CM220: Unit 7 Discussion Sample Purdue Global, 2018 SAMPLE DISCUSSION POST: UNIT 7 Please note that this is a sample Discussion post to help inspire and guide your own original writing of the assignment. Your assignment does not need to look exactly like the sample, as this sample is just a possible response to the assignment prompt. Be sure to review the reading and grading rubric, complete each task in the instructions, and contact the instructor with any questions. DISCUSSION POST: Hi everyone, As I looked at my thesis and organization this week, I thought back to several things brought up in the readings. The reading “Essay Structure” mentioned that essays generally flow from general to specific or specific to general. My essay seems to fit the general to specific best since it begins with ways in which students are bullied as a whole then examines bullying targeting special needs students as well as a specific way to address this problem. In addition, I liked the graphic organizer options. I’ve always been a scratch outliner, but the graphic organizers, especially the first one, forced me to think in complete ideas. They also helped me make sure I included all the information I need to, such as the thesis, the target audience, the problem, the solution, and counter arguments. I plan to use the first organizer. I made some changes to my thesis based on the feedback I received in units 5 and 6, too. Thesis: Despite assertions that bullying is just kids being kids, the behavior actually comes from not understanding differences, disabilities, and specialness – a problem parents, educators, and others who work with children can use fiction to solve. General Elements of Argument Key Points Supporting Evidence I. Introduction Who is the target audience? The target audience is parents, teachers and others who work with children. People who work with children need to understand why bullying takes place and how to address it because it is far more extensive and brutal than many know. CM220: Unit 7 Discussion Sample Purdue Global, 2018 How will you introduce the problem to them? The problem will be addressed through descriptions and examples. For example, consider a recent decision by Twitter to add hate speech against the disabled to their reporting feature. The change came after a campaign spearheaded by a mother whose child has severe cranial-facial abnormalities. The mother constantly receives messages that her daughter should be “put down” or that she should have had an abortion because the child is “defective” and a “drain on society.” II. Problem Overview Key ideas to illustrate the problem Bullying is a broad concern because schools serve a variety of special populations. In 2013-14, the average of special populations in schools nationwide included 35% learning disabled, 21% with speech or language issues, 13% other impairmen ...

1. CM220: Unit 7 Discussion Sample Purdue Global, 2018
SAMPLE DISCUSSION POST:
UNIT 7
Please note that this is a sample Discussion post to help inspire
and guide your own
original writing of the assignment. Your assignment does not
need to look exactly like
the sample, as this sample is just a possible response to the
assignment prompt. Be
sure to review the reading and grading rubric, complete each
task in the instructions,
and contact the instructor with any questions.
DISCUSSION POST:
Hi everyone,
As I looked at my thesis and organization this week, I thought
back to several things
brought up in the readings. The reading “Essay Structure”
mentioned that essays
generally flow from general to specific or specific to general.
My essay seems to fit the
general to specific best since it begins with ways in which
students are bullied as a whole
then examines bullying targeting special needs students as well
as a specific way to
address this problem.
In addition, I liked the graphic organizer options. I’ve always

2. been a scratch outliner,
but the graphic organizers, especially the first one, forced me to
think in complete ideas.
They also helped me make sure I included all the information I
need to, such as the
thesis, the target audience, the problem, the solution, and
counter arguments. I plan to
use the first organizer.
I made some changes to my thesis based on the feedback I
received in units 5 and 6, too.
Thesis: Despite assertions that bullying is just kids being kids,
the behavior actually
comes from not understanding differences, disabilities, and
specialness – a problem
parents, educators, and others who work with children can use
fiction to solve.
General Elements of
Argument
Key Points Supporting Evidence
I. Introduction
Who is the target
audience?
The target audience is
parents, teachers and
others who work with
children.
People who work with
children need to understand

3. why bullying takes place
and how to address it
because it is far more
extensive and brutal than
many know.
CM220: Unit 7 Discussion Sample Purdue Global, 2018
How will you introduce
the problem to them?
The problem will be
addressed through
descriptions and
examples.
For example, consider a
recent decision by Twitter to
add hate speech against the
disabled to their reporting
feature. The change came
after a campaign
spearheaded by a mother
whose child has severe
cranial-facial abnormalities.
The mother constantly
receives messages that her
daughter should be “put
down” or that she should
have had an abortion
because the child is
“defective” and a “drain on
society.”

