Round Table Discussions (Wednesdays)

An essential component of post-secondary preparation is being able to read, synthesize and appreciate writing that stretches beyond the academic intensity of a newspaper or magazine. Round Table Discussions are crucial to such development.

Beginning in the third week of class, every Wednesday will be designated a discussion on an assigned reading. The class will first complete a ten question multiple choice content based quiz. In small groups (depending on class size), you will then be discussing the reading. Each week, one individual in each group will be leading an academic discussion on the reading. Every student will be a leader two times during the semester.

In your presentation week, you will lead your group in a 45 minute discussion of the reading. The remaining 15 minutes will be a whole class discussion led by the group leaders and the instructor. You are responsible to ensure you have a grasp of the article, and are able to facilitate a critical discussion that helps all participants gain a richer understanding of the reading. Be creative! Engage your audience. Presenters should provide a one-page summary to their group before the discussion begins.

In preparation for your tutorial, the readings will fit into the specific unit of study at the time. This will provide you with a practical context that will help you connect to the theory discussed. While supplementary lessons / lectures are there to assist you, this does not mean you can get away without reading the article. It is very obvious from your verbal and written contributions if you neglected to study and understand the reading.

All of your readings will be available on Moodle and will vary in difficulty level. Please be advised that you will be expected to try and unpack the reading two or three times before tutorial. You cannot read it once and expect to understand everything. Reading is a skill - it is not an innate talent. You will be expected to practice this skill through repetition. Be aware that this means you will be expected to have a sophisticated understanding of the readings. There are very few people who can gain a skill without practice. You will find that the more practice with these readings, the easier they will become.

Expectations:

Student Leaders will:

1. Complete a one page summary to be handed out to group members for the presentation. This summary must be also be submitted to the instructor on Moodle.

2. Draft a list of at least 10 questions that encourage critical thinking processes for discussion within the group. These questions can be submitted to the instructor prior to the tutorial for assessment and constructive feedback

3. Complete a 1page reflection of the discussion. It must be handed in by the Wednesday following the week they led the discussion. The reflection should include an analysis of the discussion and an examination of what you liked / what was effective in the discussion and what you would change in the future.

NOTE: The article summary, list of 10 discussion questions and reflection should be attached in one document and submitted to Moodle.