# Start a new topic

When the content of a forum is shown:

* click on the *New message* link,
* complete the *Name* and *Description* fields,
* advanced settings allow us to
  * score a discussion thread as a teacher and give it a maximum score. To do this:
    * select the “Mark this thread” box
    * set a maximum score to reflect the learners participation in a discussion thread,
    * enter or update the title of the corresponding column for the assessments tool,
    * give a weight to the participation in the discussions thread in comparison to the other components of the assessment tool.
  * receive e-mail alerts if an answer is added to the discussion thread,
  * set a discussion thread to appear on top of the threads list,
  * add an attachment to any message, together with a comment,
* Click *Create thread*

![](/files/-MWt4E2Wxq5TpA54Mipu)

*Illustration: Forum – Discussion thread*


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.chamilo.org/1.11.x/teacher-guide/communication__forums/start_a_new_topic.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.