Discussion

When you were a child, you might have seen a dark brown bottle of a mysterious liquid high on a shelf in your garage, out of your reach. “That’s poison,” a parent might have warned, pointing to the container. “Don’t touch.” It nonetheless had some use. It was there for a reason. This example illustrates a principle: Items that can be misused often have a valid use, and vice versa. An average (e.g. mean, median, and mode) is not an exception; it can be useful, but if it is misused or misinterpreted it can be destructive.

In what way might an average be misused? Alternatively, how might an average be misinterpreted? For instance, how can a misinterpreted average pertain to stereotyping? How can we avoid misuse or misinterpretation of averages? Provide a specific example to illustrate your explanation.

Undergraduate Discussion

Rubric

Overview

Your active participation in the discussions is essential to your overall success this term. Discussion questions will help you make meaningful connections
between the course content and the larger concepts of the course. These discussions give you a chance to express your own thoughts, ask questions, and gain
insight from your peers and instructor.

Directions

For each discussion, you must create one initial post and follow up with at least two response posts.

For your initial post, do the following:

 Write a post of 1 to 2 paragraphs.

 In Module One, complete your initial post by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

 In Modules Two through Eight, complete your initial post by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. of your local time zone.

 Consider content from other parts of the course where appropriate. Use proper citation methods for your discipline when referencing scholarly or
popular sources.

For your response posts, do the following:

 Reply to at least two classmates outside of your own initial post thread.

 In Module One, complete your two response posts by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

 In Modules Two through Eight, complete your two response posts by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. of your local time zone.

 Demonstrate more depth and thought than saying things like “I agree” or “You are wrong.” Guidance is provided for you in the discussion prompt.

Rubric

Critical Elements Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not Evident Value

Comprehension Develops an initial post with an
organized, clear point of view or
idea using rich and significant detail
(100%)

Develops an initial post with a
point of view or idea using
adequate organization and
detail (85%)

Develops an initial post with a
point of view or idea but with
some gaps in organization and
detail (55%)

Does not develop an initial post
with an organized point of view
or idea (0%)

40

Timeliness N/A Submits initial post on time
(100%)

Submits initial post one day late
(55%)

Submits initial post two or more
days late (0%)

10

Engagement Provides relevant and meaningful
response posts with clarifying
explanation and detail (100%)

Provides relevant response
posts with some explanation
and detail (85%)

Provides somewhat relevant
response posts with some
explanation and detail (55%)

Provides response posts that
are generic with little
explanation or detail (0%)

30

Critical Elements Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not Evident Value

Writing
(Mechanics)

Writes posts that are easily
understood, clear, and concise
using proper citation methods
where applicable with no errors in
citations (100%)

Writes posts that are easily
understood using proper
citation methods where
applicable with few errors in
citations (85%)

Writes posts that are
understandable using proper
citation methods where
applicable with a number of
errors in citations (55%)

Writes posts that others are not
able to understand and does
not use proper citation
methods where applicable (0%)

20

Total 100%