Discussion Board 4.2

As a review, follow the following steps to submit your response:

  1. Make sure you’re logged into our class website.
  2. Click on the “+” button in the black bar at the top of the screen
  3. Type a title for the post (it should include your full name)
  4. Type your response
  5. On the right side, click on Categories: and check “Discussion 4.1”
  6. Important: On the right side, at the top: click on the date next to Publish, and enter your post date, which is this coming Sunday, at 11:59pm.
  7. Click Publish and you’re done.

Respond to the following questions

  1. What is the distinction that Reading 4.3 makes between owners and employees? Give an example of each.
  2. How do you understand the quote by Adam Smith on pg. 28? What is it saying about labor?
  3. What are your thoughts on the main argument of Reading 4.4 that class is NOT an identity?
  4. How do you understand the argument Reading 4.4. makes when stating that “class structures are built around a close form of dependency”? What is this close form of dependency, and can you think of an example?

Discussion Board 4.1

Before posting, watch this example video, which will show you how to post your answer to this discussion board:


NOTE: Once you’ve scheduled your post to be published on at midnight on Sunday, you can still go back and edit your post until then, if you want to rewrite and/or add to your post.

As a review, follow the following steps to submit your response:

  1. Make sure you’re logged into our class website.
  2. Click on the “+” button in the black bar at the top of the screen
  3. Type a title for the post (it should include your full name)
  4. Type your response
  5. On the right side, click on Categories: and check “Discussion 4.1”
  6. Important: On the right side, at the top: click on the date next to Publish, and enter your post date, which is this coming Sunday, at 11:59pm.
  7. Click Publish and you’re done.

What will happen next is your post will automatically be published by the OpenLab system on Sunday at midnight. The goal here is for all student posts to be published at the same deadline. After that point, you can begin reading each others’ posts, and you have to comment on at least one other student’s post.

Note: please make sure that you schedule your post to be published on Sunday, midnight, not before.


Keep in mind our Online Discussion Guidelines:
http://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/pol-100-e050-introduction-to-american-government-5-week-summer-2024/online-discussion-guidelines/

Instructions for completing this discussion board assignment:

a) Identify which discussion question you are answering in your comment by placing the relevant number at the start of your answer. For example:

2. Crime has often been used as a form of social control by…

4. Michelle Alexander’s argument about segregation…

b) Respond to one other student’s comments.


  1. Do you notice any similarities in the way social class is discussed in readings 4.1 and 4.2? Do you notice any differences in the way these two readings DIFFERENTIATE between social classes?
  2. Pick the station closest to where you live. Using the concepts from Reading 4.1, what social class tends to live in your neighborhood? Are you surprised (or not) by the answer? Do you feel it is an accurate representation of the people living in your neighborhood?
  3. Based on Reading 4.2, do you notice a general pattern about social classes in NYC?

Approaches for Successfully Completing This Online Class

Online students need structure, and a study calendar is a great way to create it. Check your syllabus before your course kicks off, and commit to due dates on your calendar. Then, designate study times for each class, and stick to them. Set aside a specific block of time every day, maybe after the kids’ bedtime, or before you go to work. Sticking to her plan will help you juggle work, family, and multiple online courses without falling behind. If you can’t set aside a whole block of time, then think about periods of the day when you can take at least 15 minutes for uninterrupted study time.

Our colleagues over at Arizona State University made a great video on time management. Take a look:


Another video on time management tips:

Look Ahead

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to look ahead when taking online courses. Check your time management plan (you will be making one shortly!) for assignments that will be due, double-check for live events or in-person sessions for hybrid classes. Make plans to meet with your classmates online or to attend your instructor’s virtual office hours. Always know when an assignment is due, and don’t wait until the last minute to complete it. 

Set aside at least one hour a day for each of your e-learning courses. Remember the videos you watched on the subway and the article you read while waiting for 20 minutes at the doctor’s office? That counts towards chipping away at that one hour a day!

Speak Up

If you struggle or fall behind, don’t stay silent. Remember your growth mindset; every problem is an opportunity to grow and improve. Think of it as a puzzle to solve. BMCC has instructors, counselors, tutors, and many other services here to help you get back on track. While your Instructors have deadlines for a reason and late work is not accepted, by speaking up, you will have an opportunity to refocus and improve your work moving forward. Extra credit assignments may be offered at the professor’s discretion. We help students with problems all of the time, that’s our job! 

The worst thing you can do for yourself is to do ‘nothing.’ 


Discussion Board 1: Class Introductions

Note: this (and all other) discussion board posts must be posted by midnight, Sunday.

Welcome to POL 100! In this first discussion board of our course, let’s introduce ourselves to each other, by doing the following:

  1. Create your introduction by entering text in the comments box below. When you finish writing your introduction, click the “POST COMMENT” button. In your introduction, tell us your name, what is your major (if you have chosen one), as well as a bit about yourself. Things you might consider sharing include: what are you interested in studying at BMCC, what are your plans after BMCC, interests that you have, etc.
  2. After entering your own post, respond to at least two classmates by elaborating on something that they wrote that resonated and connected with you.