Discussion Webs (Alvermann, 1991) encourage full class participation in the discussion of a topic. This strategy incorporates all language arts areas: reading, writing, speaking/signing, and listening/watching and can be used with upper elementary students through high school.
1. Select a story or article that presents conflicting opinions of a character’s actions or which deals with a controversial topic.
2. After the students have read the selection, introduce the Discussion Web and the focus question for discussion. For example, after reading an article on the war in Iraq, the focus question might be: Should Americans have started the war in Iraq?
Example of a Discussion Web Model:
3. Students work with partners, discuss the focus question, and present reasons for both sides of the issue. They determine the “yes” reasons for the focus question and write them in the chart. Then they determine the “no” reasons for the issue and write them in the appropriate column.
4. Have one set of partners combine with another set of partners, share, and discuss their discussion webs. They add additional arguments to both sides of the question and then formulate and write a summary statement.
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