Notes
Click on the small “Whole Class” link at the top of the page.  To post, scroll to the bottom of this page and click on the “Reply” button.

Purpose

Each module unit takes the task of writing a good essay and breaks it down into smaller steps.  In this discussion, we will share our thoughts on our readings for this unit by relating the contents to our experiences and prior knowledge.  By sharing our interpretations on the readings, we will generate ideas for a good Essay thesis.  Doing so will be the first step in drafting a good essay final draft since a strong thesis tells the reader what the essay’s main argument will be.   In our discussion, you will also asked to support your thesis ideas with evidence from our assigned texts for this module.  That evidence will also serve to help you put together a comprehensive outline for your essay in the next assignment.

Main Post Instructions

Write three or more paragraphs (at least 200+ words) on the following:

Paragraph 1

1. Define “intrinsic” and “extrinsic” motivation.   See Parenting for the Brain web article “Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Motivation–What’s the Difference?” (Links to an external site.) to learn more about intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
2. Then illustrate “intrinsic” and “extrinsic” motivation with your own personal example of each one.

Paragraph 2 

Listen to or Read

Happiness Lab Season 1, Episode 10 podcast “Making the Grade” (audio) with Dr. Laurie Santos or Making the Grade Transcript  Download Making the Grade Transcript.

•  Yale psychology professor Laurie Santos converted the content from her immensely popular class on the psychology Happiness into her Happiness Lab podcast in which she examines the scientific research that challenges mainstream assumptions about what makes us happy.

Reflection

Summarize the main ideas about intrinsic and extrinsic motivation provided in Happiness Lab and two more of the following readings:

• Parenting for the Brain web article “Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Motivation–What’s the Difference?”  
  In this Parenting for the Brain article, we’ll learn about the important distinctions between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.  As you read this article, think about why intrinsic motivation is so beneficial to extreme sports athletes in particular.
• Alfie Kohn’s “Rewards are Still Bad News (25 Years Later)”  
  Psychologist Alfie Kohn makes compelling arguments for why external motivation in the form of rewards and grades stifles happiness and creativity at all ages of life.
• Marcel Berger’s “What Motivates Successful Athletes” on the defining qualities of good athletes.
• HSC Core 2 Sport Psychology “Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation”  on characteristics of intrinsic as opposed to extrinsic motivation.
• Kendra Cherry’s “Extrinsic Motivation”  on some of the benefits of extrinsic motivation such as rewards and assessment

Paragraph 3   

1. Begin your third paragraph with a one sentence thesis that fully answers the following question: 
   
   Using examples from specific athletes’ flow experiences from our Essay 3 readings, argue whether you think intrinsic or extrinsic motivation is more capable of increasing an athlete’s peak performances.  Support your thesis with 2 reasons, all in one sentence.
2. Then support your thesis by providing examples from the stories of 2+ athletes featured in assigned readings, including Kotler’s Rise of Superman: Chapter 7 “Inner Flow” on world champion freediver Mandy-Rae Cruickshank and
   Chapter 10 “The Dark Side of Flow” on backcountry snowboarders Jeremy Jones and Travis Rice
3. End your main post with an interesting question for the class that stems from the ideas in your post.

Reply Posts (2 required, 50+ words each)

1. What parts of the other student’s main post could you identify with?  What parts did you like?  Explain why you liked those ideas.
2. Suggest improvements by referring to additional supporting examples from our class readings.  Or point out parts of the other student’s main post that you would like to see discussed in more detail, either with more explanation, clarification, or support.
3. End your reply post with an interesting question that is relevant to your discussion.

Grading

Requirements

• 1 main post (200+ words) that fully responds to Dr. Kwa’s prompt
• 2 replies (50+ words each) to others’ main posts
• Very Important:  You are required to end all of your main posts and replies with a question that is related to your thoughts in your post. 

Originality 

Please make sure to give credit to other students by name should you discuss their ideas.  If your discussion forum plagiarizes ideas or wording from another student’s post or an outside source, your post will not be accepted for credit.

Discussion Formatting and Other Important Tips

•  Main posts should be titled “Main Post”
to distinguish them from replies
•  Paragraph formatting: Divide your post into separate paragraphs.  Skip a blank line between paragraphs, and do not indent paragraphs (e.g. business letters).

•  Make sure to answer all parts of Dr. Kwa’s instructions for each discussion.

•  Avoid recopying Dr. Kwa’s questions and writing in a question and answer format.  
Write in well-organized complete paragraphs.
• Must show language respectful of other students and Dr. Kwa.  Disagreement is fine; hurtful language is not.  Flaming posts will be immediately deleted from the forum.
• Must be proofread and reasonably grammatically correct.  I recommend that you first write your post in Microsoft Word, save it, and then cut and paste it into the forum.

•  
• Remember to capitalize “I,” beginnings of sentences, proper nouns etc.
• Use proper punctuation, including periods at end of sentences.
• Avoid all capitalized letters in words since this looks like screaming in written form.
• Avoid run-ons and fragments.
• Avoid abbreviations used typically when texting or writing casual emails.
• Always spell-check.