{"id":101,"date":"2025-04-17T16:34:32","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T16:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/discussion-boards\/"},"modified":"2025-06-26T20:08:57","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T20:08:57","slug":"discussion-boards","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/chapter\/discussion-boards\/","title":{"raw":"Technology in Writing: Learn It 2","rendered":"Technology in Writing: Learn It 2"},"content":{"raw":"<h2>Discussion Boards (or Forums)<\/h2>\r\nMany college classes utilize discussion boards (or forums) on their learning management platforms (Blackboard, Canvas, etc.). You may or may not have engaged in this kind of writing before. Discussion boards serve to facilitate discussion, but the discussion occurs online and usually asynchronously (not at the same time). What that means is that a student or the professor may post a question or a prompt, and others respond later. Like any kind of writing, there is a format and protocol for writing on discussion boards.\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Use a specific subject line.\u00a0<\/strong>Using a phrase such as \u201cresponse to Jacob\u201d for your subject doesn\u2019t tell other readers anything about the content of your response. Be brief, yet specific (e.g.,\u00a0Disagreement with Jacob about Literacy in Generation Z)<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Keep to one main idea or topic per response.<\/strong>\u00a0If you want to offer two different ideas, do separate posts.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Differentiate between starting a discussion thread and responding to someone else\u2019s posting.\u00a0<\/strong>Most discussion boards use what\u2019s called a \u201cthreaded discussion,\u201d which means that responses are indented under an initial posting. This type of indentation provides a visual cue to a reader, allowing him to rapidly distinguish the different discussion topics or threads.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Write informally but not sloppily.<\/strong>\u00a0There is\u00a0no need for fancy language or sentence structure but check your spelling before you finalize the posting. Most systems have a spell-check function. If you\u2019re not a good typist, you may want to compose your response with a word processor and then paste or upload it into the discussion board. This is also a good idea in case there are technological issues, which can cause you to lose a post. If you create your post in a word-processing program, you can save a back-up copy of your post.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Do not dominate the discussion.\u00a0<\/strong>There\u2019s no need to respond to absolutely every posting from every participant. Respond selectively. Often, a course instructor will let you know how much online participation she expects.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Be polite, and apply the rules of etiquette.<\/strong>\u00a0Use standard capitalization and punctuation; do not use all caps, as this is considered \u201cshouting\u201d online; use symbols sparingly to indicate tone when you think that words alone may not convey your meaning fully or accurately.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Remember that a lot of people may have access to your posts on a discussion board:<\/strong>\u00a0other students, your instructor, college technical staff, administrators, etc. Write accordingly and professionally. Be sure to check with any guidelines from your professor about appropriate language use, and be thoughtful and generous when engaging in discussions of sensitive topics like race, religion, gender, and politics.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<section class=\"textbox interact\" aria-label=\"Interact\">Content is even more important than conventions. Most college courses include discussions as a learning tool, a means for students to offer insights, test out new theories, and apply and share their ideas. Using the interaction below, review the following types of responses to understand what constitutes a good quality posting.<iframe src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/content\/1290964353500628718\/embed\" width=\"1088\" height=\"590\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><script src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/js\/h5p-resizer.js\" charset=\"UTF-8\"><\/script><\/section>So, how do you write an excellent post in a college course?\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>Review the purpose of the discussion.<\/strong>\u00a0Is there a particular question you\u2019re expected to answer?\u00a0Is the discussion space intended to be a place for\u00a0<em>you<\/em>\u00a0to ask questions?\u00a0Make sure you\u2019re responding as expected in the discussion space.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Work with the background reading required for the discussion.<\/strong>\u00a0Annotate the text with your own ideas and questions as you read; summarize the main ideas to test your own understanding; stretch your understanding by applying concepts and theories to new contexts. Most discussions are designed as spaces to test out and debate ideas.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Realize that discussion is a give-and-take situation, a conversation.<\/strong>\u00a0That means that you should participate frequently during discussions, offering your own ideas and responding to others. You can enter the conversation at different points, with ever-changing purposes and roles, but you need to be there on a consistent basis.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>Remember discussion roles and functions.<\/strong>\u00a0You can post initial ideas, respond to ideas, summarize ideas, point out similarities and differences or trends among ideas, ask questions, add examples, extend the conversation in different directions, and bring the conversation back \u201con track.\u201d<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<section class=\"textbox watchIt\" aria-label=\"Watch It\">This video reviews effective strategies for participating in online discussion boards.<iframe src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/content\/1290964354507888538\/embed\" width=\"1088\" height=\"786\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><script src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/js\/h5p-resizer.js\" charset=\"UTF-8\"><\/script>You can view the <a href=\"https:\/\/course-building.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/English+Comp\/Transcripts\/DiscussionBoardsInReview2_transcript.txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">transcript for \"DiscussionBoardsInReview\" here (opens in new window). <\/a><\/section>","rendered":"<h2>Discussion Boards (or Forums)<\/h2>\n<p>Many college classes utilize discussion boards (or forums) on their learning management platforms (Blackboard, Canvas, etc.). You may or may not have engaged in this kind of writing before. Discussion boards serve to facilitate discussion, but the discussion occurs online and usually asynchronously (not at the same time). What that means is that a student or the professor may post a question or a prompt, and others respond later. Like any kind of writing, there is a format and protocol for writing on discussion boards.