Collegial Discussion Rules, Roles, and Elaboration

Question 1

Owen: "The pond froze three weeks later than usual this year." Which reply elaborates on Owen's point instead of merely agreeing?

Accepted Answer

"I agree, and page 4 lists a January freeze date for the first time."

Answer

"So the pond iced over about three weeks after its normal date."

Answer

"I agree, and the lake by my house is great for skating."

Answer

"I agree with absolutely everything Owen just said about the pond."

Question 2

Rosa's group has read an article about later school start times. Which question is specific enough to move the discussion forward?

Accepted Answer

"Which reason does the writer give for moving the start time to 8:45?"

Answer

"What did everybody in the group think about the article we read?"

Answer

"Is getting enough sleep important for students our age?"

Answer

"Should schools be allowed to change things like this?"

Question 3

Dev tells the group, "Most students in the study walked to school." No one has checked the study yet. What does a prepared participant do next?

Accepted Answer

Ask Dev which part of the study says that, then check the page together.

Answer

Accept the claim, since Dev states it with a great deal of confidence.

Answer

Change the subject to a different study the group read.

Answer

Repeat Dev's statement so the whole group hears it twice.

Question 4

A group assigns one member the role of note-taker. Which task belongs to that role?

Accepted Answer

Recording the key ideas each member raises so the group can review them.

Answer

Watching the clock so that every question gets a share of the time.

Answer

Calling on members and steering the talk back to the assigned question.

Answer

Making sure every member gets a turn to speak.

Question 5

A group has 20 minutes and four questions to cover. Which move belongs to the timekeeper?

Accepted Answer

Announcing at five minutes that the group should move to the second question.

Answer

Letting the first question run as long as the group wants, then checking the clock.

Answer

Writing down the reason that each member gives for the second question.

Answer

Calling the group back when the talk drifts from the second question.

Question 6

Which move belongs to the discussion leader rather than to another role in the group?

Accepted Answer

Bringing the group back to the question when the talk drifts to weekend plans.

Answer

Keeping a written record of the reasons that each member offers.

Answer

Signaling to the group that half of the allotted time has passed.

Answer

Settling every disagreement by announcing which group member is correct.

Question 7

A group is told to set a goal and a deadline before it starts. Which plan does both?

Accepted Answer

"Decide which of the three claims is best supported, and finish by 2:15."

Answer

"Keep talking about the article until the bell rings at the end of class."

Answer

"Say something about the reading, and see where the talk goes."

Answer

"Reread the whole article together, starting from the first line."

Question 8

At the end of a discussion, a group reviews the key ideas that were expressed. What does that review accomplish?

Accepted Answer

It records what the group settled and what still needs evidence.

Answer

It decides which member's ideas were the best ones.

Answer

It shows which member of the group ended up speaking the most.

Answer

It repeats the whole discussion again in the order it happened.

Question 9

Nell: "The writer's strongest reason is the cost savings." Which reply restates Nell's view before disagreeing with it?

Accepted Answer

"You think cost is strongest. I think safety is, because it is measured."

Answer

"No, safety is stronger, because the writer gives real numbers for it."

Answer

"I disagree with Nell, and the article backs up my reading of it."

Answer

"Cost is not important here, so that paragraph can just be skipped."

Question 10

A group is discussing an article about a plan for the town park. Which question best moves the discussion forward?

Accepted Answer

"What in paragraph 2 changed your mind about the writer's plan?"

Answer

"Did paragraph 2 change your mind about the writer's plan for the park?"

Answer

"What did everyone in the group think of the article?"

Answer

"Was the second paragraph the hardest one in the article?"

Question 11

Tomorrow's discussion covers an assigned article. Which student is prepared in the way the discussion rules mean?

Accepted Answer

Sofia read the article and marked two sentences she can point to.

Answer

Nate read the article and plans to say whether he liked it.

Answer

Wes skimmed the article and plans to recall details as they come up.

Answer

Bea read a short summary of the article that a friend posted.

Question 12

The group's notes say storms delayed the harbor repairs. Ivan says the repairs were never delayed. Which reply follows the rule about referring to evidence?

Accepted Answer

"Let's reread the sentence about the storms before we settle this."

