Three approaches to making a substantive comment
Often facilitators will ask you to "make a substantive comment [or reply]". What is substantive? Does that mean I have to just ramble on forever until I have a big paragraph? No. You just need to accomplish the following key items in your post:
Approach 1: Positive reinforcement.
This is where you agree with what the person said. "Yeah" or "Right on" may make the author feel good, but of more interest to conversation participants is "Why do you think it is right on?" Comment specifically on the part that got your attention (is interesting / you agree with / you wish you had said / you never thought of / etc.).
Strategies:
Approach 2: Ask a question
Questions rock because they encourage further discussion. Vague questions, however, that don't show you read the post or even care what it said are lame.
Strategies:Your question should reflect 3 key elements.
Approach 3: Disagree... tactfully
This is the most difficult to pull off. Occasionally, we have a need to disagree with one another. There is a right way to disagree on a topic while remaining civil and not attacking the other's right to his / her opinion. In terms of design assignments, you may need to give someone a nudge in the right direction so his / her design can be better. If you can, try to do this with a question (see above), do it. If not, try to focus criticism on the work / argument presented and not on the person.
Often facilitators will ask you to "make a substantive comment [or reply]". What is substantive? Does that mean I have to just ramble on forever until I have a big paragraph? No. You just need to accomplish the following key items in your post:
- Show that you heard the author (Let the person you're replying to know that you actually read the post).
- Add something to the discussion.
Approach 1: Positive reinforcement.
This is where you agree with what the person said. "Yeah" or "Right on" may make the author feel good, but of more interest to conversation participants is "Why do you think it is right on?" Comment specifically on the part that got your attention (is interesting / you agree with / you wish you had said / you never thought of / etc.).
Strategies:
- Copy / Paste a line or phrase from the person's post in your reply and comment on it / compliment it / build on it.
- Refer to something you said that relates in your post. Use this with caution. While it makes a connection, it can seem self-centered.
- Link to something that relates to and agrees with / reinforces what was said.
- This rocks! I really like how you [insert anything here as long as it has something to do with the content of the post and the actual assignment that was given].
- I wish I had thought of saying [copy / paste quote the author].
- Your post reminds me of [link to online resource], especially when you said [copy / paste quote the author].
- Awesome!
- Better than Tacos!
- "I give these thingymajigs a 5 due to their righteousness".
- Wowwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Hi! [Is that even positive?]
- "ewww haha jk" [this should be worth negative points...]
Approach 2: Ask a question
Questions rock because they encourage further discussion. Vague questions, however, that don't show you read the post or even care what it said are lame.
Strategies:Your question should reflect 3 key elements.
- I actually read / viewed the assignment posted by the person I'm questioning.
- I actually read / viewed / understood the assignment being responded to.
- I'm trying to give the person I'm questioning an opportunity for growth / improvement with my question.
- When you said, [copy / paste quote the author], did you mean that [insert your comment here]
- Why did you choose [insert anything here about your classmate's choices of design / style / content]?
- I love how you [...]. Is it possible to [...]? ...because that would...
- What were you thinking?
- Where did you find that pic? LOL!
- Are you going to the game tonight?
- What do you mean?
Approach 3: Disagree... tactfully
This is the most difficult to pull off. Occasionally, we have a need to disagree with one another. There is a right way to disagree on a topic while remaining civil and not attacking the other's right to his / her opinion. In terms of design assignments, you may need to give someone a nudge in the right direction so his / her design can be better. If you can, try to do this with a question (see above), do it. If not, try to focus criticism on the work / argument presented and not on the person.