Pick Your Reply

Worksheet Description

The Discussion Stems worksheet provides students with an array of structured prompts to foster meaningful and respectful dialogue in classroom settings. It offers categorized sentence starters that aid in formulating responses that are coherent and thoughtful. The categories include ‘Agree,’ ‘Disagree,’ ‘Contribute,’ ‘Support,’ ‘Elaborate,’ ‘Challenge,’ ‘Paraphrase,’ ‘Clarify,’ and ‘Connect,’ each equipped with phrases to initiate or continue a discussion.

For instance, under the ‘Agree’ category, students find prompts that guide them to concur with a point while adding their understanding, such as “I agree, I also think that…” or “That’s a valid point. It explains…” Conversely, the ‘Disagree’ section provides a way to voice an opposing view without diminishing the other’s opinion, exemplified by stems like “I disagree, I think that…” or “That’s a good point, but…” The ‘Connect’ category invites students to relate their thoughts to others’ ideas or to their own experiences, thereby deepening the conversation. This worksheet is a vital tool in the development of students’ communication skills, encouraging them to engage actively and politely in debates, articulate their thoughts clearly, and respond to others in a manner that promotes a collaborative learning environment.