Group Discussion Board Forums Instructions
Group Discussion Board Forums 1–4 are group graded discussions that each span 2 course modules/weeks. Each forum has 3 parts with unique requirements. Your instructor will assign you to a group. The group assignments can be found by clicking on the “Group Discussion” link in the course menu. Parts 1 and 2 are completed by each student independently—i.e., not group work—whereas Part 3 is a group activity.
As you work on Part 1 and 2 of these discussions, remember the Liberty University Online Honor Code. Also, take time to read the course information on plagiarism available in the Literature Review Instructions––resist the temptation to “review” your classmates’ work or use it to “help” you before submitting your own. These approaches violate the Liberty University Online Honor Code, as would reviewing work from the Internet or other sources; you must answer the questions on your own.
Part 1: Two individual posts
You will answer 2 questions independently and create a separate post for each response (not a single post with responses to both questions). Each individual post, or question response, will consist of 500–750 words that answer 1 of the assigned discussion board questions.
If your group is smaller, it may be necessary for individuals to answer more than 2 questions, and multiple people in larger groups may have to answer the same questions. Regardless of group size, the group must ensure that all of the questions are answered by the Part 1 submission deadline. To do this efficiently, you and your group must work together and decide who will answer each question. The instructor will not assign the questions. A best practice is to assign each question to two students to ensure all questions are answered at the end of the week but this is not required.
- Some answers will require a paragraph-style response, whereas others will be best answered with a table or bullet points. Use the style that is most appropriate for the specific question.
- Each answer must be supported by references to at least 2 peer-reviewed sources and 1 biblical integration.
- Use proper grammar and current APA format.
- Do not submit discussion posts as Microsoft Word documents. You are welcome to include attachments to assist with consolidation, but the primary content of your posts must be included in the body of the discussion area (opening files is an inconvenience when the same information can be reviewed within the post).
The individual submissions are very important for the group’s final product, so each post must meet the requirements noted above. These requirements provide a strong foundation for the group submission and ensure every group member contributes value to the group.
No late discussion posts will be accepted.
Group Discussion Forum 1-4 – Submit your first individual response by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday and your second individual response by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of the first module/week of each discussion forum.
Part 2: Two individual response posts
The primary goal of Part 2 is for the group to extensively discuss the individual Part 1 posts by offering comments, critiques, and suggestions for improvement in order to create a better final response, and therefore a higher group grade. The goal is to improve the individual submissions.
You must reply to at least 2 of your group members’ threads and address at least 1 strength and 1 weakness per reply. Each reply must be 450–600 words, reference at least 2 peer-reviewed sources, and include 1 biblical integration. All group members must participate equally in the group discussion and provide input into the Final Group Answers for each forum.
- Your group must support each final answer with references to at least 2 peer-reviewed sources and 1 biblical integration.
- Use proper grammar and current APA formatting.
- Do not submit replies as Microsoft Word documents. You are welcome to include attachments to assist with consolidation, but the primary content for your posts must be included in the body of the discussion area (opening files is an inconvenience when the same information can be reviewed within the post).
No late discussion posts will be accepted.
Liberty University sets these standards/criteria to ensure that some students do not attempt to take advantage of the group environment. The most common problem students have is that they fail to participate in a substantive way or attempt to participate late during Part 2.
Submit Part 2 of Group Discussion Board Forums 1–4 by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday on the second module/week of each discussion board.
Part 3: Final Group Answer Submission
The primary goal of Part 3 is for the group to create a final response to each question in a single Word document. The foundation of Part 3 will be the Part 1 responses; however those responses must be modified to embrace the Part 2 peer feedback, thereby creating an improved final product. The final submission must include only 1 response to each question; if 2 people answered 1 question, then their efforts must be combined into a single group response—do not submit Final Group Answers that include 2 responses to the same question.
Once your group agrees upon its final answers, 1 designated group member will collect the Final Group Answers for each question and consolidate them into 1 document. He or she will then submit the MS Word formatted document to the Part 3 assignment link found in the Assignments folder for the assigned module/week.
Group Discussion Forum 1-3 – The designated group member (whether you or another) must submit Part 3 of Group Discussion Board Forums through the link in the Assignments folder by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of the assigned module/week.
Group Discussion Forum 4 – The designated group member (whether you or another) must submit Part 3 of Group Discussion Board Forums through the link in the Assignments folder by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of the assigned module/week.
Students who do not complete Parts I & II will receive a zero for Part III.
