Discussion Guidelines
All discussion posts are graded and should be written in an academic format. Discussion participation is required and (collectively) worth 10% of your final course grade.
For each discussion forum, read the prompt carefully and follow the instructions.
Minimum Participation
Respond to the discussion question(s) with an initial post of at least 200 words.
Respond to the postings of two or more classmates.
Helpful Hints for Writing Quality Discussion Posts
There are two factors in writing quality discussion posts: [1] academic content and [2] cultural sensitivity. The first demonstrates your textual learning and critical thinking, and the second demonstrates your engagement in the community of the class and the field. Here is an article that outlines the process for writing quality discussion posts. I suggest that you use this process to possibly get a better grade. You can use this article as a guideline throughout the course.
How to Write an A+ Discussion PostNetiquette
Please observe proper netiquette (internet etiquette). A colleague once said, "Don't write anything public that you would not be comfortable seeing in a newspaper headline." Please treat your fellow classmates with respect, even if you strongly disagree with their postings. There is room for all opinions in our forum; we are here to share and learn together.
Cultural Sensitivity
Since we are dealing with culturally sensitive subject matter and/or an ethnic group that many/some of you may not be personally familiar with, there are a few rules of thumb. (Students usually follow these rules, but they need to be stated anyway.)
Make sure that when you communicate with each other, you do so in a civil and respectful manner. It is one thing to question and discuss with your classmates, but it is a completely different thing to attack and offend. This has not occurred in previous Native American Studies courses, but please do make a point to avoid this type of writing. If a student writes something inappropriate, the instructor will immediately contact the student at fault and review with them the Student Conduct Policy and the Role of the Student policy. Violation of Student Conduct policies after a warning and discussion with the instructor will negatively impact your grade and can even lead to expulsion from the class.
Understand that each one of you has a different understanding of the subject matter. The knowledge level for this subject matter varies greatly in these courses. Not everyone is going to be coming into this subject with a solid background in the area, but some of you may have some (or a lot) of knowledge. Avoid assuming what people know; ask them why they think or feel something. You may be surprised how much you can learn from each other.
Ask the instructor questions when in doubt. The instructor has expertise in the course content and experience working with culturally sensitive material. If you have a question and are unsure of its appropriateness in a group setting, communicate with the instructor privately. Instructors are always open to people willing to expand their knowledge!
Written assignments are expected to be well-organized and expressed, meeting college level standards that reflect your ability to relate required readings to a specific topic or problem. They should demonstrate the your ability to analyze, compare and synthesize ideas, theories, concepts or approaches gained from reading the text, from the module discussions, and from outside sources, in a clear and comprehensive manner.
All assignments must have your name, the course name, and the date on the first page.
All papers must have an orderly structure including:
Writing must use proper grammar and complete sentences, address the questions specifically, and include a works cited/reference section.
All written work must be:
typed, double-spaced
proofed, and edited
in Times New Roman font.
You must observe APA/MLA/Chicago Manual of Style guidelines, depending on your major, for documentation and format.
Complete citing/documentation help available at Cite Your Sources.Submit all files as rich text format (.rtf) or Word format (.doc or .docx)
These resources can help complete your written assignments successfully:
There is a wealth of online resources available through the Empire State College Library and the SUNY Old Westbury Library.The ESC Online Writing Center has many useful resources on academic and research writing.The Old Westbury Writing Center can be used to as a resource and tutoring center, as needed.
All work will be checked for plagiarism. Any plagiarism (intentional or unintentional) will have serious consequences. For clarity, please review the student resources on Academic Integrity.Check out a comprehensive list of Research Tips for Distance Learning Students.