Group Discussion Student Guide
Assignment Information
Purpose: After engaging in a range of discussions, evaluate participation as a listener
and speak through written responses.
Summary: In this assignment, you will use the reading assignments from this and previous units to discuss a topic of your choice. You will participate in three discussions: a discussion with a peer, a small-group discussion, and a large-group discussion.
Discussion Prompt
Choose a topic that is central to one of the texts that you have read in this course. For example, you might choose to discuss whether a character from one of the stories has what it takes to be considered a hero.
Assignment Instructions
Step 1: Choose a topic for your discussion.
a) Select a topic and text from one of the Read assignments for this quarter.
b) Brainstorm with your peers and teacher to decide on a topic that everyone can
discuss.
Step 2: Prepare for your discussion.
a) Gather your own ideas about your topic.
b) Review the text and look for relevant details, descriptions, quotations, and
examples that support your ideas.
c) Keep notes as you prepare so you can access your ideas and supporting
evidence during the discussion.
Step 3: Engage in a discussion with one of your peers.
a) Choose one peer to have a one-on-one discussion with you.
b) Ask your teacher for guidance about how long to spend discussing the topic. Keep track of time to make sure you and your peer have time to speak.
c) Explain your ideas about the text and topic to your peer. Remember to support your ideas with evidence from the text.
d) Listen to your peer’s ideas about the text and topic.
e) Ask follow-up questions to learn more about each other’s ideas.
Step 4: Engage in a discussion with two or more of your peers.
a) Continue your discussion by adding more peers to your group.
b) As a group, decide who will be the discussion leader, the notetaker, and the
timekeeper.
c) Allow each group member time to describe one rule that should be followed
during the discussion. As a group, vote on three rules everyone must follow.
d) Your teacher can tell you how long to spend on the discussion. Decide as a
group how long each person should be allowed to talk to make sure all group members have time to share their ideas and support them with evidence from the text.
e) Ask follow-up questions to learn more about one another’s ideas.
Step 5: Engage in a discussion with your class.
a) Ask your teacher for guidance about forming a class discussion. Your teacher will help assign roles for the discussion, establish the rules, and plan an agenda.
b) Take notes about the items on the Discussion Evaluation during the discussion.
Step 6: Write to evaluate the discussions.
a) Use your notes from the discussion to complete the Discussion Evaluation. Be sure to write in complete sentences and use appropriate grammar.
b) When you have completed your assignment, return to the Virtual Classroom and use the “Browse for file” option to locate and submit your assignment. Congratulations! You have evaluated your discussions.