Discussion Board Instructions

Overview
For each graded Discussion Board Forum, you must post at least 3 times:

1. One thread 2. Two replies

A “thread” posting: your first posting that presents your response to the initial prompt (assignment). This is your chance to open up the conversation and present your own perspective on the material. This thread should be at least 300 words.

A “reply” posting: your second and third postings that present your support, agreement, respectful disagreement, counterpoint, etc. for a previous posting that has already been made by another student. These replies must be to at least 2 different people. Replies should be between 200–300 words each.

Thread (one post per module/week, per student)

1. Read the prompt carefully. Take careful note of each item that is being asked of you.

2. Write a response of at least 300 words. You may write more than this but it is not necessary (approximately half a page in a Word document).

3. Make it your own. Discussion Board Forums are a chance to be incredibly personal and apply principles to real-life ministry scenarios.

4. Be sure to maintain respect for the instructor and other classmates. In other words, avoid using crass language, harsh criticism, or rude “shout-outs.” The goal is to create a healthy forum of discussion about certain issues. Threads will be due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of Modules/Weeks 1, 2, 5, and 6.

Replies (minimum is 2, must be to different students)

1. First, sum up the previous discussion succinctly and accurately. This is fulfilled by providing a few lines at the beginning of your posting that reminds the reader of the thoughts in your fellow student’s thread that you are responding to. Include a specific quotation from the thread. For example, “Steve, as I read your thread, I was intrigued by what you said when you stated, “I believe the greatest influence among adolescents today is peer relationships.” This has caused me to consider…”

2. Second, commend at least one good point(s) that he/she raised in his/her initial response. Even if the classmate took a different approach to the question than you did, you will still be able to commend at least one good point. Make sure you elaborate on why you identified that particular point raised by your classmate.

3. Third, provide your own thoughts, ideas, etc. to the subject matter brought up within the initial posting. Meaning, present additional facts, scriptures, or applications to the current discussion that have not yet been mentioned by your classmate. You can present a point not yet mentioned, redirect the discussion to another appropriate path, or apply the content to an area of life/ministry, etc. not yet considered by your classmate. 4. The quotes from the thread or another outside source (i.e. Scripture) should not exceed more than one-fourth of the responding post. The majority of the response should be original material to the responder. 5. Finally, offer a word of encouragement to your classmate to either continue growing in his/her understanding of organization and administration, spiritual development, and/or type out a positive prayer to the Lord on behalf of your classmate. In total, each response must be at least 200 words in length. Replies will be due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Modules/Weeks 1, 2, 5, and 6.[pic]