Great literature discussions are a consequence of carefully crafted questions, interpretative questions that permit more than one response, and responses supported by specific evidence from the text. The discussion questions in a guide focused on Margret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale are designed to develop readers' critical thinking skills and to generate meaningful and engaging discussion.

Concepts

discussion skills, group discussions, preparing for discussions, socratic discussion

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Organize a district-wide professional development seminar in the shared inquiry approach
• Model the shared inquiry approach to crafting discussion questions for class members using the first several pages of the novel
• Ask readers to develop three interpretative questions and follow-up questions for each reading assignment

Classroom Considerations

• The Great Books Foundation offers professional development courses to train instructors in their Shared inquiry approach
• Class members should have experience with the shared inquiry protocols for discussions
• The seven-page guide includes background information about Atwood and her novel as well as the discussion questions

Pros

• The questions model the shared inquiry approach of beginning with a broad-based interpretative question and follow-up questions related to the initial query
• The questions for further reflection ask readers to make personal and global connections to the text

Cons

• None

Common Core

RL.9-10.1 RL.9-10.2 RL.9-10.10a RL.11-12.1 RL.11-12.2 RL.11-12.10a