If you’ve ever seen a band or choir perform, you know that working together is an essential part of their success. What would happen if one person failed to sing her part or play her instrument? The song's effect on the audience would be very different from what the group intended. Working together is just as important during a collaborative discussion, but you may be a little unsure what part you’re supposed to play—especially if you don’t often discuss literature with other readers.
The ultimate goal of a collaborative discussion is for everyone who participates to gain a more complete understanding of the topic. To reach this goal, though, you and your classmates will need to focus on some smaller goals like the ones described below. Click each line below to learn about one goal of collaboration.
As you’ve probably guessed, collaboration requires working together. That means you’ll need to look for ways to cooperate with and help others in the group.
The point of a collaborative discussion is not to persuade everyone to agree with all of your ideas. Instead, you should try to help the group uncover a variety of different viewpoints so that each person in the group can decide which ideas make the most sense.
The goal of a collaborative discussion is a conversation—not a monologue. Everyone in the group should be expected to contribute ideas, comments, or questions. You can encourage others to share their ideas by asking questions that get them thinking. Don’t be afraid to speak up, and encourage others to do the same.
When collaborative discussions work well, each member contributes something of value. To make the discussion meaningful, however—and not a waste of everyone’s time—you need to come prepared to share not only your opinion, but also some reasons and examples to back up those opinions.
Do you understand the goals of a collaborative discussion? Use the activity below to find out.
Which sentence describes an important feature of collaborative discussions?
When you collaborate with others, you all work together to achieve a goal.
When you collaborate with others, you all work together to achieve a goal.
When you collaborate with others, you all work together to achieve a goal.
Which phrase does NOT describe a goal of collaborative discussions?
The goal of collaborative discussions is that everyone learns something, not that everyone agrees.
The goal of collaborative discussions is that everyone learns something, not that everyone agrees.
The goal of collaborative discussions is that everyone learns something, not that everyone agrees.
For a good collaborative discussion to occur, what must all members of the group do before the discussion begins?
When you are discussing a novel, such as Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, you need to have read the book and identified passages that help you explain your thoughts and ideas.
When you are discussing a novel, such as Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, you need to have read the book and identified passages that help you explain your thoughts and ideas.
When you are discussing a novel, such as Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, you need to have read the book and identified passages that help you explain your thoughts and ideas.
What is the primary goal of a collaborative discussion about a novel?
Listening to different viewpoints may convince you to change your mind or it may reinforce your own beliefs.
Listening to different viewpoints may convince you to change your mind or it may reinforce your own beliefs.
Listening to different viewpoints may convince you to change your mind or it may reinforce your own beliefs.
You got # out of # correct. Click the Retry button for another attempt.
You got a perfect score. Great job!
