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Topic observation - when you create the forum/topic and designate it is to be graded, there is no gradebook entry. additionally, you cannot grade the topic without associating it with an item in gradebook. luckily, another part of the play was to simply create an items in gradebook, which I had already done. so I associated each topic with one of the gradebook items and THEN I could grade them.
Note: Verified in Windows XP as well 8/2/07
Nancy, by email July 24, chapter 66:
Topic observation - it isn't obvious to me that, in order to have the topic graded, it HAS to be associated with a gradebook assignment. when you're creating, you aren't asked for one. however, in order to grade you HAVE to associate it with one. which explains why, after creation, the forum item is NOT seen in gradebook.