Take part in class
Writing a Discussion Post
Use this page when your class has an online discussion and you need to write your first post.
What a discussion post is
Many college courses have an online discussion board. Your instructor asks a question. Each student writes an answer, called a first post, and the whole class can read it. Then students reply to each other.
This page is about the first post. A discussion is a conversation in writing. It is more careful than a text message and less formal than an essay.
| What is compared | Text message | Discussion post | Essay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who reads it | A friend | Your classmates and your instructor | Your instructor, in most classes |
| Sentences | Short pieces and abbreviations | Complete sentences | Complete sentences in organized paragraphs |
| Using “I” | Yes | Yes, in most classes | It depends on the assignment |
| Your opinion | Yes | Yes, with a reason | Yes, with reasons and evidence |
What instructors expect
Instructors do not always write these expectations down. In most U.S. college classes, they apply to every student.
- Answer every part of the question. Many discussion questions have two parts, such as “which one, and why?”
- Give your own opinion, and give a reason for it. Repeating the reading is not enough.
- Connect your answer to the course. Use an idea from the reading or the lesson.
- Remember who can read your post. Your whole class can read it. Share only what you are comfortable sharing with classmates.
- Post early when you can. Classmates need time to read your post and reply.
- Discussion board:
- the place in an online course where students post and reply.
- First post:
- your own answer to the instructor’s question. It is also called an initial post.
- Reply:
- a response to a classmate’s post.
- Netiquette:
- polite and respectful behavior in online communication.
Four parts of a strong first post
- Answer. Answer the question in your first sentence. Use some of the words from the question.
- Reason. Say why. One clear reason is better than three weak ones.
- Support. Add an idea from the reading, an example from your experience, or both.
- Question. End with a question for your classmates.
A question is an invitation. Classmates who are looking for a post to reply to will find yours easy to answer, and you will get more interesting replies. Do this unless your prompt asks for something different.
Example: a first post
The instructor asked this question: “This week’s reading describes three time-management strategies. Which strategy would be most useful for you, and why? Write 100–150 words.”
Here is one student’s post. Each number matches a note below the post.
The most useful strategy for me is breaking a large task into small steps.1 I work full time, so I rarely have three free hours to study.2 The reading explains that a small step is easier to start than a large task,3 and I think this is true. For example, last week I had to read a long chapter for my biology class.4 I divided the chapter into four sections and read one section each night after work. I finished one day early. I am less sure about the weekly schedule, because my work hours change every week.5 Does anyone else have a schedule that changes? How do you plan your study time?6
- The answer. The first sentence answers “which strategy.” It repeats the words most useful and strategy from the question, so readers know immediately what the post is about.
- The reason. This sentence answers “why.” It is specific to the writer’s own life.
- Support from the reading. The writer names the source (The reading explains that) and gives the idea in different words.
- Support from experience. For example tells readers that a real case is coming. The details (four sections, one each night) make it believable.
- A second thought. This part is optional. It shows that the writer considered another strategy, and it prepares the question.
- The question. The question comes from the post, and a classmate can answer it from experience. It cannot be answered with only “yes” or “no.”
Language focus: asking a question
Word order in questions
In most English questions, a helping verb such as do, does, did, has, or would comes before the subject.
| Question word | Helping verb | Subject | Main verb and the rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| How | do | you | plan your study time? |
| What | would | you | do in this situation? |
| Why | does | this strategy | work for you? |
| (none) | Has | anyone else | had this experience? |
After do, does, or did, the main verb has no ending. Write Why does this strategy work? Do not write “Why does this strategy works?”
Closed and open questions
A closed question can be answered in one word. An open question needs an explanation. Open questions get better replies.
- Closed: Do you agree?
- Open: What is one reason someone might disagree?
Open questions often begin with how, why, or what.
Sentence starters
Fill in each blank with your own words.
- To answer the questionThe most for me is .I think because .
- To use the readingThe reading explains that .According to the article, .
- To give an exampleFor example, .In my experience, .
- To end with a questionHas anyone else had this experience with ?How would you handle ?What is one reason someone might disagree with ?
Practice
- A student posts: “I think the weekly schedule is the best strategy. Do you agree?” Which two of the four parts are missing?
- Which closing question will get the most useful replies?
- A. Do you agree?
- B. Thoughts?
- C. What do you do when two assignments are due on the same day?
- Correct this question: “Why this strategy works for you?”
- Correct this question: “Anyone has tried this strategy?”
Show suggested answers
- The reason and the support. The post gives an answer and a question. It does not say why, and it has no example or idea from the reading.
- C. A classmate can answer it from experience, and the answer needs more than one word. A is a closed question. B is not a complete question, so readers do not know what you are asking.
- Why does this strategy work for you? The helping verb does comes before the subject. After does, the main verb has no ending: work.
- Has anyone tried this strategy? The helping verb has moves to the front of the question.
Next step
Check your post before you submit it
- Did I answer every part of the question?
- Did I give a reason?
- Did I add an example or an idea from the reading?
- Did I end with an open question?
- Is my post the right length? Check the word count in the prompt.