Reading peers’ posts can help enrich your understanding of an assignment, a discussion, or a text. When you’ve read others’ responses, you may find that their ideas inform your own as you write; such dialogue among students makes for a strong discussion. However, give credit where it is due by acknowledging the writers of posts you refer to, and avoid writing posts that only restate what other students have written. Acknowledging your classmates’ contributions makes it clear to your readers which ideas are yours and which are someone else’s, as in the following example.

Thoughtful, responsible participation in a discussion takes time. Note the deadline for any discussion forum assignments, and budget sufficient time to read the course materials, think through others’ posts, and form your own ideas before writing your response.