I originally wrote How to Write an Initial Discussion Post last year, and realized I needed to add to that, after interacting with a student in a college course I adjunct for. That post covered how you should get your materials, but not how to format it. Admittedly, I didn’t think I would need to cover that for a college course, as the format should be semi-professional. However, one student proved me wrong. The background for the class is that it is an introductory-level microbiology course, a prerequisite for nursing school. Below is an example of the initial post and one reply that a student of mine posted. It is not her exact post, but is a very close representation (psst…I made them the same way she made hers):

Initial Post:

Like why are tiny organisms we can’t even see running the world?? 😭🦠 Some microbes = bad 🤒, but others are lowkey lifesavers 🙌 (shoutout gut bacteria 🍎 and yogurt 🥛💊). Learning this stuff really makes handwashing, vaccines, and food safety make sooo much sense 🧼🦠. Science suddenly feels real, useful, and not just boring textbook vibes 📚✨ #Microbiology #ScienceTok #CleanGirlEra

APA Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Microbiology. https://www.cdc.gov/microbiology

Reply:

Your post about C. diff had me like 😬🦠. C. diff = bad ✨. I didn’t even realize antibiotics could make it worse 💊. Definitely makes hygiene and being careful in hospitals feel way more important 🧼🏥 #Microbiology #StayClean

Source (APA):
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). https://www.cdc.gov/cdiff

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Does anything jump out at you as to how you should NOT be writing a discussion post for a scientific course as a nursing prerequisite (aside from this reeking of AI)? The emojis and the overall tone of the post is not appropriate for the level expected. Now, I’m sure that if you were in a creative writing course, this could be acceptable. But not for a science course. When you are writing your initial post (and replies), remember that tone is very important. Every course I have taken (and I’ve been in quite a few), regardless of the education level, this would have been unacceptable. 

Here is the additional step I would add to my How to Write an Initial Discussion Post article: Ensure You Are Using The Appropriate Tone.

Before posting your discussion post or replies, verify the course requirement. Look at the level of course you are taking, the subject, and the overall tone of the course. With some exceptions, the tone will be professional. How would you communicate with your boss? If you were writing a cover letter for a job, what tone would you use? The tone for your college course should be semi-professional. Personally, I have had students who have horrible grammar, but their tone still conveyed seriousness. I still give them points, because their tone was acceptable and appropriate. Discussion posts should not read as instagram stories or texts to your bestie. They should be professional, serious, and appropriate for the course. If you are unsure of the tone you should use, reach out to your professor. However, in the majority of cases, a professional tone is acceptable for your discussion boards. 

In this scenario, I gave her the points she earned and reached out to tell her she needs to write more professionally in the future. Next week, I’ll share the fallout of that with a post on how to argue with your professor – when you should and when you should not. 

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