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Use a specific subject line.\u00a0<\/strong>Using a phrase such as \u201cresponse to Jacob\u201d for your subject doesn\u2019t tell other readers anything about the content of your response. Be brief, yet specific (e.g.,\u00a0Disagreement with Jacob about Literacy in Generation Z)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep to one main idea or topic per response.<\/strong>\u00a0If you want to offer two different ideas, do separate posts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Differentiate between starting a discussion thread and responding to someone else\u2019s posting.\u00a0<\/strong>Most discussion boards use what\u2019s called a \u201cthreaded discussion,\u201d which means that responses are indented under an initial posting. This type of indentation provides a visual cue to a reader, allowing him to rapidly distinguish the different discussion topics or threads.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Write informally but not sloppily.<\/strong>\u00a0There is\u00a0no need for fancy language or sentence structure but check your spelling before you finalize the posting. Most systems have a spell-check function. If you\u2019re not a good typist, you may want to compose your response with a word processor and then paste or upload it into the discussion board. This is also a good idea in case there are technological issues, which can cause you to lose a post. If you create your post in a word-processing program, you can save a back-up copy of your post.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do not dominate the discussion.\u00a0<\/strong>There\u2019s no need to respond to absolutely every posting from every participant. Respond selectively. Often, a course instructor will let you know how much online participation she expects.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Be polite, and apply the rules of etiquette.<\/strong>\u00a0Use standard capitalization and punctuation; do not use all caps, as this is considered \u201cshouting\u201d online; use symbols sparingly to indicate tone when you think that words alone may not convey your meaning fully or accurately.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Remember that a lot of people may have access to your posts on a discussion board:<\/strong>\u00a0other students, your instructor, college technical staff, administrators, etc. Write accordingly and professionally. Be sure to check with any guidelines from your professor about appropriate language use, and be thoughtful and generous when engaging in discussions of sensitive topics like race, religion, gender, and politics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<section class=\"textbox interact\" aria-label=\"Interact\">Content is even more important than conventions. Most college courses include discussions as a learning tool, a means for students to offer insights, test out new theories, and apply and share their ideas. Using the interaction below, review the following types of responses to understand what constitutes a good quality posting.<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/content\/1290964353500628718\/embed\" width=\"1088\" height=\"590\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><script src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/js\/h5p-resizer.js\" charset=\"UTF-8\"><\/script><\/section>\n<p>So, how do you write an excellent post in a college course?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Review the purpose of the discussion.<\/strong>\u00a0Is there a particular question you\u2019re expected to answer?\u00a0Is the discussion space intended to be a place for\u00a0<em>you<\/em>\u00a0to ask questions?\u00a0Make sure you\u2019re responding as expected in the discussion space.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Work with the background reading required for the discussion.<\/strong>\u00a0Annotate the text with your own ideas and questions as you read; summarize the main ideas to test your own understanding; stretch your understanding by applying concepts and theories to new contexts. Most discussions are designed as spaces to test out and debate ideas.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Realize that discussion is a give-and-take situation, a conversation.<\/strong>\u00a0That means that you should participate frequently during discussions, offering your own ideas and responding to others. You can enter the conversation at different points, with ever-changing purposes and roles, but you need to be there on a consistent basis.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Remember discussion roles and functions.<\/strong>\u00a0You can post initial ideas, respond to ideas, summarize ideas, point out similarities and differences or trends among ideas, ask questions, add examples, extend the conversation in different directions, and bring the conversation back \u201con track.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<section class=\"textbox watchIt\" aria-label=\"Watch It\">This video reviews effective strategies for participating in online discussion boards.<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/content\/1290964354507888538\/embed\" width=\"1088\" height=\"786\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><script src=\"https:\/\/lumenlearning.h5p.com\/js\/h5p-resizer.js\" charset=\"UTF-8\"><\/script>You can view the <a href=\"https:\/\/course-building.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/English+Comp\/Transcripts\/DiscussionBoardsInReview2_transcript.txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">transcript for &#8220;DiscussionBoardsInReview&#8221; here (opens in new window). <\/a><\/section>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"menu_order":20,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Online Writing and Presentations\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Excelsior OWL\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/owl.excelsior.edu\/online-writing-and-presentations\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"part":88,"module-header":"learn_it","content_attributions":[{"type":"cc","description":"Online Writing and Presentations","author":"","organization":"Excelsior OWL","url":"https:\/\/owl.excelsior.edu\/online-writing-and-presentations\/","project":"","license":"cc-by","license_terms":""}],"internal_book_links":[],"video_content":null,"cc_video_embed_content":{"cc_scripts":"","media_targets":[]},"try_it_collection":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/101"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2848,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/101\/revisions\/2848"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/88"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/101\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=101"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=101"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/englishcomp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}