Articulate Yourself

Worksheet Description

This Discussion Stems worksheet is a structured guide that aids students in articulating their thoughts and questions during discussions. The worksheet is strategically divided into four sections: Expressing an Opinion, Asking for Clarification, Predicting, and Paraphrasing, each providing a variety of starters to foster clear and effective communication. Starters like “I think/believe that…” and “It’s my understanding that…” empower students to express their perspectives confidently. Meanwhile, prompts such as “Can you explain that again?” and “I don’t understand…” encourage inquisitiveness and clarity.

The Predicting section invites students to engage with the material on a deeper level by making educated guesses and forming hypotheses, using starters like “I predict that…” and “I imagine that…”. Paraphrasing tools like “What you mean, then, is…” and “In other words, …” are crucial for ensuring understanding and demonstrating active listening. Overall, this worksheet equips students with the linguistic frameworks needed to participate actively and constructively in classroom dialogues, enhancing their academic discussions and collaborative learning experiences.