'Creates and returns a request with params set, and configures
mock_request to return appropriate values.'

def send_request(self, mock_request, params=None):

    request = RequestFactory().get('dummy_url', (params if params else {}))
    request.user = self.student
    mock_request.side_effect = make_mock_request_impl(course=self.course, text='dummy    content', commentable_id=self.discussion1.discussion_id)
    return views.inline_discussion(request, self.course.id.to_deprecated_string(), self.discussion1.discussion_id)
