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GUIDELINES FOR WRITING AND CONTRIBUTING TO DISCUSION TOPICS*
Use the following tips to develop forum topics that stimulate valuable and relevant discussions.

Choosing a Topic
Relevance: Ensure that discussion topics/questions are focused on climate change adaptation and fit well within the forum category chosen. If the topic spans across multiple categories (themes), you may wish to include it under the “General Topics” category.

Scope: In order to generate a focused discussion, choose a topic that is not too broad; on which additional discourse is needed; and which provokes different perspectives, diverse approaches, innovative thinking and/or constructive feedback.

Writing a Topic
Summary
In the Summary field, write a brief description of your discussion topic/query to show up in the list of Forum Topics.

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Opening: Introduce yourself and give a brief summary of your background and current work.

Background of the query or request: In a paragraph, provide background for your inquiry (e.g. description of the issue on which the question is based, of the obstacle or challenge you are facing relevant to adaptation, of an adaptation approach on which you want input, on written work on which you are requesting feedback). If necessary, you may attach a document for additional background information. You may also link to resources already posted on the ALM database by using the hyperlink feature with reference to the relevant ALM content page.

Question: Clearly state your question. You may wish to put this in bold to draw attention. For multiple-part inquiries, use bullets or numbers to clarify each part of the question.

Purpose of Inquiry and Target Group: Explain the purpose of the inquiry and how discussion responses will contribute to your work. Specify to whom your discussion question is targeted. If a specific target group does not apply, indicate that you welcome responses from all ALM users.

Discussion Timeframe: Indicate for how long the discussion will be open. If you do not intend to close the topic at any time, specify that the topic is “open indefinitely.”

Signature: Thank forum participants in advance for their input and sign with your name, organization, and country, and any additional information you wish to provide.

Managing and Promoting the Discussion
Security settings: If a discussion is intended to be confidential, you can classify the discussion as “Password Protected.”

Participation: Elicit and maintain active participation in your discussion through the following actions:

  • Promote your discussion topic by announcing it (with a link) in your relevant User Groups.
  • Invite specific members to join the discussion.
  • Respond to members’ comments with reply posts in the discussion stream. Thank participants for their contributions.

Topic closure: If you indicated a close date for the discussion, manage the discussion accordingly using the “Close this discussion” icon.

Participating in Existing Discussions
Background: Indicate your experience or background that has contributed to your opinion, point of view, approach, etc.

Comment: To ensure focused and productive discussion, read the full discussion topic and posted comments, and target your response specifically to the question(s) posed. To translate a discussion topic or response into another language, use the Google Translate function at the top of the page. If you have a comment that is only tangentially related to the forum topic and that could stimulate further discussion, consider writing a new topic centered on your comment.

Signature: Sign your comment with your name, organization, country and any additional information you wish to provide.

* We gratefully acknowledge FSN Forum (http://km.fao.org/fsn/) for their discussion guidelines from which these guidelines were adapted.