Discussion Tips from UCSB Instructors
Tips provided by Dr. Abigail Droge and Dr. Chris Dean:
Ground the conversation in the text.
Thinking about the narrative “arc” of a discussion can be helpful -- you can start the session by discussing a specific passage and then build out to larger-scale questions about how our current social moment impacts the way we read this text, how reading this text might impact our current social moment, etc. Or you can start with students’ own experiences (which they are already experts in) and move into the text, etc, etc -- there are many different progressions that work well. Having an idea in advance of the discussion’s major “plot points” can be helpful in providing a loose framework, which can then still be flexible enough to respond to participants’ interests.
Other ideas:
Ask everyone to come to the meeting with a passage from the text. Ask 'Why did you choose this passage?"
- Say, “I have a passage that I want you to reflect on. “ Post in the chat, and have the participants take 3-5 minutes to reflect in writing.
- Ask how and why questions
- Or, ask yes and no questions followed by a “why” question
- Benefit of this kind of discussion is to understand perspective, so ask:
- Why did the story end this way?
- Why did the character make that/this decision?
Tips provided by Dr. Michelle Grue:
- Respect differences of culture, orientation, values, opinion and style.
- Do not criticize colleagues because of where they are in their idea development or their admission of prejudices, biases, and prior assumptions.
- Openly and honestly share aspects of your own experiences.
- Welcome disagreement and critique, as they provide opportunities to learn.
- Seek to understand first before trying to be understood.
- Encourage engagement; recognize that everyone has something to contribute.
- Be specific, give examples, and ask questions.
- Speak for yourself. Let others speak for themselves. Relatedly, as my late grandma would say, “the devil don’t need no advocate”; if you have a point to make, make it as yourself, not someone’s advocate.
- If something did not make sense, ask about it, as others may have the same question.
- Do not share discussions with others who are not in our community.
- Add to what has already been said.
E-Book to Facilitate Talking about Difficult Topics
It's Time to Talk (and Listen) by ISBN: 9781684032679Publication Date: 2019-07-01Conversations about controversial topics can be difficult, painful, and emotionally charged. This user-friendly guide will help you engage in effective, compassionate discussions with family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers about race, immigration, gender, marriage equality, sexism, marginalization, and more. We talk every day--and we often do it without thinking. But, as you well know, there are some things that are harder to talk about--especially issues pertaining to politics, culture, lifestyle, and diversity. If you've ever struggled in a conversation about a "controversial" topic with a loved one, work colleague, or even a stranger, you know exactly how uncomfortable and heated the discussion can become. And even if you are one of the lucky few that expresses themselves eloquently, how do you move beyond mere "lip service" and turn words into actionable change? This groundbreaking book will show you how to get to that important next level in difficult conversations, to talk in an authentic and straightforward way about culture and diversity, and to speak from the heart with tools from the head. Using a simple eight-step approach, you'll learn communication strategies that are supported by research and have been practiced in classrooms, work meetings, therapy sessions, and more. We constantly hear about friends and colleagues whose family members are not speaking to each other because of different political opinions, who've exchanged words that have mutually offended one another. If silence is one end of the continuum and verbal conflict anchors the other, how do we reach a middle ground? How do we take part in the "in between" spaces where both parties can speak and listen? With this book as your guide, you'll learn to navigate these difficult conversations, and take what you've learned beyond the conversation and out into the world--whether it's through politics, social justice movements, or simply expanding the minds of those around you.
The Circle Way
The Circle Way is a lightly formalized, lightly facilitated social structure that allows people to use circle process in a wide range of settings.
COMPONENTS OF CIRCLE What transforms a meeting into a circle is the willingness of people to shift from informal socializing or opinionated discussion into a receptive attitude of thoughtful speaking and deep listening that embodies the practices and structures outlined here.