Skip to content
PlayOwl

English · Grade 9

Discussion, Listening and Presentation

Learners study the thinking behind good talk. Using a transcript of students discussing “The Last Ferry,” they learn to ask questions that move a discussion forward, to paraphrase, build on and respectfully challenge ideas, and to summarize where a group agrees and disagrees. They listen critically to a student speech full of distorted evidence, then plan a clear, honest presentation of their own. Speaking practice is offered as optional, unscored activities.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 125 minutes
  • Discussion and presentation check: 10 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, choose a reply, highlight a text, match pairs, put in order and sort into groups
See plans Included with Family, Teacher and School plans. Open in PlayOwl

What learners will discover

  • Prepare for discussion and pose clarifying, probing and connecting questions that move it forward.
  • Respond to diverse perspectives by paraphrasing, building on ideas, disagreeing respectfully and summarizing points of agreement and disagreement.
  • Evaluate a speaker's reasoning and evidence, identifying exaggerated, unrepresentative or distorted evidence.
  • Plan a clear, logically organized presentation suited to its audience, with purposeful visuals.

Lessons

  1. Questions that move a discussion 6 steps2 practiceabout 30 min
  2. Build, disagree, summarize 6 steps4 practiceabout 30 min
  3. Listen critically: evaluate a speaker 6 steps3 practiceabout 32 min
  4. Plan a clear presentation 7 steps4 practiceabout 28 min
  5. Discussion and presentation check 10 questions at the end

Keep exploring

More 9th grade reading

Guide for grown-ups