Dale B. Fountain
Mount Tahoma High School
Tacoma, Washington
Students sit facing each other across the center of the room.
Students in the neutral zone sit at one end of the center area so that they can see both sides [e.g., the bottom of a “U” formation].
Students will address each other by their first names.
A student must briefly summarize the previous speaker's points to that speaker's satisfaction before he/she begins his/her own comments.
Think before you speak. Organize your thoughts and signpost. ( “I have three points; first…”)
After a student speaks, he/she must wait until two students on his/her side have spoken.
One speaker at a time; others are listeners.
The teacher can call time-out periodically to clarify, reflect on the process or content, or refocus.
Address the ideas, NOT the person.
One student from each team will provide a summary of the viewpoints presented during the discussion by his/her team.
A student in the neutral zone must take notes on both sides of the argument, and if his/her position changes, he/she must explain why he/she came to a new conclusion.
