• For the Three Replies—Respond only to those students that are on topic. Don’t respond to illustrations and examples. Stay focused on the prompt and the student’s response to it. Focus on the points a student makes, not just something he says, and then you make your point in response and then develop that point. Consider the following template: “I am responding to your point where you said, ‘x.’”
• First, State Area(s) of Agreement—“On the matter of x, I agree that …..(and then state succinctly your reasons why, employing course materials and other scholarly sources for your support).”
• Next, State Area(s) of Disagreement—“However, I disagree in that….(and then state succinctly your reasons why, employing course materials and other scholarly sources for your support).”
• Critique, Clarify, Elaborate—Do not just just elaborate on a thread (“I would like to add to what you said…”). Better replies will also critique and clarify (“I agree that the principle of ‘separation of church and state’ is important in our understanding of religion in government. However, we can neither assume that the principle of ‘separation of church and state’ has always been used for honorable purposes, nor can we conflate the concept of the ‘separation of church and state’ with either the legal doctrine of the ‘wall of separation’ or the Establishment Clause of Article I of the Constitution” [Then explain and elaborate]).
GUIDELINES Consider the thread and replies as professional communications by the Christian statesman. As such, they should
• avoid the repeating of information that was in earlier threads and replies.
• provide substantive and well-reasoned arguments, not merely opinions.
• demonstrate a mastery of the required course materials.
• demonstrate care in the proper citation and referencing of sources.
• relate points in the discussion to past readings, relevant personal experience, and principles (biblical, moral, and constitutional).
• integrate the required scripture and citations into the discussion.