Class discussion and discussion point paper information

I will try to get you feedback on discussion as soon as possible after class, but this means that I can’t always give a lot of comments related to your grade. The first few weeks, especially if you are below a 4, I will try to give some helpful hints for improving your grade. Feel free to come talk to me if you have further questions about your discussion grades. I realize that grading discussion contains an element of subjectivity. Complete objectivity isn’t possible, even if I transcribed the discussions and had more than one coder rate them blindly (which isn’t really practical). But I do strive to be as objective as possible and record grades right after class whenever possible. I believe they do provide a good assessment of class contributions, especially when averaged across the semester. Grading week to week is definitely more reliable and valid than trying to give an overall discussion grade at the end of the semester. It also provides you with feedback as you go along.

A good discussion point brings up something that’s not immediately obvious from the readings—it applies it to a new area, integrates it with other research or theory, or questions its findings or assumptions. A good discussion point shows that you’ve read, understood, and thought critically about the reading. It may start with a question (e.g., how would X theory apply to LGBTQ couples?) but it also goes beyond it to show me what you’re thinking (e.g., It might not apply because Y variable might be different in Z ways for these couples). Each discussion point will probably be 2-3 sentences. You do not need to relate your discussion points to each other or write an overall paper that incorporates and integrates all the readings.

Other possible types of discussion points (not exclusive):

· Theory X and Theory Y seem to differ in terms of Z. I think that X might be more applicable to A set of people/situations and Y to B set because…

· The article suggests that the authors’ approach differs from that of Jones because … but I don’t see that there is a difference. Jones would also predict … because…

· One important variable that doesn’t seem to be considered in any of the theories of X we read is Y. I believe that Y would relate to people’s K behavior because… with people who are higher in Y doing A and people who are lower doing B.

Think about the types of notes you write (or should be writing) in the margins as you read articles. Those are the types of things you want to use as discussion points. You need to address at least 4 of the readings each week. That could mean 1 point on each of 4 readings, or it could mean 3 points on 1 reading and a 4^th point that integrates all the readings, etc.