Creating an excellent Discussion Post

This is a 400 level course so I expect all discussion posts to be quality and substantive. 

Post at last three discussion comments per each discussion, and on different days.The main post should be 200 – 300 words, use the textbook in your main posts. 

The Discussion Board provides a space to explore the concepts we are studying. Full participation will make the discussion forums successful, as the comments made on the board bring the course material to life. 

When developing substantive discussion board responses, consider the three phases, below.

Phase 1 — Read Before You Write

• Consider the prompt(s) thoroughly. 
• Recognize and underline the question(s) you are being asked.
• Connect the questions to the week’s readings, class discussions, or your notes, as appropriate to the discussion.
• Reflect and list all the possible responses.
• Isolate the strongest responses, or arguments, that fit the discussion prompt(s).

Phase 2 — Write a Draft Before You Post

• Open a new Word document for each Discussion Forum post. (Note: You will copy and paste the final draft into the Forum.)
• Cut and paste the prompt(s) at the top of the Word doc to keep you on task.
• Begin each paragraph with the strongest response or argument that you isolated in Phase 1.
• Develop your response(s) by providing examples, quotes, or personal experiences—as appropriate to the discussion—to support your response(s).
• Review the length and content of your response(s). Having only 1-2 sentences is not substantive.

Phase 3 — Review Your Post Before You Submit

• Did you completely answer each of the questions?
• If necessary or required, did you use examples from personal experience to illustrate your point?
• If necessary or required, did you refer to class readings or discussions to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts?
• Did you proofread your post for typos and misspellings? Are the grammar and punctuation correct?
• Did you cite any references to the text or other sources used in your discussion posts? 
• Did you read your post out loud to yourself to make sure it “sounds” clear?

*Embed Media for Discussions is a feature that allows faculty and students to embed audio, video, and images directly into threaded discussion responses. All audio, video, and images need to be hosted in an open web platform. Links from the host site can be embedded using this wizard.

Responding to a Peer’s post

Another component that enriches and enlivens the Discussion Board experience is responding to fellow classmates’ posts. In the same way that your own posts should be substantive, response posts should be meaningful and advance the discussion of the issues, ideas, questions that were raised in the initial posts. While you can be supportive of your peers by saying, “I agree” or “Wow, I never thought of that”, these statements alone are not sufficient.

Posts must be on different days from the main post. 
I post additional comments, questions, and suggestions, that should be answered. The discussion board is the heart of this course. 

To guide you in drafting acceptable response posts, refer to the options below: 

• Validate the post by sharing your experience and stating how it relates to the course material or to the initial post.
• Agree or disagree with the post and explain why you agree or disagree.
• Expand on your classmate’s post to demonstrate that you understand the topic.
• Reply to a question posed by one of your classmates or by the instructor and support your statements with sources from the text.
• Critically evaluate the post and make a suggestion or respectfully point out an area of the assignment that was not addressed.
• Ask a probing question or ask your classmate for a clarification or an explanation of a point made in the post.
• Share an insight or something you learned from reading your peer’s posting or from your other reading.
• Explain how someone’s post helped you understand the material or made you rethink your own views.
• Offer an opinion and support it with examples from the text.
• Relate the information in the post to your course assignments and/or research projects.
• Challenge a statement in the post. If you would not let a statement go unchallenged in a classroom discussion, do not let it go unchallenged on the discussion board.
• Tie ideas together : Discuss how comments other students made relate to your peer’s post.
• Make sure you cite your sources for all references to the textbook and for any other ideas that are not your own.

Discussion Board Sample 

Target Market – Unacceptable Posting

What is wrong with saying, “My target market is everybody?” Explain the value of segmentation, and give an example in which you are the target market (see especially Chapter 4). Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings.

Companys shoud say what there target market is so they can focus on that group and make there marketing campaigns fit that group. The text says — “this process, known as market segmentation, consists of identifying specific groups based on their needs, attitudes, and interests” 

There are so many busy people out there. But just because there busy doesn’t mean that they are ok eating fast food. Lots of people are on diets, too! Companys like Uncle Ben’s and Lean Cuisine advertise healthy foods people can prepare in a pinch instead of cooking all day. 

Target Market – Acceptable Posting

What is wrong with saying, “My target market is everybody?” Explain the value of segmentation, and give an example in which you are the target market (see especially Chapter 4). Respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings.

Pinpointing a specific target market is vital to marketing. By doing this, marketing companies can focus on a specific group of people and adjust their marketing campaigns accordingly. If a marketing company were to make an ad that targeted everyone, it would be too general and would probably end up reaching the attention of (targeting) nobody. Clow and Baack (2012) explain, “This process, known as market segmentation, consists of identifying specific groups based on their needs, attitudes, and interests† (p. 85). 

Many adult learners, like myself, work full-time while attending school full-time. Therefore, we find ourselves in a target market segment of busy people. In spite of time constraints, many of the people in this target market have health and diet concerns and are therefore less-inclined to eat fast food for their meals. Clow and Baack (2012) explain, “A company may present one overall message that is also tailored to fit the needs and values of various groups† (p. 88). This is exactly what companies like Uncle Ben’s and Lean Cuisine have done. The advertisements for these two companies are targeted toward the specific needs and wants of busy, health-conscious people, like myself, as they advertise healthy meals that can be conveniently prepared for people who do not have the time to spend hours cooking. 

References: 

∙€€€€€€ Clow, K. E., & Baack, D. E. (2012). Integrated advertising, promotion, and marketing communications (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall