diff --git a/common/static/common/templates/discussion/thread-response-show.underscore b/common/static/common/templates/discussion/thread-response-show.underscore
index fc227aca2f..29cbd233d8 100644
--- a/common/static/common/templates/discussion/thread-response-show.underscore
+++ b/common/static/common/templates/discussion/thread-response-show.underscore
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<header class="wrapper-response-header">
+<header class="response-header">
   <div class="response-header-content">
     <%= author_display %>
     <p class="posted-details">
diff --git a/common/static/common/templates/discussion/thread-show.underscore b/common/static/common/templates/discussion/thread-show.underscore
index bf8aab3bdc..5055f5be29 100644
--- a/common/static/common/templates/discussion/thread-show.underscore
+++ b/common/static/common/templates/discussion/thread-show.underscore
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <div class="discussion-post">
-    <header class="wrapper-post-header">
+    <header class="post-header">
         <% if (!readOnly) { %>
             <div class="post-header-actions post-extended-content">
                 <%=
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/discussion/_mixins.scss b/lms/static/sass/discussion/_mixins.scss
index cc8861bf59..482e8d3a9f 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/discussion/_mixins.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/discussion/_mixins.scss
@@ -43,16 +43,16 @@
 @mixin discussion-wmd-preview-container {
   @include border-radius(0, 0, $forum-border-radius, $forum-border-radius);
   box-sizing: border-box;
-  border: 1px solid $gray-l1;
+  border: 1px solid $forum-color-border;
   border-top: none;
   width: 100%;
-  background: $gray-l4;
+  background: $forum-color-background-light;
   box-shadow: 0 1px 3px $shadow-l1 inset;
 }
 
 @mixin discussion-new-post-wmd-preview-container {
   @include discussion-wmd-preview-container;
-  border-color: $gray-d3;
+  border-color: $forum-color-border;
   box-shadow: 0 1px 3px $shadow-d1 inset;
 }
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
 @mixin discussion-wmd-preview {
   padding: ($baseline/2) $baseline;
   width: auto;
-  color: $gray-d3;
+  color: $forum-color-background-light;
 
   ol, ul { // Fix up the RTL-only _reset.scss, but only in specific places
     @include padding-left($baseline*2);
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/discussion/utilities/_shame.scss b/lms/static/sass/discussion/utilities/_shame.scss
index 31f1713ede..253cef89b7 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/discussion/utilities/_shame.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/discussion/utilities/_shame.scss
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ li[class*=forum-nav-thread-label-] {
 // -------
 .discussion-module {
 
-  .wrapper-post-header {
+  .post-header {
     margin-bottom: 0 !important;  // overrides default header styling
     padding-bottom: 0 !important;  // overrides default header styling
 
@@ -135,3 +135,17 @@ li[class*=forum-nav-thread-label-] {
     }
   }
 }
+
+// overrides courseware styling to keep views consistent everywhere
+.discussion-article {
+  .response-header {
+    line-height: 1 !important;
+    font-size: $forum-base-font-size !important;
+    margin-bottom: 0 !important;
+    padding-bottom: 0 !important;
+  }
+
+  p {
+    margin-bottom: 0 !important;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/discussion/views/_response.scss b/lms/static/sass/discussion/views/_response.scss
index ee465cd8c1..bf9c7dd587 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/discussion/views/_response.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/discussion/views/_response.scss
@@ -42,8 +42,7 @@
 }
 
 // +base - single response element
-.container .discussion-response {
-
+.discussion-response {
   .response-header-content {
 
     // CASE: larger username for responses 
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/discussion/views/_thread.scss b/lms/static/sass/discussion/views/_thread.scss
index 20ab26f958..7570e9e426 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/discussion/views/_thread.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/discussion/views/_thread.scss
@@ -16,7 +16,10 @@
     .post-header-actions {
         @include float(right);
     }
+}
 
+// post article
+.discussion-article {
     .posted-details {
         @extend %t-copy-sub2;
         margin: ($baseline/5) 0;
@@ -129,7 +132,9 @@
 }
 
 .discussion-response .response-body {
-    @include padding-right($baseline); //ensures content doesn't overlap on post or response actions.
+    @include padding(($baseline/2), $baseline, 0, 0); //ensures content doesn't overlap on post or response actions.
+    margin-bottom: 0.2em;
+    font-size: $forum-base-font-size;
 }
 
 // +post - individual element styling
@@ -221,11 +226,6 @@
                         font-size: $forum-large-font-size;
                     }
                 }
-
-                .response-body {
-                    margin-bottom: 0.2em;
-                    font-size: $forum-base-font-size;
-                }
             }
 
             .discussion-reply-new {