Instructions

• Choose a short text or section from a text – an obviously controversial text is helpful for this activity.
• Print out copies and get students to read in class
• Individually students have to first summarise what the text is saying.
• Then, they have to reflect on how they feel about the text using the following questions as prompts
  1. What was your initial reaction to what you read?
  2. Is there anything that you agree with? What/Why?
  3. Is there anything you disagree with? What/Why?
  4. Can you think of any scholars who agree/disagree?
• Share ideas with person next to them.

 

What the activity achieves

• Develop paraphrasing techniques
• Develop an ability to critically think about the text and to share
• Develop an ability to link ideas of scholars to their own ideas.

Alternatives

• The students have to write down their reflections as a mini-essay and hand their responses to another student, who needs to add whether they agree or disagree with what is written and why.
• The students have to write down their reflections as a mini-essay and hand their responses to another student, who needs to provide feedback on the way in which the piece is written and structured.