How to Write a Discussion Post

What is a Discussion Post

A discussion post enables students to delve into the classroom content. It enhances collaboration and allows students to explore their questions, issues, and important topics. Also, the discussion board post is an effective tool for students who mainly prefer expressing their understanding of content in the written format. When writing a discussion post, students can search for relevant materials from the internet and use them to explain their topic. Discussion posts are asynchronous and thus provide opportunities for conversation that cannot be found in the classroom environment.

What Makes an Excellent Discussion Post?

A good discussion post should enhance learning opportunities. It should;

Cover the content of the course
Reveal a student’s understanding of the content.
Facilitate peer interaction.

The Step by step Process of Writing a Discussion Board Post

Step 1: Understand the Purpose of Discussion Post: A student should first comprehend the importance of the discussion posts. The discussion posts enhance students’ interaction when they are online. As such, students should understand that they must use the keyboard more than their voice in the virtual classroom. When posting a discussion, students should ensure that their language and tone are conversational. Also, they should acknowledge that responding to other students’ postings is important and put more effort into facilitating a real conversation.

Step 2: Prepare Yourself: Students should ensure they have prepared themselves enough before starting to write the discussion post. They should do the courses required, such as completing their research, assignments, and readings. It is important to note that any person will not want to read a post that lacks a point.

Step 3: Read and Understand the Instructions of the Discussion Post: It is essential to understand the instructions of the discussion post. Students should ask themselves what they are asked to comment on and ensure they know what they are asked to comment about. In some cases, students may be asked to provide a personal response. In contrast, in other cases, they will be allowed to absorb the materials supplied by restating the concepts presented in the reading. In other cases, the discussion board will require students to combine numerous ideas. Furthermore, students should ensure they understand other discussion questions related to the points they are required to comment on before starting the reading and other assignments.

Step 4: Think Critically About the Specific Point: After reading the instructions of the discussion post, students should think critically about what they want to respond to. They should critically analyze what they want to post to their professor or classmates. Importantly, they should limit themselves to the topic and ensure their point is relevant. It is essential to note that an “A+” posting will facilitate the association between real life, ideas, and concepts. A student can seek clarification from the professor’s course instructor for unclear instructions.

Step 5: Identify Relevant and Supportive Evidence from Reliable Academic Resources and Journals: The 5^th step will require a student to gather relevant information and supportive evidence from reliable academic sources. This will help provide backup documentation for their identified decisive points. The backup will appear in many forms, such as students’ personal experiences, academic research, the news, and the course materials. Integrating the identified points in the discussion post is crucial because it will demonstrate a student’s understanding and knowledge of the topic. Notably, students should jot these points off to the side, so they do not break their train of thought when writing the posts. Students should ensure that they cite the reference made in the discussion post properly. Although the reference and in-text citations of the discussion post do not need to be formal, students should ensure that readers can track relevant information from the text by providing the date, the title, and the author’s name. Students can automate their formal citations on sites such as “cite this for me,” “google scholar,” and “scribbr.com.”

Step 6: Write your Response: The 6^th step includes writing the response. Students should consider using the tools in their course management to write their answers.

They should make use of paragraphs and bullets to format their texts. Using the spell checker and preview tools is also essential. Students should ensure that they follow the requirements or instructions of their discussion postings.
Suppose the instructor requires them to write a response to a question or respond to postings from their classmates. In that case, they should do it excellently by ensuring that they follow the guidelines and instructions necessary.
Students should consider analyzing the classroom environment when choosing the postings, they should respond to.
Some courses contain instructions and requirements for discussions, and students should understand them before writing their posts.
Students should give meaning to their posts. They should include details such as, “I agree with Mikey” and “I had an experience where this concept was applicable.” Although students can disagree with classmate’s posting, they should be polite when disagreeing and ensure that they explain the reasons why they are opposing.
It is also essential to relate the class information to real life.

Step 7: Post the Discussion: In the last step, students must post their discussion. The discussions should be posted before the deadline. If students are prompted to post their questions and respond to classmates’ discussion posts, they should post their discussions early. They should then post classmates’ responses later.

What are the things to Consider when Writing a Discussion Post

Read the prompt carefully:

Identify the purpose of the discussion post. What questions should be responded to?
Understand particulars such as the word limit, the due date, and the academic sources on which the discussion post should be based.
Understand the type of response. For instance, does the discussion post ask students to reflect on their experiences, create an argument, compare two ideas, or determine the solution to an existing problem?
Understand the formatting guidelines. For example, a professor or course instructor will require students to use a specific formatting style. In most cases, MLA 9^th edition or APA 7^th edition is used.
Understand the expectations of the discussion post. Consider how the course instructor or professor will assess the discussion post by consulting the instructor or course material.

Prepare effectively:

Reread the required instructions or readings for the discussion posts
Examine the feedback from the course instructor or professor on the completed assignments, and examine how you want to improve on your next post based on their feedback.
After understanding the requirements of the discussion post, identify your responses and ideas to the readings.
Identify the two most robust ideas that the response will be structured around. Evaluate the evidence from reliable academic sources that will help in supporting the claim, reaction, or assertation.
Create an outline of your evidence to write a persuasive and clear discussion.
Develop a draft
Use topic sentences to ensure that all points are founded on the discussion post’s purpose, claim, or argument.
Construct your discussion post on the evidence. Support the claims of your discussion post with outside sources or course readings.
Ensure that all the evidence attained is scholarly, clear, relevant, and focused
Cite all ideas and information from other sources.

Review and revise: After writing your discussion post, critically analyze the following

Is your idea pertinent and clear to the discussion post topic?
Is evidence being demonstrated by your response?
Have you proposed a good perspective that other classmates can critically challenge?
Have you supported your claims with the required readings?
Have you used a scholarly tone?
Have you proofread your response for structure, style, and grammar?

Submit

Post the final draft of the discussion post to the discussion forum.
Recheck to address formatting mishaps that could have occurred when uploading.
Wait for the classmates to respond to your discussion post.

Here is An Example of a Discussion Post