The Discussion Board (DB) is part of the core of online learning. Classroom discussion in an online environment requires the active participation of students and the instructor to create robust interaction and dialogue. Every student is expected to create an original response to the open-ended DB question as well as engage in dialogue by responding to posts created by others throughout the week. At the end of each unit, DB participation will be assessed based on both level of engagement and the quality of the contribution to the discussion.

At a minimum, each student will be expected to post an original and thoughtful response to the DB question and contribute to the weekly dialogue by responding to at least two other posts from students. The first contribution must be posted before midnight (Central Time) on Wednesday of each week. Two additional responses are required after Wednesday of each week. Students are highly encouraged to engage on the Discussion Board early and often, as that is the primary way the university tracks class attendance and participation.

The purpose of the Discussion Board is to allow students to learn through sharing ideas and experiences as they relate to course content and the DB question. Because it is not possible to engage in two-way dialogue after a conversation has ended, no posts to the DB will be accepted after the end of each week.

American Intercontinental University publishes The Marketing Scene, an “online destination for professionals and consumers to discuss new ways of marketing, the effectiveness of advertising trends, specific ad campaigns, and the impact this information has on our society”.  

All of the articles are edited by marketing professionals to ensure quality information dissemination. Stories are added several times per week and cover a wide array of marketing topics. The stories are sorted by category:

• Controversy in Ads
• Lifestyle Campaigns
• Target Marketing
• The Global View
• Emotional Advertising
• Marketing the Economy

Read a few stories at the MarketingScene (this is a hyperlink to open in new window) to assist you with this assignment. 

Ethics and social responsibility are extremely important in marketing today. Pick a product or service currently marketed that either 1) you believe is unethical or 2) demonstrates social responsibility.  This is your chance to show what you have learned and it could help you become a published writer (really – your post could be selected to appear in the MarketingScene). This would look good on your resume. 

Main Discussion Post: Due by Sunday

Using the template provided, write a marketing article of about 250-350 words which includes a:

• Discussion of what you think to be the ethical implications or the social responsibility of the product’s or service’s introduction into the market place.
• Discussion of what you would do (or change) if you were the marketing manager in charge of that offering.

NOTE: Failure to write a marketing-focused article may result in a zero for the main post grade.