STARTING AN ACADEMIC CONVERSATION

What is an academic conversation? How do you start one?

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Warm-Up

Look at the picture. What are these students doing?

Discuss Response

What do you think they are talking about?

Academic or Social?

Academic Conversations Focus on a school subject or

ideas

Often started by a teacher who asks a question about something you are studying

Sometimes, prompted by a student

Also referred to as an “academic discussion”

How do you begin an academic conversation?

Start with a statement about a school subject or idea.

Follow up with a question that can’t be answered “yes” or “no.”

Examples

Statement Follow-Up QuestionI think the main idea of this [book, film, article, etc.] might be ___________.

What do you think?

I think the author is trying to ___________.

What are your ideas?

I think ___________ is one of the lessons we can learn from ___________.

How do you feel about that?

Academic Conversation Tips

In summary …

- An academic conversation is a discussion about a school subject or ideas.

- A teacher often begins an academic conversation by asking a question about something you are studying.

- Follow-up questions should be questions that can’t be answered “yes” or “no.”

For Reference and More Practice …

Refer to the Starting an Academic Conversation Student Reference Sheet.

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