1.5 Discussion Forum 1: Meeting of the Minds

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Original POST due by Thursday, February 4, before 11:59 pm

EDITS/REVISIONS and REPLIES due by Monday, February 8 before 11:59 pm

Welcome to your first Discussion Forum in English 124. To get the most out of this activity, be sure to carefully follow instructions and to think deeply about what you are writing. In addition, check out this fantastic handout(Links to an external site.). In this course, initial posts are always due on Thursdays, and then you have until Monday to edit/revise your original post and reply to your peers. It is my hope that your conversations move beyond the required replies, as I know we have much to learn from each other. To earn full credit, create posts and replies that demonstrate original, critical thinking (Links to an external site.) in response to the directions. In addition, write in full sentences; use standard capitalization and punctuation, and avoid the shortcuts we make when we text. Think of the forums as a gym for your brain, a regular opportunity to strengthen critical thinking, reading, and writing skills.

Instructions

Part I: READ with Purpose

Read/reread Sean Blanda’s “The ‘Other Side’ is not Dumb,” (Links to an external site.) and identify the author’s major claim. Remember, a claim must be controversial, which means there is more than one position (aka, side) on the issue. A claim can be explicit (stated) or implicit (unstated), and you cannot depend on it to be explicitly stated at the end of the introduction. Still fuzzy on claims? A review is next. Chances are good that questions from the review will appear on the quiz at the end of the module.

Part II: REVIEW (yep, these will be on the quiz

• Make sure you understand the difference between a thesis and a claim here: Claims, Claims, Claimsdocx-3.pdf
• Brush up on the basics by studying this helpful chart, as in this class, you do not want to make the shortcuts you take when texting: Building Capital in Academic Writing.pdf

Part III: POST (aka, write, compose, create) Please number each requirement. (5 points each)

1. Introduce yourself, your major, and if you like, how you are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic; we are truly in this together. (suggested 3-7 sentences)
2. Briefly introduce (author’s full name, title of essay, original source–Medium–and date of publication) and summarize (no more than 3-5 sentences) Sean Blanda’s online journal article “The ‘Other Side’ is Not Dumb,” and be sure to include his major claim. Next, consider the ways in which Blanda’s essay clarifies (makes clearer), extends (adds something new to it), and/or complicates (makes more difficult, confusing, or complex) your current understanding of argument. Choose one-two quotes to support/illustrate your response. (fully developed paragraph, approximately 75-100 words)
3. Have you ever experienced the situation Blanda is describing, either when you considered someone “dumb” because of their position or you were treated as if you were dumb for your own position? If so, what was the issue, and what happened? How do you feel about the experience? (fully developed paragraph, approximately 75-100 words)

Part IV: REPLY to Two Peers’ Posts (10 points, 5 points each)

Respond to posts 1-3 for two of your peers (5 points each). Begin by introducing yourself, and remember, replies that start with “I like” rarely stimulate good conversation. In addition, 1-2 sentences are rarely enough; put a lot of thought into your engagement with your peers. This is how we build on our ideas and authentically learn from each other.

Some ideas? For #1, comment on your peer’s major and empathize with your peer’s COVID-19 experience, and maybe compare it to yours. For #2, compare and comment on your responses to Blanda’s argument and his major claim; and for #3, compare your situations and consider what you both learned from the experience. Please let our CREED (Compassion, Respect, Empathy, Empowerment, and Dignity) guide your engagement with your peers. And have fun!