Discussion Forums

for writing forum posts

A forum is like a conversation online!

● A forum is a discussion area on a website.

● It can be on any subject and usually an ‘online community’ tends to develop among the members of the forum.

● If you have a particular interest -- lego, online gaming, horses, baking -- you can find a forum about it! Join one and enjoy discussing common interests.

● It’s different than a blog in the same way that a study group is different than listening to a lecture. A forum allows all members to make posts and start new topics.

What is a forum?

Tell me what you think!

The separate conversations in a forum are called ‘threads’

Tips for writing a good forum post

If you want to start a discussion, you need to get people interested in your topic.

Use a title that captures the reader’s interest!

Which post would you select to read?

Single words or simple phrases should be avoided!

Start with a good headline

Starting a forum discussion is like starting a conversation:

• Ask a question and give some insight into your position on the topic

• Offer an interesting story or fact• Ask for feedback on a topic• State your position on a topic

Take the time to say something insightful!

Decide what you want to say

I like PC’s better.is much better than…...

I am a PC person all the way. What is with all the pro MAC talk? Am I missing something? What is your reason for preferring MAC? I want to know!

New Post examples

New Post example

New Post examples

When I first googled myself I expected sports pictures, my instagram account, anything, but when google tried to show me, "me" I was missing, and dead, found in an icy river, in south Dakota. This Madison Wallace, died saving someone.

As you could assume, my overall reaction was of shock, then disbelief, and shortly thereafter a little saddened. 16 year old autistic girl, tried to do good, and she was rewarded with death. Shocking. No way could I have ever predicted those results for "my" name. Of all the 22, 900, 000 results shown, there were multiple criminals, multiple basketball players, and plenty of girls taking 'selfies,' through all those, there were two pictures of "me," one of a profile picture and the other one of my youtube posts.

I can see now why it is important to leave a positive digital footprint. It is so easy for someone, be it a future employer, parent, a friend, anyone, to find out who you are, what you look like, and everything about you. Its a frightening eye opener.

• Proofread! Check your spelling, grammar, capitalization and punctuation. Forum posts are not text messages or tweets!

• Emoticons are a great tool for adding feeling or emotion to writing, but don’t go overboard

• Add links and images to your post if they help you make your point.

• Give credit to your sources. It doesn’t have to be a formal citation, but you need to give credit where credit is due.

Be sure before you post

“You can write about anything, just own what you say. Don’t treat opinions like facts, and vice versa. If something is a rumor, TREAT IT as a rumor.”

It’s hard to carry on a conversation if no one is listening!

The more you participate in forums, the more youwill get out of it.

Your classmates have interesting points of viewand experiences to share!

Take the time to read the posts of your classmates:

Take the time to respond to the posts of your classmates

The last thing to do is rate your classmates posts.

An opposing viewpoint does not constitute a poor rating – Look for intriguing headline, interesting content, and proper hyperlink. Out of 5!

Be respectful of others

and don’t use profanity

Always remember your netiquette:

When you are responding to a post: Avoid comments such as “That’s a good point.” or “I totally agree!”

Take the time to respond to posts in a meaningful way.

The comments above are a good starting point, but give some feedback as to why it is a good point or how you have come to the same conclusion.

Always respond to the comments made on your original posts.

You wouldn’t ignore someone who is talking to you! Treat a post the same way.

Keep the conversation going

Ongoing Discussion Forums

10% of your ADC mark is your Community Contributions. Throughout the course you can contribute posts to the various forums we have created. We would encourage you to create a discussion between students/teachers across the district. Please remember to be respectful! Use the following rubric to help guide you in creating thoughtful and respectful posts for all the forums:

Troll

Sock Puppet

Double posting Spamming

Word CensorFlame WarsSome words you’ll hear when in the

forum world:

a lengthy exchange of

angry or abusive

messages between users

of an Internet message

board or forum.

person who sows discord

on the Internet by starting

arguments or upsetting

people, by posting

inflammatory, extraneous,

or off-topic messages

is an online identity used

for purposes of deception

When someone posts the exact same thing twice in a row.

The automated profanity removal feature on message boards

Flooding the Internet with

many copies of the same

message, in an attempt to

force the message on

people who would not

otherwise choose to

receive it.