Save the Last Word for ME

 

Developed byDaniel Baron Daniel Baron and Patricia Averette  

Purpose

To clarify and deepen our thinking about articles we read.

Roles

Timekeeper/facilitator who keeps the process moving. The process is designed to build on each other's thinking, not to enter into a dialogue. Timing is important; each round should last approximately 7 minutes.

Total time

about 1/2 hour.  

The Protocol

 

1 –– Create a group of 4 participants. Choose a timekeeper who has a watch.

 

2 –– Each participant silently identifies what s/he considers to be the most significant idea addressed in the article.

 

3 –– When the group is ready, a volunteer member identifies the point in the article that h/she found to be most significant and reads it out loud to the group. The first person says nothing about why s/he chose that particular point.

 

4 –– The other 3 participants each have 1 minute to respond to that idea.

 

5 –– The first participant then has 3 minutes to state why h/she chose that point and to respond to his/her colleagues based on what he/she heard.

 

6 –– The same pattern is followed until all four members of the group have had a chance to have “the last word.”

 

7 –– Debrief the experience. Was this a useful way to explore the ideas in the text and to explore your own thinking? If so, why? If not, why not?

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 NSRF/ 5/02