Procedure

1. Present students with a specific claim or argument from a novel or event.

2. Have students identify and discuss the situation in which the claim or argument was made, who made the claim, what the interests and goals of the people or characters were, and what was at stake for each person or character involved.

3. Ask students to reflect on the given situation and think about all the varying points of view that people might have in that situation. As students share out various viewpoints, make a comprehensive list on the classroom board or screen.

4. Have each student choose a point of view from the list and consider how a person with this viewpoint might respond to the claim presented earlier. Would s/he/they think the claim is true? False? Uncertain? Why?

5. In a circle, have students respond to the claim dramatically, as if speaking from the point of view they chose.

6. After all students have had a chance to present their chosen viewpoints, have them consider everything they heard. What are their conclusions? Do they have new ideas or questions? What have they learned about different perspectives?