Description of Tickets In

Description: The purpose of the ticket-in is to give you something to think about as you read and prepare for class. They will generally appear in the list below one class period before the first day a book is due (which means if you are reading far ahead these may appear when you are half-way through the book). I will often try to post them earlier, but these questions often grow out of the things we are talking about.

They are called a "ticket-in" because in filling them out, you are proving that you are a ready to become a member of our conversation. They prove that you have read and prepared for class. Hopefully, they should remind you that in order to be considered for a passing grade in the class, you have to be a valuable member of the course. Thinking about literature isn't always easy, and it takes work to get better at talking about books, but if you work at, and consider these questions carefully, then you should gradually get better at talking about literature.

Most of the time there will be more than one question. You don't have to answer them all, you may only answer one. Or you might connect several ideas. Use the questions as a starting point.  First and foremost talk about what interested you. 

Your assignment is to come to class with a typed response. Each ticket in should be at least one full page minimum (see grading standards below), or several good full paragraphs that completely answer the question. I want these to be a quick response, but also a thoughtful one. They don't have to be perfect or overly formal, but they should be insightful and it should be obvious you spent time on them. You should refer to examples, and make it clear that you have read the whole book.

But remember, you are not answering content questions. You are answering abstract, philosophical questions. Express your opinions, but go beyond whether you liked the book or not. More than anything else, I just want to see that you are thinking, and thinking differently. I want to see that you are letting our conversations shape how you respond to the book.

Please note: The ticket in is due at class time, and cannot be turned in at any other time.  If you forgot to bring it or print it, or if you miss the particular class, you cannot turn it in later. For this assignment I will not accept late papers. Filling out the ticket-in means you are ready to be in our discussion, so there is no point turning them in afterwards.

Grading:

I will go by the check, check-minus, check-plus system:

Check plus:  You may only get a couple of these.  Check-plus tickets in are longer and more substantive than the assignment asks for.  The student has taken an opportunity (most likely because they were struck by a particular book) to write a longer and more involved ticket in, one that goes beyond the question.  This ticket in employs several concepts from class, or connects the book in question to other books outside of our reading.  Check-plus tickets in are exceptionally insightful and analytical and go far beyond the expectations of the assignment.

Check: Most tickets in will receive a check.  This means the ticket in was insightful, answered the question fully, and made clear that the writer was prepared for class.  The ticket in was a good full page, meeting the requirement.  Writing is clear.  It is obvious the writer has read and thought about what they were going to write.  Ticket in ranges from decent to very strong.  Writer refers to examples from the book.

Check minus: These tickets in are shorter than the requirement, or hasitly done.  Writing is very poor, just a collection of quick ideas that may or may not answer the question that was posed.  It is not very clear whether the writer finished the book, or even read enough to answer the question well.  Writer fails to talk about anything specific in regards to the book. 

Overall Grading: As a component of your overall final grade you will receive a Ticket In grade which is cumulative of all of your individual grades as follows:

A: At least two check pluses, and all checks.  No tickets in are missing (unless unusual circumstances).

B: All checks, perhaps one check plus, no more than one check minus.  No tickets in are missing (or maybe one if there is a pattern of good tickets in)

C: Primarily checks, one or more check minuses, one or more tickets in missing.

D: Several check minuses, several tickets in missing.

F: More than 4 tickets in missing.