English Composition 1
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Using WebBoard: Reading Messages
As explained on the Understanding Conferences page, clicking on the plus sign next to a topic title expands the topic to reveal a list of messages.
However, clicking on the title of the topic, not on the plus sign, allows you to access and read the messages posted under that particular topic (illustrated at right).
For example, clicking on the topic "Discussion of Thoreau's Essay" reveals the messages posted under that topic, as illustrated by the image below. The messages open up on the right side of the screen.
Again, when you click on a topic title, all of the messages posted under that topic will open in the right screen. On your screen, you will see the first message posted under that topic, and perhaps an additional message or two. To view more messages that have been posted under the topic name, simply use the scroll bar (at the far right of the WebBoard screen).
Notice that each message includes the topic title and conference title under which the message was posted, the message number and total number of messages under the particular topic, the name of the person who posted the message, and the date and time that the message was posted.
Clicking on the title of the topic allows you to read all of the messages posted under that topic, but you can also click on the plus sign next to a topic title, expand the list of messages under that topic, and then go directly to a specific message.
Notice that the last message titled "Discussion of Thoreau's Essay" is not lined up evenly with the others. This is because the first four messages were written as replies to the original questions posted by the instructor, while the fifth message, written by Waylon Smithers, was posted as a reply to the message written by Ned Flanders. Those message titles that begin to the far left (the messages by Lisa, Barney, Edna, and Ned) are messages in response to the original message posted by the instructor (Randy Rambo). A message title that begins a little to the right indicates a comment in response to an earlier message by another student.
If you were to click on a message title within the list of messages, only that message and any replies to it would open on the right side of the WebBoard screen.
For example, clicking on Ned's message would open up both Ned's message and Waylon's reply to Ned's message, as illustrated below.
Students will sometimes write replies to the original posting or questions, but they will send their responses in the form of replies to specific messages from other students. The messages still get posted under the correct topic area, but they appear in the list of topic titles as if they are responses to other posted messages. In general, it's best to click on the topic title to view all messages posted under that topic. You can then scroll down through the messages and read different messages from other students or easily located a specific message from someone else.
Don't worry if some of this information seems confusing. Once you have a little practice using WebBoard, you should have no problem locating and reading messages.
For information on how to write your own messages in WebBoard, see Writing Messages.