Discussion+Continuum

Discussion Continuum
Section 7.2 (Instructional Strategy 6)

This strategy helps students visually place a range of views and opinions. It also gets students excited about justifying and expressing their own points of view as well as hearing what others on the continuum have to say. Being able to both state and defend one's views is a valuable skill and very applicable to literature as the author's opinion and reader's opinion might be influencing reactions to the text.
 * Rationale:**

1. Give students opposite statements regarding textx or subjects in the content area to take a stance on. An example from //Romeo and Juliet// might be: - Friar Lawrence was completely responsible for the deaths of the two lovers. - Friar Lawrence had nothing to do with the death of Romeo or Juliet as it was all up to fate. 2. Write the two statements on opposite ends of a line. This could be done on the ground, a chalkboard, a whiteboard, or just at opposite ends of the classroom. 3. Have students come up to the Discussion Continuum and write their initials at the points on the line that best describe where on the perspective their opinions lie. If you are just using opposite ends of the classroom you can also have students stand where they think their opinion would be on the spectrum. 4. If the students are not already in a line representing their beliefs you can have the get into one then split into smaller groups (either by similar or differed opinions) and discuss. Have students use the text to support their views so it does not get to be too personal. 5. Invite students to share their beliefs with the entire class. At the end, provide students with the opportunity to change where they stand on the Discussion Continuum if they would like.
 * Instructions:**

This is a great tool when discussing texts and materials that might be controversial. For instance, if you were examining a play like //A Raisin in the Sun// you could potentially discuss racial tensions and issues by using opposite statements about the time period of America in the 1950's and who students believe are in the "right".
 * Applications for Language Arts:**