropriately. Remember to write in present tense; use MLA style to cite quotes/passages from the text.  
FACT
This is an opportunity for you to identify something in one of the works that you found interesting, and explain why you found it to be interesting.  Be specific.  Avoid summarizing the story and/or describing who the characters are—your classmates have read the work already. Tell them something they don’t know. Integrate quoted material at least once and include a proper MLA in-text citation. IMPORTANT: Do not let quotes overtake your discussion. This section should be a minimum of 150 words.
INTERPRETATION
This is where you identify meaning in a word, line, or passage. This section is more than just defining a word.  Dig deeper and go beyond the surface level.  Look for symbols, metaphors, themes, etc. when choosing what to write about in this section. Avoid summarizing the story and/or describing who the characters are—your classmates have read the work already. Tell them something they don’t know. Integrate quoted material at least once and include a proper MLA in-text citation. IMPORTANT: Do not let quotes overtake your discussion. Keep the quoting to a minimum—you should outweigh your source.  This section should be a minimum of 150 words.
TIE-IN
Here you “tie-in” or relate what you read to something you already know or have read. You may find personal connections between themes/passages and events that have taken place in your own life, or something you read may remind you of other works you have read. Avoid summarizing the story and/or describing who the characters are—your classmates have read the work already. Tell them something they don’t know. This section should be a minimum of 150 words.
SOURCE USE & DOCUMENTATION
When citing works in an anthology, remember that your in-text/parenthetical citations should still be the author’s last name and the page number: (Shmoe 24). Avoid citing the title of the anthology or the editor for short stories. Only cite by the title of the work if no author is listed. Include a properly formatted Works Cited page with entries for the three works you discussed. This should begin on the top of the page following your FIT sheet. MLA Formatting Help documents and the MLA 8th Edition Documentation Formula Guide are in the HELP & HOW TO Module of D2L Content to assist you.
o       Incorrect: “I grew up on a farm in a small American colony that was indescribably beautiful.” (“An Early American Story” 55). This is incorrect because the quote is hanging by itself, and the story has an author, which means it should be cited as such.
o       Correct: The author describes a colonial landscape that is “indescribably beautiful” (Shmoe 24).This is correct because it integrates quoted material and cites by the author.
o       Work Cited Formula: Last, First. “Title of Article.” Larger Work Title, edited by Editor’s Name(s), edition, Publisher, Year, page range of work.
o       Work Cited Sample: Shmoe, Joe. “An Early American Story.” Anthology of Made-Up American Literature, edited by Sally Shmoonie, 7th ed., Cengage, 2014, pp. 69-71.
GRAMMAR/MECHANICS
Remember to edit your post/replies before submitting. Check that your sentences are properly punctuated and make sense. Check your spelling and that you didn’t leave out words.  Poor grammar/mechanics can result in a loss of points.
MLA FORMAT Use proper MLA formatting (header, heading, centered-only title, double-spacing, 1” margins, consistent font—Calibri 11 OR Times New Roman 12) and appropriate labels for each section (Fact, Interpretation, and Tie-In). Remember that your header should be .5” from the top of the page. If you need help with MLA formatting, please see the resources in your HELP & HOW TO Module of D2L Content. Please note that GoogleDocs can wreak havoc with your formatting, so use with caution. 
TWO REPLIES
Reply to at least two of your classmates in at least fifty words apiece.  The purpose of the assignment is to discuss the works with each other; less than fifty words is not a discussion.
 
A FIT Rubric is provided in D2L Content under MODULE C so that you can get a better idea of what is expected on this type of assignment.  Save your FIT sheet as a .docx or an .rtf file.  Then, upload it to the appropriate discussion board as an attachment.  Please note the due date—discussions are not reopened if you should miss them.