Silent Discussion

At a Glance
Discipline
- Languages and Literature
Instructional Level
- College & CEGEP
Course
- Literary Genres or Literary Themes
Tasks in Workflow
Social Plane(s)
- Individual
- Group
Type of Tasks
- Discussing
Technical Details
Class size
- Small (20-49)
Time
- Single class period (< 90 mins)
Inclusivity & Accessibility
- Diversity of engagement
Instructional Purpose
- Consolidation & metacognition
Overview
In this activity, students deepen their understanding of a text through a written discussion. The goal is to encourage students to develop their analysis beyond the natural threshold of an oral discussion. Through this activity, students are exposed to different interpretations and aim to connect different points and perspectives to create a more comprehensive interpretation. They also gain an awareness of audience and practice supporting or refuting others’ arguments.
Students are in groups of 4-5. Each student is given a question or passage to analyze. They begin answering the question on a piece of paper. When they have made a point, they pass their sheet to the next person and receive a new question. They then continue the answer that was started by the previous student, and so on until they have added to all 4-5 discussions.
This draws on a socioconstructivist approach that allows students to work collaboratively to expand their understanding of a text.
It is a good idea to use this activity towards the end of a unit on a text, when discussion dies down or students feel like they have exhausted the points they can make on their own. A sustained writing exercise, the activity will usually take a good hour or more.
Instructional Objectives
Students will be able to elaborate on an argument and support it with additional evidence. They will also be able to analyze a text in a sustained and developed way.
Workflow & Materials
Activity Workflow
Applied Strategies
Published: 03/09/2024
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