Writing introduction and conclusion paragraphs may seem daunting, whether you are
just having a hard time coming up with those first few sentences or just do not
know how to bring your paper to a close. This Discussion gives you an
opportunity to post draft versions of your introduction and conclusion
paragraphs for your persuasive essay so that you can receive feedback on their
effectiveness from your peers and the instructor. You may find it helpful to
post your introduction and conclusion paragraphs early in the unit so that you
have time to revise them for the unit’s Assignment based on the feedback you
receive and the insights you find from the Learning Activities.

Include all of the following in your Discussion post:

• A draft of your introduction paragraph for your persuasive essay using one
  of the techniques described in the Learning Activities
• A thesis statement as the last sentence of your introduction
• A draft of your conclusion paragraph for your persuasive essay
• An explanation of what motivated your decisions when writing both
  paragraphs, such as why you used a particular technique and the impact you
  want to have on your audience with these paragraphs

To earn full participation credit, you will need to respond substantively to at
least two peers’ initial Discussion posts. These responses should stay on topic
and generate further discussion by asking questions, mentioning relevant
examples, and if possible, referencing concepts from the unit Learning
Activities.

When responding to a peer, exercise tact and be specific in what you say. Take
your time and develop your thoughts so that you can help out a fellow writer.
Please do not focus on or mark GUM (grammar, usage, and mechanics) issues. The
following questions will help you to create constructive feedback on your peers’
paragraphs:

• Do the paragraphs show an awareness of audience and purpose? That is, does
  the writer take into consideration that the purpose of the paper is to
  persuade which means the audience may not share the writer’s view on the
  issue? Where is the persuasion effective and where does it need more
  work?
• What is one strength you identified in each paragraph? Why is it a
  strength? What is one aspect of each paragraph that needs improvement? How
  can it be improved?
• What lingering questions do you have about these paragraphs or your
  classmate’s topic in general?

All Discussion posts and responses to peers should be written in complete
sentences using Standard American English. Before posting, proofread for
grammar, spelling, and word-choice issues. Be sure to respond fully to every
aspect of the Discussion.

When you refer to concepts from the unit’s Learning Activities, be sure to use a
signal phrase like “According to . . .[name of reading].” If you are directly
quoting the Learning Activities or another source, be sure to use quotation
marks and cite the source using proper APA in-text citations and full
references.
Kaplan University Writing Center has
resources on APA citation formatting.

https://kucampus.kaplan.edu/MyStudies/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingCenter/WritingReferenceLibrary/ResearchCitationAndPlagiarism/Index.aspx

You can review a sample Discussion post and response to a peer by clicking on the
following link:
Unit 8 Sample Discussion Assignment.

You can review the rubric the instructor will use when determining your
Discussion grade by clicking on the following link:
Discussion Assignment Grading Rubric.