Writing for Online Discussions
Whether you are the primary writer or a casual contributor to an online discussion, always try to make thoughtful and respectful posts online since your comments may be read widely and may remain on the site for a long time. As discussed below, online searches may refer to the site for years to come. Be aware that potential employers and others will find your post and judge your credibility and how well you converse with others.
This text offers tips on how to write a discussion post that will set the stage for a productive online discussion forum.
Writing for Discussion Boards: Conventions for Online Discussions
- Use a specific subject line. Using a phrase such as
"response to Jacob" for your subject does not tell other readers
anything about the content of your response. Be brief yet specific
(e.g., Errors in Watting's Theories).
- Keep to one main idea or topic per response. If you want to offer two different ideas, do separate posts.
- Differentiate between starting a discussion thread and responding to someone else's postings. Most
discussion boards use what is called a "threaded discussion," which
means that responses are indented under an initial posting. This type of
indentation provides a visual cue to a reader, allowing him to rapidly
distinguish the different discussion topics or threads.
- Write informally. There is no need for fancy
language or sentence structure, but check your spelling before you
finalize the posting. Most systems have a spell-check function. If
you are not a good typist, you may want to compose your response with a
word processor and then paste or upload it into the discussion board.
This is also a good idea in case there are technological issues that
can cause you to lose a post. If you create your post in a
word-processing program, you can save a backup copy of your post.
- Do not dominate the discussion. There is no need to
respond to absolutely every posting from every participant. Respond
selectively. Often, a course instructor will let you know how much
online participation she expects.
- Be polite, and apply the rules of etiquette. Use
standard capitalization and punctuation; do not use all caps, as this is
considered "shouting" online; use symbols sparingly to indicate tone
when you think that words alone may not convey your meaning fully or
accurately.
- Remember that a lot of people may have access to your posts on a discussion board: other students, your instructor, college technical staff, administrators, etc. Write accordingly.
Discussion Board Content
Content is even more important than conventions. Most college courses include discussions as a learning tool, a means for students to offer insights, test out new theories, and apply and share their ideas. Using the interaction below, review the following types of responses to understand what constitutes a good-quality posting.
Discussion Board Style & Structure
So, how do you write an excellent posting in a college course?
- Review the purpose of the discussion. Is there a particular question you are expected to answer? Is the discussion space intended to be a place for you to ask questions? Make sure you are responding as expected in the discussion space.
- Work with the background reading required for the discussion.
Annotate the text with your own ideas and questions as you read;
summarize the main ideas to test your own understanding; stretch your
understanding by applying concepts and theories to new contexts. Most
discussions are designed as spaces to test out and debate ideas.
- Realize that discussion is a give-and-take situation, a conversation.
That means that you should participate frequently during discussions,
offering your own ideas and responding to others. You can enter the
conversation at different points, with ever-changing purposes and roles,
but you need to be there on a consistent basis.
- Realize that each participant can choose from among many discussion roles and functions. You can post initial ideas, respond to ideas, summarize ideas, point out similarities and differences or trends among ideas, ask questions, add examples, extend the conversation in different directions, and bring the conversation back "on track."
Discussion Boards in Review
This video summarizes the tips on writing effective discussion board posts and shows you how to do it within a basic course management system.
Source: Online Writing Lab at Excelsior College, http://owl.excelsior.edu/online-writing-and-presentations/discussion-boards/
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