This assignment requires you to post a link to an article (by your assigned due date), your thoughts, and to respond to two different postings (your responses do not have to follow your assigned due date. The deadline for your responses are the end of the semester) of your classmates. Details of this assignment will be discussed in class.

In your post, you will include a link of your article on a current issue/news in the event industry on Webcourses along with a write up of at least 400 words. You are basically informally presenting your news article online rather than in front of the class. Your posting should not simply repeat what was written in the article. It should start with a very short summary of the article (just a couple of sentences) but mostly relate to our class and elaborate by addressing the following two points:

1. “I selected this article because…..”
2. “This article relates to this course because…

Rules/Protocols of Communication Online

1. Before posting, always make sure your posting has no grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. You may do this by copying and pasting the text into Microsoft Word, and pasting it back to the posting area.Please use the following conventions when composing an online posting:
   • A helpful hint for use with both online posting and email – Compose your message in your word-processing application in order to check spelling, punctuation, and grammar – the copy and paste your composition into email or the posting area. This not only saves online time but also works as a preventative measure from losing information while typing.
   • Avoid posting large blocks of text. If you must, break them into paragraphs and use a space between paragraphs.
   • Use the “reply” button rather than the “compose” button if you are replying to someone else’s posting.
   • Do not use postings such as “I agree,” “I don’t know either,” “Who cares,” or “ditto.” They do not add to the discussion and will not be counted for assignment credit.
   • Everyone should feel free to participate in class and online discussions. Regular and meaningful discussion postings constitute a substantial portion of your grade.
   • Respect each other’s ideas, feelings, and experience.
   • Be courteous and considerate. It is important to be honest and to express yourself freely, but being considerate of others is just as important and expected online, as it is in the classroom.
   • If you want to send a personal message to the instructor or to another student, use email rather than the discussions.
   • Be patient. Do not expect an immediate response when you send a message.
   • Explore disagreements and support assertions with data and evidence.

   Netiquette

   “Netiquette” has evolved to aid us in infusing our electronic communications with some of these missing behavioral pieces. “Emoticons” and other tools have become popular and I encourage their use when it will add to the clarity of your communication.

   • 🙂 happy, pleased
   • 🙁 sad, displeased
   • :-O surprised
   • >:-I angry

   Abbreviate when possible. Examples:

   • LOL Laugh Out Loud, “I find this funny”
   • ROFL Rolling On the Floor Laughing, really funny
   • BTW By The Way
   • *grin* smiling
   • IMHO In My Humble Opinion
   • FYI For Your Information

   Netiquette continues to evolve and I am sure that we will have constant additions to this growing language. The important thing to remember is that all of the “cute” symbols in the world cannot replace your careful choice of words and “tone” in your communication.