Lesson Plan:

Lesson Objectives:

Students discuss and develop ideas, perspectives and arguments based on an essential question determined by the students or the teacher.

Students make assertions based on reading, and support assertions with specific proof from the text.

Students demonstrate understanding of plot, character, theme in literary works.

Students make thematic and conceptual connections between works we've read and ideas we've considered.

Procedure:

Set up: Arrange desks or chairs into an inner and an outer circle. Direct half of the students to seat themselves in the inner circle, and half on the outer. Leave two empty seats opposite each other on the inner circle. These "hot seats" should be easily accessible to students seated on the outer circle.

Establish Norms: Students generate, then agree, by consensus, to a set of norms designed to help cultivate a safe, honest, and respectful discussion of ideas.

Prewriting: Students note initial thoughts, comments, questions and / or relevant quotes. (2-3 minutes)

Partner Discussion: With an emphasis on listening, students pair up to discuss the products of their prewriting. (2-3 minutes)

Partner Presentations: In turn, inner circle members present, as accurately and completely as possible, the ideas of their partners. (5-10 minutes)

Open discussion with "hot seats"

Based on comments made during partner presentations, inner circle students discuss the ideas. Those seated on the outer circle for the first half of the discussion may, if they choose, move to a hot seat to contribute to the discussion. (15-20 minutes)

For the second half of the discussion, students seated on the outer circle exchange seats with those who have begun on the inner circle.

Closing comments: All students write down a closing comment on the discussion. Each student on the inner circle presents his or her closing comment to the group. (5-10 minutes)

Time Considerations: In 50 minute periods, I recommend devoting two days to the discussion. One half of the class participates from the inner circle one day, the other half the next day.