Assignment

The Discussion Board (DB) is part of the core of online learning. Classroom discussion in an online environment requires the active participation of students and the instructor to create robust interaction and dialogue. Every student is expected to create an original response to the open-ended DB question as well as engage in dialogue by responding to posts created by others throughout the week. At the end of each unit, DB participation will be assessed based on both level of engagement and the quality of the contribution to the discussion.

At a minimum, each student will be expected to post an original and thoughtful response to the DB question and contribute to the weekly dialogue by responding to at least two other posts from students. The first contribution must be posted before midnight (Central Time) on Wednesday of each week. Two additional responses are required after Wednesday of each week. Students are highly encouraged to engage on the Discussion Board early and often, as that is the primary way the university tracks class attendance and participation.

The purpose of the Discussion Board is to allow students to learn through sharing ideas and experiences as they relate to course content and the DB question. Because it is not possible to engage in two-way dialogue after a conversation has ended, no posts to the DB will be accepted after the end of each unit.

Discussion Board Assignment

In 1908, playwright Israel Zangwill referred to America as a melting pot. Zangwill's concept of the United States as a country where people of all cultures and nations are free to come and contribute to a common American culture remains a popular concept-even more than a century after its introduction.

More recently, the concept of the American mosaic asserts that American society consist not of melting pot in which people and cultures mix together to form a larger American culture, but as a mosaic in which ethnic groups come to the United States and coexist with other groups but maintain significant cultural and social distinctions among themselves. Post a discussion that explores these themes by demonstrating how various cultures and ethnicities have contributed to modern American history and culture.

Use the following outline to format your response:

Paragraph 1

• Select 1 ethnic group.
• Explain a specific contribution that this group made to American society or culture.

Paragraph 2

• Evaluate the concepts of the melting pot and the American mosaic.
• Which concept more accurately reflects the experiences of the ethnic group you chose? Support your assertion.

Respond to at least 2 or more of your classmates' Discussion Board postings. Be sure to respond to your classmates' postings with substantive and respectful responses.