Syllabus Addendum: Discussion Board
Discussion Board Instructions- Spring Quarter 2009
Some of you are familiar with discussion boards and others are neophytes. First, let me give you instructions regarding my requirements for the History 146 discussion board:
- Each of you must respond to at least three postings per week.
- The questions you choose to answer are up to you.
- Each of you must respond or give feedback to two of your classmates' responses. This means you will post three or more responses per week.
- ALL your responses - your initial answer to a posted question AND responses to your classmates - MUST indicate intellectual thought processes. A "me, too" type response will not be acceptable. Explain why you agree or disagree (politely, please) and/or cite additional evidence or source; use examples to illustrate your point(s).
- Before you moan and groan about the postings, let me remind you that thoughtful responses to your classmates are not necessarily long responses. In this class, you will get used to thinking more deeply and writing concisely.
- As the class progresses, some of the discussion "questions" I post for you will be identification of terms/events/figures that you will pull together in essay format. By the end of term, I would like each of you to be able to assimilate and process facts and concepts and post good analyses of topics discussed. This will help you do well on the exams I give (remember, I give no multiple choice exams, just identifications, short answers, and essays) and will be a great skill for you to tranfer to your other classes. It will definitely be of great service to you in the various jobs and careers ahead of you.
- Please keep all postings cordial - even if you disagree with one another.
Now, discussion board postings and responses are termed "threads." So, if a classmate were to answer . . .
Question 1: Why are XYZ widgets rectangular?
Suzie Q: XYZ widgets are rectangular because ZYX gadgets have straight edges.
Poindexter: Also, ZYX gadgets are all four-sided.
. . . . you see an example of the classic thread. Poindexter responded to Suzie Q's response to the question.
Question 1: Why are XYZ widgets rectangular?
Suzie Q: XYZ widgets are rectangular because ZYX gadgets have straight edges.
Poindexter: Also, ZYX gadgets are all four-sided.
Skipper: Not all XYZ widgets are rectangular, some are squares!
Poindexter: But, Skipper, squares are a subset of rectangles.
John-boy: You'll notice that the letters XYZ and ZYX have straight edges.
The above example illustrates a situation where there are two threads to Question 1 - Suzie Q's and Skipper's - and Poindexter's response to both as well as John-Boy's response, which extends the second thread. I hope this makes the concept of discussion threads clearer to those of you who were unsure about this topic.
Questions or comments?
Contact me.
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