The Most Exhausting/Rewarding Discussion I've Ever Lead

Art by Bernie Wrightson

Last week I introduced Frankenstein to five consecutive classes of 12th grade AP students. I used a list of provided anticipation guide questions that delved into sticky issues like parental responsibility, genetic modification, the nature of good and evil, and the treatment of disabilities in America. I've run discussions where three students talk and the rest stare you down until you squirm and someone else shouts out, and I knew that I did not want this to be a three person discussion for an audience.

What I did, which worked beautifully, was I made a line down the classroom. The trick with an anticipation guide is to make everything an agree or disagree statement and to NOT allow anyone to rest somewhere in the middle. You have to pick sides, there is no abstaining from the vote.

The result was awesome. Every student had to pick a side, so when I pointed and called on someone to explain, they had already stated a position with their physical location; all they had to do was give a reason. The debate got intense and I had to be on 100% of the time. Some classes were more congenial than others. I had to moderate every moment, negotiating whose turn it was to speak and making sure that nobody got hurt feelings. When the discussion got too one-sided I had to think on my feet to play the devil's advocate.

I went home and I poured myself into pajama pants before collapsing on the couch for a two hour nap, but the intense exhaustion was worth it. By being on my feet and taking an active role in moderating each discussion, I was rewarded with a fully-engaged class that connected to the themes of the material we were about to start.

I encourage you to think outside the box when you lead discussions. How can you make it physical? How can you pull the quiet students out of hiding? Draw the line and force your students to have opinions. You'll be tired, sure, but it's pays off.