Argue from the page, not the air

English · Speaking & Listening · ages 16-18

Name ______________________ Date ____________

What shape makes a strong answer to a discussion question?
- Point at the exact lines, say what they show, link back to the question
- Recite everything you know about the author
- Repeat the question back slowly
What should you open with in a seminar?
- A general view of the whole book
- A reading of one specific passage
- A story about your weekend
Answer the strongest version of a reading before disagreeing with it.
Circle one: True False
A classmate states a bold reading. What do you ask first?
- What evidence would prove it wrong
- How loudly it was spoken
- How old the speaker is
The discussion runs fast. How do you join it well?
- Talk over them with your own point
- Wait silently for your turn
- Name their idea, then add your passage or pushback
A passage proves you wrong. What do you say aloud?
- Pretend you always thought so
- Say which passage moved you and what you hold now
- Change the subject smoothly
How does Socratic argument help seminars?
- It trains you to defend a reading aloud under testing questions
- It teaches you to memorise cliff notes
- It rewards the longest speech
Which question best opens a seminar?
- Which line would you cut from the book
- What the author ate for lunch
- Which passage split the room and why

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Point at the exact lines, say what they show, link back to the question · Strong answers move from lines to meaning to the question asked.
A reading of one specific passage · Short grounded turns with a passage attached beat long speeches about the book.
True · Meeting the best version first keeps your reply honest and sharp.
What evidence would prove it wrong · Socratic questioning tests each claim in turn until only the grounded part stands.
Name their idea, then add your passage or pushback · Seminars reward listening chains, where each turn grips the last one.
Say which passage moved you and what you hold now · Naming the lines that turned you shows the room how evidence works.
It trains you to defend a reading aloud under testing questions · Claim-by-claim questioning is rehearsal for live seminar pressure.
Which passage split the room and why · Dividing questions force everyone back to pages with reasons ready.