US Government
Gareth Beckham
Discussiontopicpostingguidelines.docxDISCUSSION TOPIC POSTING GUIDELINES
Types of Post: “Response” and “Reply”
Definitions of “Response” and “Reply” posts:
Each Discussion post has two parts that must be completed to earn full credit:
1. Your “Response” post to my original question(s)
a. Response post is a post written by you in response to the instructor’s original discussion board assignment or discussion board test preparation/assignment. This is worth 20 out of 25 points. To earn these points, you must write a substantial “response” post of a minimum of 400 words.
2. Your “Reply” post to a classmate’s “Response”
b. Reply post is a post written by you as a reply to one of your peers’ response post (mention them by name). This is worth the remaining 5 out of 25 points. To earn these points, you must write a substantial “reply post” of a minimum of 100 words.
Again, both the response post and the reply post are required in order to earn the full 25 out of 25 points (See rubric below).
Discussion Topic Formatting: An Example of How Your Work Should Look When Posted:
Your work should follow the below pattern. Each time you respond to a discussion question/request, you should do the following:
1. Type or copy my exact question (not a variation) and paste it first. Be sure my question is in bold. I may ask several questions, be sure to break down each question individually, then reply. In some cases, you can lump two questions that are related together. No more than two questions, before replying.
2. Underneath my question, place your answer to my question. Your answer should appear un-bolded (see the three examples below):
A. What is your name? (My discussion question is bold and used as a header)
My name is Tiffany Nacoste. (Underneath my question, place your answer to my question. It should be like the example, un-bolded and beneath my question.)
B. What is your short-term goal and the steps you plan to take to reach your goal? (My discussion question is bold and used as a header)
My short-term goal is to make an A in this class. (Underneath my question, place your answer to my question. It should be like the example, un-bolded and beneath my question.)
C. What Steps do you plan to take to reach your goal? (My discussion question is bold and used as a header)
I plan to use my google calendar to help with time management and that will help me earn my A. For example, I have a post due on Tuesdays by 11:59pm, on each of those nights. I have set up a reminder for 2pm on each of those days to stop what I am doing and to complete the required reading and work. This reminder will help me complete both the “Response” post and the “Reply” post. Also, I do this at two o’clock, so that if I have no internet connection, I still have plenty of time to find a solution to the problem. Finally, as a final back up plan, I have a second reminder set at 3:30pm just in case something goes wrong at 2pm (This is an example of your answer explained and it again demonstrates how your answer should be un-bolded and placed beneath my question.)
D. What is your name? What is your short-term goal and the steps you plan to take to reach your goal? What Steps do you plan to take to reach your goal?
My name is Tiffany Nacoste. My short-term goal is to make an A in this class. I plan to use my google calendar to help with time management and that will help me earn my A. For example, I have a post due on Tuesdays by 11:59pm, on each of those nights. I have set up a reminder for 2pm on each of those days to stop what I am doing and to complete the required reading and work. This reminder will help me complete both the “Response” post and the “Reply” post. Also, I do this at two o’clock, so that if I have no internet connection, I still have plenty of time to find a solution to the problem. Finally, as a final back up plan, I have a second reminder set at 3:30pm just in case something goes wrong at 2pm. (This version is NOT acceptable)
Rubric: How to Earn (25) out of (25) points for each of your Discussion Topic Assignments
How to earn full credit: To earn full credit students must complete both the Response and Reply post
Response Post Specifics:
First, when you respond to the instructor's questions, you shall demonstrate understanding and application. In order to achieve the first twenty (20) of the twenty-five (25) possible points, you must do all of the following:
1. Copy and paste each question individually, and then place your answer(s) beneath them. Do this by placing my EXACT question(s) or part of the question(s) you are answering at the beginning of your answer(s)—Not a variation. In other words, use the question that you are answering as an EXACT heading for each of your answers.
2. Next, you must demonstrate understanding by appropriately, accurately and thoroughly answering each question and its PARTS in your own words. You must demonstrate critical-thinking and application by showing how the information presented in your “response post/answer” applies to the discussion topic.
a. Your response post should include specific examples and/or statistical analysis to illustrate your perspective.
b. The sources you relied on while crafting your post should be cited at the end of your post using the APA standards.
c. Response post should be a minimum of 400 words, not including restating the professor’s question (heading)
Reply Post Specifics:
1. To demonstrate understanding in your “Reply” post, you must restate the part of your peer’s “Response” post you wish to address. This must be done in your own words.
a. Mention your peer by name
b. Reply post should be a minimum of 100 words
2. To demonstrate thoughtfulness you will attempt to add to your peers’ knowledge. In other words, share something insightful by relating to your peer’s response or relating your peer’s response to a different subject. Put your peer’s response in context.
3. To demonstrate an analysis in your “Reply” post, you must clearly explain or demonstrate an analysis, such as compare and contrast, using one or more parts of your peers post.
For example:
I expect to earn and A in this class and I plan to read the course material. (This is a peer’s response post.)
(Your answer would be structured like so…)
Hi John,
I see you want an A in this class (You are showing knowledge here). I do too. I also noticed that you plan to read the course material, but you didn’t mention that you were going to learn from reading your peers work. I know it is probably implied, but I figured I would add this just in case you had not thought about it (Here you are showing analysis by suggesting an inference or implication of work or lack thereof).
You might want to read your peers postings as well. I find that by reading our peer’s postings, of course after I have posted my own—again, I find that I may or may not have missed something. Also, everyone is so different, that I learn a lot from my peers as well. Anyway, well wishes in the class (Here you are giving an implied example as to benefits of learning from your peers through comparing and contrasting).
How to Start a Response and Reply Post:
a. When posting to the discussion questions (i.e. starting your "response thread"), you will click the "start a thread" button.
b. When posting to one of your peers (i.e. doing a "reply post"), you will click on that student's post, read it, and then click the "reply button” in order to craft a peer reply that demonstrates understanding, thoughtfulness, and an analysis (i.e. significant and substantial). Mention your peer by name.
c. For all discussion topics, cut and paste your work into blackboard. I strongly advise you to craft your work in MS Word and save it. Then copy and paste it under the corresponding assigned button. File Attachment has been disabled. Emailing your discussion post to professor is not acceptable.
d. To copy in the online class you may have to click ctrl-v.
e. To paste in the online class you may have to click ctrl-p.
