Present your learners with a statement about an issue.  It should be a statement of opinion that some learners will agree with and some will disagree with. 

Step 1:    

Ask learners to say whether they agree or disagree with the statement, and to give a reason. Do not force any learner to respond: call for volunteers. 

Step 2:

When you have got several reasons from the learners, ask them to divide into two groups. All those who agree with the statement should form a group on one side of the room, and all those who disagree should move to the other side.   

Each group should choose the most important reason why they agree or disagree with the statement.  A spokesperson for each group should share this reason with the whole class. 

Step 3:

Ask the learners to return to their own places. When they are seated again, show them the agree/disagree chart below. Put up a copy of the chart and record the number of learners who agreed and disagreed in the “before” columns.

Step 4:

Point out to the learners that skillful thinkers always deliberately think about arguments for both sides before making decisions and that they may very well change what they think because of what they discover. Give the learners additional information to read, or ask them to find out more about the topic. You can also ask them to discuss the topic.

Step 5:

When this has been done, count the number who now agree or disagree and record this on the chart in the “after” columns. 

Step 6:

Divide the learners into groups of three. Ask each group to think of reasons why the numbers who agree and disagree have changed, and to discuss these. 

When this has been done, ask each group to share the most important reasons with the whole class. You should comment and give feedback on what the learners say, and add reasons of your own if necessary. 

Step 7:

Give each learner a copy of the chart, and ask them to go on using it as they study further topics.