Required Discussions (RD)
All material on this page is copyrighted by Michele Scott James. 2020
We only have two Required Discussions (RD), and by that I mean that they are required–also be sure that you make your answer high quality. I will not be making any exceptions on this. You need to make one post per discussion (RD). Do not post late–it won’t count. You may start new threads, but that’s not required.
Either one new thread or one response post will count as your post. I grade your original new questions hard–so write a really good one, or answer one that has already been asked. If you start your own threads, they should be based largely on the readings linked in the weekly schedule. Also, please be sure to not answer your own new thread. Basically, this looks like a setup for your brilliant ideas. Feel free to start great discussion topics, but allow your classmates to answer them and look brilliant. I grade hard on original new threads–so make it good.
You are limited to 150 words per post–so please don’t go over that. Be concise and considered in your answers.
It benefits you to post early to avoid “me too” posts which receive low grades (2 or lower). More on grading expectations below.
I have noticed a tendency by some to post in each and every thread. I assume that some students think that quantity will help their grade. To be honest, I prefer quality, and I encourage you to post in only one thread. I want you to be interested in the topic, and I want your best effort–work smarter–not harder.
New Required Discussions will be open at least one week before they are due. They close sharply on their due dates at 11:59 pm (midnight)–late postings will not count. You can work ahead, as long as you’ve done the readings, but I won’t be monitoring discussions until the actual week they are assigned.
Lately, I’ve noticed a trend to ask easy questions that are more appropriate for high school classes. These are summary style questions: “List the reasons that the American Revolution began.” Don’t ask “laundry list” style questions. Basically, if it’s easily answered by reading the information in the textbook, that’s not a good question. “What do you think about the Industrial Revolution?” Well, opinions aren’t really part of the academic discourse, at least not these types of opinion questions. “Columbus was a bad person, discuss.” Hmmm, well, we might agree, but again, this gives us little opportunity for rigorous discussion. Refrain from starting these types of threads, and don’t answer them if one of your classmates starts one like this.
I prefer that you use the linked articles to start threads–these articles are ideal for creating the types of discussions that I’d like to see. If you think of a great topic either from lectures or the text, that’s fine, but be sure it is academically rigorous and challenging. I will start several threads for all of the discussions. You should use my style of question as an example for how to do this should you decide to start your own thread.
There is more than one level of discussion available to you both to answer threads and to start your own. The more challenging the topic (and replies to others’ topics) the better your grade potential:
In order to get all five points–you must wow me.
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* * The highest level of analysis is a discussion of the method. This means the techniques and tools used by the writer, such as archaeology, analysis of language/philology, DNA analysis, and historical theories, among others, to reach scholarly conclusions. This is truly college level work, and successful analysis of this will get the most points. You could receive a possible 5 points if you fulfill this requirement well. Don’t be wishy-washy–I’ll drop it down to a 4.
* * The second level of analysis is thematic, and is really a high school skill, though it is still useful in the college setting. Successful analysis of themes will get you good points, but your point earning potential is not as high as analyzing method. You could receive a possible 4 points if you fulfill this requirement well. Don’t be wishy-washy–I’ll drop it down to a 3.
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* * The third level of analysis is content, which really isn’t analysis, but rather summary. The ability to summarize is really a grade school/middle school skill. I have faith that you all know how to summarize, and so I don’t really want to see this in your Required Discussions or writing assignments. You could receive a possible 3 points if you fulfill this requirement well. Don’t be wishy-washy–I’ll drop it down to a 2.
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* If you flame me or one of the other students, or if it’s clear that you’re just making stuff up, you’ll receive a 0. Late posts will receive a 0. I don’t bother awarding 1 point–it’s just not worth it for either of us.
* All of the above description of levels of analysis also applies to your new threads, responses to threads, and your arguments in your writing assignments.
Let me leave this part of the discussion with the words of Eleanor Roosevelt:*
“Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.”
Endeavor to discuss ideas–reach for the stars!
*Though this quote has been long attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, it’s lately been suggested that Ms. Roosevelt is quoting Henry Thomas Buckle.
The contents of this page are subject to revision at any time. However, I will announce any changes that I need to make in the Announcements.
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