1. Critical Discussion Groups Online and Asynchronous Or How to reconcile paced and non- paced

2. Critical Discussion Groups Design tested by formal studies 74% course pass rate for those who chose groups 50.5% pass rate for those who did not choose the groups 87% who completed groups passed the course 39.6% of students chose the groups davidb@athabascau.cadavidb@athabascau.ca for info

3. Discussion 1 Required Skills Audience awareness and how to adapt tone to suit occasion Paragraph craft Grammar For all skills, study links are provided.

4. Discussion 1 Assignment Steps Post one paragraph introducing yourself Post a second paragraph discussing one aspect of your culture or community Identify one article or excerpt from the discussion group reader that you intend to discuss next meeting Identify the topic of your planned posting for Discussion 3 Post brief responses to your group members’ two paragraphs

5. Assignment Criteria Checklist for Discussion 1 An effective title that expresses topic and controlling idea An effective topic sentence and application of the 4 Fs A personal style and tone adapted to the occasion and audience Correct grammar, punctuation, and mechanics 9 – 12 sentences per paragraph

6. Discussion 2 Required Skills Awareness of how to write a summary and (for essays with hard-to-find theses) how to use rhetorical analysis to infer a thesis Awareness of critical thinking Awareness of logic and fallacies Awareness of research methods and documentation style Paragraph craft Grammar For all skills, study links are provided

7. Discussion 2 Assignment Steps Post one brief paragraph summarizing the reading Post one substantive paragraph stating and explaining your critical response Use one secondary source to inform your discussion Document your citation, and list the source at the end of your paragraph according to MLA or APA style Post brief responses to your group members’ summaries and critical responses Announce the controversy that you will be summarizing for discussion 3

8. Assignment Criteria Checklist for Discussion 2 For the summary: a basic title as follows-- A Summary of “Title of Reading” For the summary: judicious application of the “10 Steps to a Successful Summary” For the summary: maximum length of 5 sentences For the critical paragraph: an effective title that expresses topic and controlling idea; length of at least 9 sentences For the critical paragraph: a strong opening sentence providing controlling idea and a sense of the reasons, to be discussed in the rest of the paragraph For the critical paragraph: suitable critical tone and style and observation of the 4 Fs of paragraph craft For the critical paragraph: effective citation of one source using MLA or APA style For the critical paragraph: listing of the source at the end, using MLA or APA style For the summary and critical response: correct grammar, punctuation, and mechanics

9. Discussion 3 Required Skills Summarizing Principles of argumentation Comparison structure to balance equally both sides of a controversy 4Fs of paragraph craft Research and documentation methods Correct grammar, punctuation, and mechanics For all skills, study links are provided

10. Discussion 3 Assignment Steps Post one paragraph summarizing the issue of controversy in your field of work, study, or community Conclude your paragraph with a reflection on some implication of the controversy Cite one secondary source related to one side of the controversy and a second one related to the other side Post brief responses to your group members’ postings; with each response, add a further source on your classmate’s topic, and say why you think it might prove useful.

11. Assignment Criteria Checklist for Discussion 3 An effective title that expresses topic and controlling idea An effective topic sentence and application of the 4 Fs A style and tone adapted to the occasion and audience Effective organizational structure suited to the purpose Correct grammar, punctuation, and mechanics 9 – 12 sentences long Effective citation of two sources using MLA or APA style (one source speaking to one side of the controversy, the other source speaking to the other side of the controversy) Correct listing of the sources at the end, using MLA or APA style

12. For More Information davidb@athabascau.ca (780) 435-0684 Coming soon: AU staff simulation critical discussion group model If you instruct or coordinate a course whose students might benefit from joining the undergraduate discussion group model, contact David Brundage for more information.