How to Post a Discussion Board Response

1. Read the question you are responding to.
a. Make sure you are answering all PARTS of the question

2. Do not use lower case i for I; spell correctly, no IM shortcuts. This is a post that is educational and shows that you are using academic, college level writing skills.

3. Advancing the discussion, like in a class they need to post something that allows other students to add to the discussion.

4. Use the following questions and guide to help you develop a post
a. Expand on the other post
b. Ask for more information
c. Act as devils advocate
d. No less than 50 words- guideline not to count each word
e. Add websites
f. Asking questions for critical thinking
g. Add spice to discussion board- correctly- just as a devils advocate
h. Move the topic along
i. Not moving the discussion forward rather than time factor

5. Use the following questions to help you think of a new response to a peer.
a. Is your message factually accurate?
b. Is your message original? If you copy or paraphrase another source, you must cite it.
c. Is your message relevant to the issue being discussed?
d. Have you taught us anything new? [This is very important!]
e. Does your message engage others to want to participate in additional discussion?
f. Is your message written in academically appropriate fashion? [With no "chat" lingo, no spelling errors, no grammatical errors.]