Our online discussion board is a major part of the work in this course. In most cases, I will pose a question or issue to you, and then you will respond to me and to your classmates. You are responsible for posting one enormous reply to the initial prompt and at least two replies to classmates for each of the assigned posts. You can complete the posts any day of the week as long as you do so by the deadline: 11:59pm at the end of each weekly unit. Please see additional guidelines below.
- An enormous reply is your original response to my prompt. It must be at least 200 words, and is worth 60 points. It’s recommended that you submit your primary post a few days prior to the due date to allow classmates to respond.
- A reply to classmate is your response to a classmate’s post. Each of your two replies must be at least 50 words, and each is worth 20 points (40 total).
- All posts should reflect some reasoned thought on your part. Think of them as mini-essays that help you make a clear, focused point.
- Your posts should contain some degree of formality: spell-checked, organized, etc. However, they will also be a part of a discussion, so they fall somewhere in between formal essays and an email to a friend.
- All posts should be courteous.
- Feel free to post as many replies to classmates as you like. After you complete the two required replies to classmates (at least 50 words each), your other posts can be as short, or as long, as you want.
- You will receive full credit (100 points) for each post (1 enormous reply and two replies to classmates) if you fulfill all of the above requirements. I will deduct points if your posts are: too short, show little thought, are excessively sloppy in terms of grammar, spelling and mechanics, engage in personal attacks or other breaches of common etiquette.
- No late replies to classmates will be accepted. If you submit your enormous post after the due date, the highest score you can receive is a 60.
