Created by Francesco Crocco
This is a cooperative learning game that may be played verbally or in writing.
Objectives
1) The point of this game is to cooperatively build an idea that involves memory recall, argumentation, and applied learning.
2) The game also teaches players how to write a successful paragraph by giving each player a different role to play that corresponds to the rhetorical elements of a paragraph.
Setup
1) Assign a question or topic, or let the students choose one.
2) Make teams of four.
3) Assign each player a different role:
➢ Start: One person starts the process by stating or writing a main idea related to the topic. If this is done in writing, pass the sheet of paper to the next person.
➢ Support: The next person adds a few sentences that offer supporting details. These may come from facts, statistics, examples, analogies, logic, explanation, quotations, or some other means of support.
➢ Summarize: The third person sums up the main idea and draws all conclusions, thereby finishing the paragraph.
➢ Counter-Argue: The last person opposes the completed argument by offering a critical position. This stage teaches the players that the creation of knowledge is both a constantly unfolding process and a process of dialogue.
4) Play it again with a different topic. Assign the players a different role each time so that they can learn each part of the process by practice and imitation.
If you like, add the element of speed by putting two teams in competition with each other. The first team to successfully complete the process wins an award (you decide what it is).
