Holding Class Discussions To Be Followed By Writing

[Mema]

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته



HOLDING CLASS DISCUSSIONS TO BE FOLLOWED BY WRITING

Class discussions can be held for several reasons: you may be trying to introduce a concept, or analyzing an issue. You may be analyzing a reading text using critical reading techniques, or you may be critiquing a sample essay. Most teachers feel that when students participate and continue a heated discussion for a prolonged period of time, student motivation is high and this benefits the teaching of our subject. However, apart from giving students opportunity to practice their skills of conversation, these discussions should lead to writing activity in a writing class. In this case, planning the discussion, focusing on the topic of discussion and determining the role of the teacher in the discussion become important.

• Planning ahead: The teacher must decide what her goals are in holding the discussion. In other words, is the goal

· To introduce a concept

· To analyze an issue
· To prepare students for writing?

• Planning the environment of the discussion: The teacher, then, must decide in which conditions she is going to hold the discussion. That is, is she going to hold a whole class discussion or is she going to divide the class into groups or pairs?

The format may be:
Whole class discussion where all the members of the class are invited to participate
Debate where the class is divided into groups with opposing views, and asked to voice their opinions
Group discussion where the students are divided into several groups, and hold the discussion within their own group
Pair work where student pairs exchange ideas and opinions
Role play where students are assigned or select roles themselves, and voice opinions according to their adopted roles

• Focusing: Students can easily stray away during a discussion. Then, the teacher must ask herself the questions:

· How much of that will I permit?

· How do I bring them back?
· Will I warn those who diverge?
· Shall I apply tighter control?

• Organizing: While the discussion continues, the teacher should help students organize their ideas by keeping track of issues discussed, and points raised. One way to do that is writing them down on the board.

• Summarizing: After the discussion is over, the teacher should summarize and clarify issues, going over the notes with the students.

• Giving clear instructions as to what the writing assignment is: The students should be clear about what the writing task is, and how they are going to accomplish it.