Discussion Guidelines

• You will be required to post to the discussion board frequently throughout the course. The discussion posts and your responses to others' posts will be compiled and submitted at the end of the course, so please keep up with them and do them in order with the rest of your assignments. All posts submitted out of order will receive a zero in the final evaluation.
• Be kind and considerate to your classmates. Be sure that your message sounds the way you intend. Proofread the message before clicking the “post” button.
• Be careful when posting any personal information regarding yourself or others.
• When disagreeing (disagreement is not bad!) express yourself clearly. Be sure to support your views.
• Stay on the discussion topic. If you come up with an interesting idea that does not relate directly to the thread, feel free to start a new thread (be sure to change the SUBJECT field so your classmates can see the new direction of the discussion) and remember that your assigned discussion post is still due!
• Use meaningful “Subject” titles to help classmates find and follow your messages. Guidelines are included in each discussion assignment.
• Comments for a specific person should be addressed to that person (be aware that others are likely to read it as well.)
• Make certain your post adds to the discussion. Avoid posting comments such as “I agree,” or “Great!”
• If you find a message annoying, wait 24 hours before responding.
• Use emoticons to make certain that people know when you are trying to be funny.
• Be sure to read earlier posts so that you can avoid repeating what others have said.
• Cite references when applicable.
• Avoid using all caps unless you are intentionally “shouting” at people.
• Avoid “shouting” at people.
• Do not resort to inappropriate language or name calling. Such discussion behavior will result in loss of points at the very least and disciplinary action if severe and habitual.