4. II. Problem Overview
Key ideas to illustrate the
problem
Bullying is a broad
concern because schools
serve a variety of special
populations.
In 2013-14, the average of
special populations in
schools nationwide included
35% learning disabled, 21%
with speech or language
issues, 13% other
impairment and 8% Autism
as well as multiple other
conditions is smaller groups
(NCES, 2016).
Examples While bullying occurs
everywhere, children with
disabilities experience it
more frequently. Many
student populations with
differences such are
bullied at a higher rate
than the general
population.
Children with autism are 3
times more likely to be
bullied than peers
Children with epilepsy and
medical conditions like
cerebral palsy are more

5. likely to be bullied and
called names than their
peers (Stopbullying.org,
2018).
How does the issue affect
different community
stakeholders?
These children suffer due
to the torment in a variety
of ways.
Kids who are bullied are
more likely to suffer from
depression, anxiety, sleep
issues, health problems, and
lower GPAs and test scores
(Stopbullying.org, 2018).
III.
Solution
Proposal –
Who can implement the
solution?
People who work with
children can help them

6. For example, Out of My
Mind by Sharon Draper
CM220: Unit 7 Discussion Sample Purdue Global, 2018
understand differences
through fiction.
(2010) allows students to
experience life through the
eyes of an 11-year-old who,
though brilliant, cannot
speak and is labeled “brain-
damaged.”
How will the change affect
the community?
Educating children will
make them more
empathetic and create a
safer learning
environment.

7. The novel show how Melody
communicates with others
and displays her intelligence
using a communication
device.
What evidence supports
that this is the best
solution?
The novel highlights
differences and
similarities.
Out of My Mind examines
the social, physical, and
emotional challenges that a
special needs child faces but
reminds us that we can
never know everything in a
child’s mind (Draper, 2010).
IV. Counterargument
Audiences that may have

8. reservations or negative
results from the proposed
solution.
Parents and educators
may feel that the other
should have the
responsibility of stopping
bullying.
Parents argue that since
teachers are there when
incidents occur more than
parents, educators should
take the lead. Educators
contend character education
and development including
empathy should take place
at home.
Concerns to address: Educators and parents shy
away from handling issues
that they feel unprepared
to deal with.

9. Parents have not had formal
training, while educators
worry about stepping on
family values.
Rebuttal to those
concerns:
Because the solution lies
with everyone, steps must
be taken to educate all
members of the
community.
Organizations such as
Choose Kind provide
resources for parents,
educators, students, and
others (Children’s
Craniofacial Association,
2005).
V. Conclusion
What key points do you
want to reinforce as you

10. wrap up the argument?
Bullying is a wide spread
problem that needs a
community solution.
Because children with
disabilities are bullied at a
higher rate, parents and
educators have to be
creative in helping other
children understand
differences.
CM220: Unit 7 Discussion Sample Purdue Global, 2018
Fiction can be an
important tool in this
approach.
Books like Out of My Mind
use narrative to teach.

11. Final considerations for
the audience:
Not all books will work in
all settings.
Apply critical thinking to
find age appropriate,
relevant works.
What other counter arguments might people have? How can they
be rebutted?
References
Children’s Craniofacial Association. (2005). A guide to
understanding Treacher
Collins Syndrome. Retrieved from
http://www.ccakids.org/assets/syndromebk_treacher-collins.pdf
Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. New York: Simon &

12. Schuster.
Essay structure. (2018). CM220 Unit 7 readings.
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2016, May).
Children and youth with
disabilities. Retrieved from
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_cgg.asp
Stopbullying.gov. (2018). Bullying and children and youth
with disabilities and special
health needs. Retrieved from https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-
risk/groups/special-needs/bullyingtipsheet.pdf and
https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/groups/special-needs/
Kacey
Please note that this is a sample Discussion response to help
inspire and guide your
own responses to classmates. Your response does not need to
look exactly like the

13. sample, as this sample is just a possible response to the
assignment prompt. Be sure to
review the reading and grading rubric, complete each task in the
instructions, and
contact the instructor with any questions.
RESPONSE POST:
Hi Kacey,
This topic really needs attention. My niece struggles with
bullying at school because she
keeps defending her friends, one of whom has a physical
disability. The resources
especially provide good insight into the higher rate of bullying
for children with special
needs.
The thesis confused me a little. Have you thought about how
you can clarify what you
plan to discuss and how? The course materials mentioned that a
thesis is a contract with
http://www.ccakids.org/assets/syndromebk_treacher-collins.pdf
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_cgg.asp

14. https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/groups/special-
needs/bullyingtipsheet.pdf
https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/groups/special-
needs/bullyingtipsheet.pdf
https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/groups/special-needs/
CM220: Unit 7 Discussion Sample Purdue Global, 2018
your reader, so the clarity would help make that “contract” more
specific. What about
something like this, which focuses on something that should be
done in your particular
school district, given that education policy is usually made on a
local level:
The X School District should require English classes to read a
book dealing with
disability because the conversations these books raise help to
reduce bullying and
encourage inclusion.
Could you even focus on an age target, like middle school?
In terms of counter arguments, have you considered teacher

15. workload? They already
have so much to do. Also, what about kids learning to problem
solve? The organizer
flows, but I’m wondering why you picked it? You almost
outlined within it. Why didn’t
you just use an outline?
Overall, you’re on a good path. I can’t wait to see the next step!
Viv