Forum 1

Overview

What is a forum? It's a venue where ideas and views on a topic are exchanged and discussed. Our forum uses the Laulima Forums tool, a web based bulletin board.

How Does it Work?

You choose a topic and, after background studies, write a post on the topic. Your classmates drop by, read your message and post comments. They, in turn, write topic posts of their own. Finally, you comment on the posts of your classmates. Our forum is essentially a slo-mo discussion.

Forum 1 | 9/02 12:00 AM to 9/09 11:55 PM

Forum Topic Choices

Read the Voice and String Instruments chapters if you haven't done so yet. Choose one of two topics to post on:

Overtone Singing | Listen to Batzorig Vaanchig, Bai Terek Ensemble, The Hu and Anna-Maria Hefele perform overtone singing in the Human Voice chapter. Share your thoughts on these performances. Be specific about the how and why of observations and opinions. For example, compare vocal styles you're familiar with to these artists. What did you like or dislike about the voices, pieces and/or the performances? What did you think about the guitar in Somewhere Over the Rainbow or the bowed chordophone (rebab) in Batzorig's performance? For example, were these instruments merely accompaniment or a duet of equals? Did the music trigger emotions, alter your state of mind or get your body moving?
Chinese Erhu | Audition the Great Race by The Hsu-nami and Oogway Ascends (Kung Fu Panda) in String Instruments. Share your thoughts on these pieces and the solo instrument, the erhu. Be specific about the how and why of observations and opinions. For example, analyze and compare The Great Race and Oogway Ascends to other musical styles you’re familiar with such as classical violin, rock or Chinese music. What did you like or dislike about these pieces and/or the performance? How did Guo's erhu playing compare to her cello playing in Oogway Ascends? Did the music trigger emotions, memories, alter your state of mind or invoke body movement?

Laulima Forums | "How to" video for forum newbies.

How to Post

Are you a forum newbie? If so, read this section. Log into Laulima and select MUS 107. The Forums tool is found on the Laulima toolbar:

Laulima Toolbar

Click the Forums tool icon.
Click Forum 1, General Discussion.
Click Start a New Conversion to write about your topic.
Click any existing Conversation to reply to a classmate's post.

Post and Reply Required

Partial credit is not given for incomplete assignments. Credit is earned only if you participate in all aspects of the assignment. Thus, to receive credit for this forum (possible 50 points), you must:

Write a topic post (possible 30 pts).
Read posts of classmates (participation is tracked).
Write at least one reply to a classmate's post (possible 20 pts).

Click "Post"

Be sure to click "Post" (bottom left of page) after writing your message or your post will disappear into the mists.

Forum Conduct

Keep messages clean and on topic, and edit for clarity, grammar and spelling. Inappropriate comments and plagiarism will be deleted by your professor. To learn about proper online behavior, read the Student Netiquette quick guide (accessible Google Doc version).

No Forum Makeups

If you miss the forum, it's gone forever. The class will not reassemble to converse with you. You have seven days. Get it done on time.

Earn a Better Grade

Post your original thoughts and observations on an approved topic, not a summary of the textbook information or clone of classmate posts. Also, forums are not like texting—everybody sees your message—so edit for clarity, spelling, punctuation, etc. Consider composing your post in a word processor for the benefit of better editing. Paste it in the forum after you're happy with the contents.

Grades

Criteria for forum grading are found in the Forum Grading Rubric posted below. Your forum grade (possible 50 points) will be posted in the Laulima GradeBook tool within 24 hours of the due date.