The following tips will help instructors and students overcome many of the potential "slippery banana peels" of online discussions.

1. Post in a timely fashion. Read and post every day over the week or two that a discussion is in progress.
2. When you post, start a new thread if your topic or point is indeed a new topic or point. If it isn't, post your remarks within another person's thread [click on reply while looking at the original message] that is similar to your original point. Don't just agree, however; go ahead and extend, elaborate, give examples, draw comparisons, make connection to your own lived experiences.
3. For each posting - including a Reply - write a new Subject Line that captures the gist of what you want to say. You also may want to make your Subject Lines catchy or humorous, although you don't have to.
4. Indicate paragraphing by skipping a line between ideas. Avoid excessively large "chunks" of text online for the sake of readability. At the same time, don't break up your text willy-nilly. Your paragraphing should reflect breaks in ideas or represents sub-points.
5. Don't be afraid to disagree and to challenge each other, but always be civil. Don't insult others or dismiss their views. When you realize that you heartily disagree, a good strategy is to be an active listener: that is, summarize what you "hear" others saying - without being sarcastic.
6. Use emoticons (little smiley faces and versions thereof) sparingly, if at all. If it's worth saying, it's worth spelling out.

Reference Monroe, Barbara. (2003, Fall). Fostering critical engagement in online discussions: The Washington State University Study. Washington Center News, 31-33.