Your initial post must be at least 250 words, and you must respond to at least two classmates with 150-word minimum responses each. Responses should contribute in meaningful ways to the discussion by building on ideas, asking thoughtful questions, or making relevant comparisons. Before posting, read the entire thread to ensure your comments add to the conversation. Avoid generic responses like “great post!” or brief reactions (e.g., thumbs-up/thumbs-down). Maintain a professional, academic tone in all interactions.

Academic Integrity

Students must follow the university’s Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures in all course writing. All discussion posts and responses must be written in your own words, based on your critical engagement with the course readings and media resources. Direct quotes should be limited to one or two sentences and must be enclosed in quotation marks. All sources, including course readings and external materials, must be cited using MLA, APA or Chicago style, with both in-text citations for quotes and a formal reference list at the end of the post. If referencing external content not included in the course, provide a working link.

AI Use

AI tools may not be used to generate discussion posts or responses. Discussions should reflect your own voice, critical thinking, and original analysis. However, AI may be used as an assistant for spelling, grammar, organization, and citation formatting (as long as accurate)—but never to generate content. The use of AI must be consistent with course policy outlined in the syllabus. Misuse of AI, such as generating responses instead of writing your own, may result in academic penalties based on the university’s Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures. Your contributions should be authentic, informed by research, and ethically produced.