Answer

"Ivan is usually right about anything having to do with the harbor."

Answer

"I remember hearing something like Ivan's version somewhere."

Answer

"Let's vote on which of the two versions the group believes."

Question 13

Ravi asks his group, "Did you finish the article?" Everyone answers, and no one has anything to add. What is the trouble with Ravi's question?

Accepted Answer

It can be answered yes or no, so it invites no reason.

Answer

It is too specific, so no one has anything broad to say.

Answer

It asks about the text instead of about members' opinions.

Answer

Only the discussion leader is allowed to ask questions.

Question 14

Kira: "The second reason is weakest, since no data backs it." Bo: "I agree, the second reason is the weakest one." Bo's reply elaborates on Kira's point by adding a reason of his own.

Accepted Answer

False

Answer

True

Question 15

A group's goal was to choose the best-supported claim by 2:15. At 2:10 the claims have not been compared. Which move best serves the goal?

Accepted Answer

Name the two claims still uncompared and use the last minutes on them.

Answer

Start again from the first paragraph of the assigned article.

Answer

Ask the teacher for more time before comparing any claims.

Answer

Have each member repeat the point that he or she made earlier on.

Question 16

Which note best records a key idea so the group can review it at the end?

Accepted Answer

"Cost reason is supported; safety reason still needs evidence."

Answer

"Everyone had a lot to say and the whole discussion went well."

Answer

"Marisol spoke, then Dev, then Priya, then Marisol again."

Answer

"The article we read was about a plan for the town park."

Question 17

Asked "Which detail shows the narrator is uneasy?", which response answers with elaboration and detail?

Accepted Answer

"She counts the exits twice, right before the storm reaches the house."

Answer

"She is uneasy the whole way through the story, from the start to the end."

Answer

"I could tell she was uneasy from the way the writer wrote it."

Answer

"The narrator does seem uneasy, so that must be the detail meant."

Question 18

Priya says the town should repair the bridge before the road. Which follow-up question asks her to elaborate?

Accepted Answer

"What in the report makes the bridge more urgent than the road?"

Answer

"Is the bridge in that town older than the road is?"

Answer

"Would anyone else in the group like to speak about this right now?"

Answer

"Are the bridge and the road both listed in the report?"

Question 19

Why does a group define its roles before the discussion starts rather than partway through?

Accepted Answer

So the timing and the record of key ideas are covered from the start.

Answer

So the leader can do all the talking while the others listen.

Answer

So each member only has to read the part of the article tied to his or her role.

Answer

So the group can agree on its answer before the talk begins.

Question 20

During a discussion, Hana says only, "I agree with Dev." What does the group still need from her?

Accepted Answer

The reason or the example that supports what Dev claimed.

Answer

A statement that Dev is a careful reader of the article.

Answer

A vote on whether the rest of the group accepts Dev's point.

Answer

A new topic, now that two members have said the same thing.

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Collegial Discussion Rules, Roles, and Elaboration

Ways to Play

Device Games: Students play on their phones

Blast Go

Board Games: Teacher-led, projected to the class

Like what you see?

Zombie Escape

Avalanche

Maze Blast

Cave Climb

Blast Out

Mystery Auction

Tour Guide

Food Truck Rush

Tug of War

Bug Blast

Alien Blast

Glacier Rush

BlastRace

BlastQuiz

BlastBoard

Seek & Destroy

Mystery Blast

Checkers

Texas Hold 'Em

Da Bomb

Castle Siege

Hot Potato

Market Mayhem

King of the Hill

Bank Heist

Top Corner

Collegial Discussion Rules, Roles, and Elaboration

Ways to Play

Device Games: Students play on their phones

Blast Go

Board Games: Teacher-led, projected to the class

Like what you see?

More like this

Zombie Escape

Avalanche

Maze Blast

Cave Climb

Blast Out

Mystery Auction

Tour Guide

Food Truck Rush

Tug of War

Bug Blast

Alien Blast

Glacier Rush

BlastRace

BlastQuiz

BlastBoard

Seek & Destroy

Mystery Blast

Checkers

Texas Hold 'Em

Da Bomb

Castle Siege

Hot Potato

Market Mayhem

King of the Hill

Bank Heist

Top Corner