Discussion Groundrules

Below you'll find a list of discussion guidelines devised by Sections 3 and 4 of Lives and Times (Spring 2009). We'll use these throughout the semester to ensure that our class discussions are as respectful, vibrant, and thoughtful as possible.

DOs

• Ask questions....questions are where our best, most sophisticated ideas begin.
• Let people finish their comments and thoughts
• Recognize that everyone has their own point of view, and you may have a different one.
• Learn that revising your perspective or reading is ok, as is staying true to your initial instinct.
• Be prepared: have evidence to support your points, ask questions, come to class having read actively (close reading) and thought about what you might want to say.
  
• Try to use eye contact and other forms of feedback (nodding, smiling) to engage with the student who is talking
• Encourage each other by asking follow-up questions
• Step up and mediate between two students if a discussion "disagreement" arises, try to show them how they might be saying similar things or help them understand each other
  

DON'Ts

• Allow one person to run/dominate a discussion (all voices are crucial!)
• Hold back...everyone's POV is important.
• Suggest that someone's idea is invalid, wrong, or (even worse) stupid
• Interrupt, laugh, make faces or provide other disrespectful forms of feedback
• Repeat. Strive, instead, to build on the previous comment and make connections.
  
• Get angry/emotional. Use evidence to keep discussions about the ideas, and recognize that difference of opinion is what allows us to learn from one another.