How to contribute to the Academic Discussion

You have 10 minutes. A professor asks a question. Two classmates have already posted. You write a short academic discussion post — at least 100 words.

Contribute, do not summarize

Your job is to add something the thread does not already contain. Answer the professor with a clear view and one concrete reason or example.

Engage a classmate

“I agree” is not enough. Name a classmate, then extend, qualify, or challenge a specific point they made.

This is not an essay

Do not write a 250-word five-paragraph essay. Write a post: position, support, engagement. Isolated contractions do not block Score 5.

Timing

Read the professor and both posts for about a minute. Write for eight minutes. Check that you answered the question and mentioned a classmate.

Practice at /writing?task=ad.