1. Initial Postings: 

Students must post one substantive response that addresses each discussion question or topic.

Initial Postings are to be soundly reasoned arguments that build on the student’s understanding of the topic and demonstrate careful reading, professional or personal experiences, and any external research conducted.

The Initial Posting criteria include:

1. 1. Initial postings must be submitted by the due date (0 points if submitted after posted end date without permission).
   2. Initial postings should directly and thoughtfully address the question or scenario, citing where necessary specific sections of the lesson’s assigned readings, or external sources, to support an argument.
   3. A typical post will be approximately 150-200 words, but quality counts over quantity and going over will not count against you.
   4. Initial postings should represent the student’s original and considered thoughts: it should not reference initial responses from other students. These are not mini-essays, nor must they conform to a formal academic style. They must however cite all external sources referenced, including the course materials.
   5. Posts should be free of spelling errors, be grammatically correct, and written in complete sentences.
2. Peer Responses: Peer Responses are substantive student responses to one or more of their peers’ initial or peer responses to the discussion question/topic, or to a subsidiary question posed by the professor throughout the course of the forum thread.

Peer Responses will be due no later than the end date posted, although it is more valuable and respectful to post earlier in the unit when replies to them are possible.

Peer responses must add value to the overall conversation. The Peer Response criteria include:

1. 1. A minimum of three substantive Peer Responses should be posted per discussion submitted by the due date. Peer Responses should be posted at different times throughout the unit and demonstrate thoughtful assessment of peer posts.

NOTE: A substantive response is one that serves to contribute intelligently to the conversation. Posts that amount to little more than the equivalent of “Good point” or “I agree” while supportive, may not be considered within the minimum number required.

 

Evaluation

Grading of each Discussion Question/topic will be out of 100. Below is a breakdown of the grade; note that simply meeting expectations garners an average grade.

90-100	Demonstrates outstanding depth of understanding of the discussion question AND considerable sensitivity and well-considered critical reaction to peers in their peer responses. Students post a minimum of one Initial and three substantive peer responses in accordance with posted schedule. All posts add significant value to the conversation, are well constructed and supported, and free of grammatical and spelling errors. Grades in this category are reserved for pieces of work that are truly exceptional.
80-89	Demonstrates superior to excellent depth of understanding of the question AND sensitivity and well-considered critical reaction to peers in their peer responses. Students post a minimum of one Initial and three substantive peer responses in accordance with posted schedule. All posts add value to the conversation, are well constructed and supported, and free of grammatical and spelling errors.
70-79	Demonstrates good depth of understanding of the question AND sensitivity and well-considered critical reaction to peers in their peer responses. Students post a minimum of one Initial and three substantive peer responses in accordance with posted schedule. All posts add value to the conversation, are well constructed and supported, and with minimal errors in grammar and spelling.
60-69	Demonstrates basic competence in understanding of the question AND sensitivity and well-considered critical reaction to peers in their peer responses. Students post a minimum of one Initial and three substantive peer responses in accordance with posted schedule. Most posts add value to the conversation, are well constructed and supported, and with minimal errors in grammar and spelling.
50-59	Demonstrates only minimal or marginal competence in understanding of the question OR sensitivity and well-considered critical reaction to peers in their peer responses. Students post a minimum of one Initial and three substantive peer responses in accordance with posted schedule. Some posts add value to the conversation, are well constructed and supported, and with minimal errors in grammar and spelling.
1-49	Demonstrates deficient competence in understanding of the question AND lacks sensitivity and well-considered critical reaction to peers in their peer responses. Students fail to post a minimum of one Initial and three substantive peer responses in accordance with posted schedule. Few posts add value to the conversation, are not well constructed and supported, and with minimal errors in grammar and spelling.
0	No participation in DQ at all.