Discussion entrees must be a minimum of 250 words. You can write as much as you wish. You will not be able to respond to your classmates’ responses until you enter your own 250-word response. Blank first posts will result in an automatic F for that discussion board. No exceptions. I encourage you to write you discussion board post first in another document and then copy and paste it into discussion board. DO NOT attach word files or documents to the post. Only copy and paste or write up your post in the discussion board box. Then hit submit and respond to three students.

Grading responses to classmates.

If you don’t respond to a classmate as required that week, you lose a point for each missing, incomplete, or insubstantial response.

FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION BOARD FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS RESULTS IN THE AUTOMATIC FAILING OF THE CLASS—NO EXCEPTIONS. (See syllabus for requirements regarding Discussion Board.)  

Tell me what you think the reading is about and what you find most interesting. Do not summarize the reading. 

To help you respond, consider:

What do you think is the point of the reading? In other words, what do you think the author is saying?

What ideas/themes seem important to the author? What ideas, themes, or images do you find important? (These two questions refer to two different things, so know the difference between your ideas and those of the author.)

Consider how the writer uses structure, form, language, voice, style, imagery to communicate his/her ideas.

Make sure to use quotes and examples from the readings to support your answers to the above questions.

Include passages from the reading that support your answer. Tell me why these quotes are important. Consider the language. How does the author use words? What images does the author use to communicate his or her main point? Feel free to bring in your own experience, but make sure they are relevant to the assigned reading. In other words, stay focused and don’t wander off topic. Don’t worry about getting it “right,” and feel free to discuss what you don’t understand or don’t like, but you must explain your feelings and ideas.

How I grade them:

I am looking for your thoughts and ideas about the readings; in other words, engage in critical thinking. Summary alone will lower your grade (see below). Including quotes from, and references to, the texts are expected. I’m not grading you on grammar or on whether the journals are “correct,” although excessive grammatical errors that impede understanding do hurt your grade; mostly, I am looking for an exploration of ideas.

Responding to Classmates:

You are required to respond to three classmates each week. When responding to students be respectful and helpful. It is ok for students to have different viewpoints; in fact, I welcome them! I don’t want anyone to be afraid of censorship or being penalized for unpopular or different viewpoints. However, please note the difference between the expression of an idea/view and a personal attack against a student. The first is welcome; the second is unacceptable.

How to respond: Read your classmate’s post and if you agree, explain why and build on the points made by your classmate. If you disagree, also explain why and support your claim. Also, please help your fellow classmates if they don’t seem to understand something or you don’t understand their writing. Helping students with their writing, grammar, and self-expression is one of the benefits of discussion board. I encourage students to see themselves as my teaching assistants and I will also kindly respond confirming or correcting writing feedback. We are all in this together!

Grade breakdown:

You responded with at least 250 words or more, not a summary, and include your ideas about and analysis of the readings. You include quotes and textual references and you responded thoughtfully to three classmates with 100 words or more: Grade 100% (Full 5 points)

You have responded with 250 words but your comments tend toward summary with some good discussion of your ideas about and analysis of the readings. Or an A grade with one point deducted because only responded to two instead of three students in 100 words or more as required: Grade 80-99% (4-4.9 points)

Your comments are mostly summary, less than 250 words, with little to no discussion of your ideas about or analysis of the readings. Or an A grade with two points deducted because only responded to one instead of three students in 100 words. Or B grade and only responded to only two instead of three students: Grade 60-79% (3 points)

Your comments are significantly shorter than 250 words, mostly summary with no discussion of your ideas about or analysis of the readings. Or an A, B or C grade with one, two or three points deducted because you because you only responded to two, one, or no students:  Grade 20-59% (2 to 0.5 points)

You have not submitted any comments. Grade 0% (0 points)