Discussing events, ideas, and plans is a very human activity—nearly everyone does it. You might have discussed with your friends what you did over the summer or where you plan to go for the weekend. You might talk about a favorite online video, sharing what you liked and disliked about it. These kinds of discussions are fun because you learn something new, hear what your friends think, and sometimes even realize something about yourself.
The collaborative discussions you join at school should also be both fun and informative, but learning to enjoy them can take some practice. Use the questions below to practice thinking about how you would respond to several different situations.
If someone in your discussion group responds to your idea by saying “No, that’s not true,” what should you do?
- Insist that your ideas are better.
- Ignore the person and keep talking.
- Back up your view with proof.
Remember that there are no right or wrong opinions in a collaborative discussion. Still, you should be able to support your ideas with evidence.
Remember that there are no right or wrong opinions in a collaborative discussion. Still, you should be able to support your ideas with evidence.
Remember that there are no right or wrong opinions in a collaborative discussion. Still, you should be able to support your ideas with evidence.
Carli has just stated that she thinks Stacey is a weak character. What should you do to further the goals of the discussion?
- Ask her why she thinks so.
- Ask her to describe Stacey.
- Ask her which character she likes better.
Asking questions can help people clarify what they are trying to say, which leads to better understanding and new ideas.
Asking questions can help people clarify what they are trying to say, which leads to better understanding and new ideas.
Asking questions can help people clarify what they are trying to say, which leads to better understanding and new ideas.
If someone makes a statement that you don’t agree with, what should you do?
- Try to think about something else for a while.
- Reject the idea immediately and forcefully.
- Carefully consider what the person has to say.
Keeping an open mind is an important part of a discussion.
Keeping an open mind is an important part of a discussion.
Keeping an open mind is an important part of a discussion.
While a group member is explaining ideas, what should you be doing?
- thinking about what you want to say next
- listening carefully to make sure you understand her
- looking for weaknesses in her explanation
Listen and make sure you understand before you respond.
Listen and make sure you understand before you respond.
Listen and make sure you understand before you respond.
Which sentence starter shows that you are being considerate of someone’s opinion?
- I think I understand what you’re saying. You mean . . .
- In your opinion, what is the best . . .
- That’s an interesting perspective, but probably wrong . . .
One view is not more important than another in a collaborative discussion.
One view is not more important than another in a collaborative discussion.
One view is not more important than another in a collaborative discussion.
Summary
Questions answered correctly:
Questions answered incorrectly:
