Top 10 Discussion Tips
1. Take turns. Don’t talk over someone or interrupt. Listen while someone is talking.
2. Track the speaker. Turn your body and your head toward whomever is speaking.
3. Name students and characters. Who is “she?” Who is “he?” Who are “they?”
4. Use evidence and page numbers. Read a little bit aloud to help us follow.
5. Avoid repetition. Listen carefully so that you don’t repeat an earlier comment.
6. Speak like a scholar: Refer to literary terms. Use your best vocabulary.
7. Make one clear and complete point; don’t ramble or leave your point unfinished.
8. Share the air – if you have already made 2 comments, do some listening. Be clear but
concise.
9. Be an active listener – look up and underline all points/ evidence shared in class.
10. Don’t get stuck. Help the discussion flow forward, not in circles or backward.
Types of discussion comments: Pick one and go for it!
1. Assertion: making an argument (can be argued for or against) using evidence.
2. Clarification: asking a question or restating something to clarify/ comprehend
3. Connection: relating a character, line, other story, or life example to the topic
4. Extension: adding to/backing up what someone else has said with more evidence
5. Concession/ counterargument: acknowledging another viewpoint, then offering a
contrasting opinion, perspective, or idea (respectful disagreement)
Clarifying
Could you give me your thesis in one
sentence?
Is it your position that…
To be clear, you’re saying that…
I’m confused when you say Z, Can you
elaborate?
Paraphrasing
Put another way, you’re saying…
So you’re saying that…
Is it fair to say that you believe…
I hear you saying that…
Agreeing
I concur with Y because…
Z’s point about X was important because…
The evidence for Z is overwhelming when
you consider that…
X and I share the same position.
Despite disagreeing about Y, I agree with Z
that…
Disagreeing
I view X differently because…
The evidence I’ve seen suggests something
different.
Some of X is fact, but some of it is opinion
as well.
I agree that Y, but we also have to consider
that…
We see Z differently.
Building On
Y mentioned that…
Yes–and furthermore…
The author’s claim that Z is interesting
because…
Adding to what X said,…
If we change Xs position just a little, we can
see that…
Summarizing
Overall, what I’m trying to say is…
My whole point in one sentence is…
More than anything else, I believe that…
*Discussion Tips / Comments composed by Ms. Laura Arrazolo
**“26 Sentence Stems For Meaningful Conversation in the Classroom” from
http://www.teachthought.com/learning/sentence-stems-higher-level-conversationclassroom/
*Discussion Tips / Comments composed by Ms. Laura Arrazolo
**“26 Sentence Stems For Meaningful Conversation in the Classroom” from
http://www.teachthought.com/learning/sentence-stems-higher-level-conversationclassroom/