KS3 · English

Joining a class discussion

Someone speaks and the class waits for you. "Yeah." is the easy answer, and it kills the conversation. Here is how to do better.

English · Spoken language

Agree, build or challenge?

Maya says: "I think we should have a longer lunch break." Sort each reply into the move it makes. Watch out for the ones that stop the discussion dead.

Still to sort

Agree (0)

You back the comment and say why.

Where the line is: Agreeing is similar to building, but it stays with the comment. Building takes the point on a slightly different route.

Build on (0)

You take the comment further.

Where the line is: Building on is similar to agreeing, but it takes the point on a slightly different route, developing the comment further.

Challenge (0)

You question the comment in an effective way.

Where the line is: A challenge gives a reason or asks a real question. A bare "I don't agree." is not a challenge.

Dead end (0)

A bare yes, no, "I agree" or "I don't agree".

Where the line is: These do not keep the discussion flowing, because they give nothing to respond to. A sentence starter gives you the chance to add evidence or an example.

9 of 9 still to sort.

Every time someone speaks, you get a move. Pick the right one.

Watch out: A reply with a reason is not automatically a build. Ask whether it stays on the same route as the comment or takes the point somewhere slightly different.

Where people slip

What does "building on" actually mean?

A classmate says: "I think we should walk to school more often." Amir replies: "Expanding on this, I would add that walking together could be a good way to chat before lessons."

Amir said "Expanding on this". Which idea is closest to what you think building on means?
How sure are you?

Listen in

Spot the features in a real discussion

A class discussion about starting a gardening club

Priya: I think the school should start a gardening club. Last year, Year 8 grew tomatoes and every one sold at the summer fair.

Tom: Expanding on this, I would add that the tomatoes show we could grow herbs too. We could also—

Lena: But I don't want to garden in the rain!

Priya: Lena, let Tom finish.

Tom: Thanks. We could sell the herbs at the fair as well.

Lena: Sorry, Tom. I see it differently because we only have one small flower bed.

Question 1 of 3

Where does a speaker interrupt instead of waiting for their turn? Tap the words.

Tap the words in the passage that prove your answer.

One statement, two adverbs

Undeniably…vsArguably…

Same statement. Different opening word. Read across.

Focus

The statement

Undeniably…

"Undeniably, a longer lunch break would help everyone."

Arguably…

"Arguably, a longer lunch break would help everyone."

The insight

Nothing changes except the first word, yet the speaker sounds different.

How far the speaker agrees

Undeniably…

Absolutely. Not just agreeing, but saying they agree.

Arguably…

Agrees, but not absolutely.

Wiggle room

Undeniably…

None.

Arguably…

A little.

Tone

Undeniably…

Certain.

Arguably…

Shaded.

Your turn

Write three replies

A classmate says: "I think our class should have a reading hour every Friday." Write three replies in Standard English: one that agrees, one that builds on the comment and one that challenges it effectively. Use a sentence starter in each and add a reason or example. [6 marks]

0 words · your answer stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED

A quick recap of today's lesson.

Agree, build on or challenge, and never just say "yeah".

What you need to know

  • In an effective discussion you take turns, which means not interrupting the other speaker.
  • Have a goMia jumps in halfway through Dev's sentence. "I wasn't interrupting," she says, "I was just enthusiastic!" Which feature of an effective discussion did she skip?

    Taking turns.

    Taking turns means not interrupting the other speaker, however keen you are to speak.

  • You develop your ideas, using evidence or examples to support the points you make.
  • You respond to the other speaker: listen to what they say, as well as thinking about your own points.
  • When someone speaks, you can respond in one of three ways: agree, build on or challenge their comment.
  • To agree, try "I agree because" or "I share the same viewpoint because".
  • To build on a point, try "Expanding on this, I would add that" or "Another aspect to consider would be".
  • To challenge a point effectively, try "I see it differently because" or "It's worth questioning whether".
  • Have a goA friend says, "Cats are better than dogs." You want to disagree politely and give a reason. Which opening fits: "I see it differently because" or "Expanding on this, I would add that"?

    "I see it differently because".

    Your starter has to match your move. "Expanding on this" builds on the point rather than challenging it.

  • Building on is similar to agreeing, but it takes the point on a slightly different route, developing the comment further.
  • Avoid bare yes, no, "I agree" or "I don't agree": they do not keep the discussion flowing. Starters let you add evidence or an example.
  • An adverb shows how far you agree. "Undeniably" means absolutely. "Arguably" leaves a little wiggle room.
  • Have a goYour classmate says, "Pizza is the best school lunch." You like it, but would not say it is the best for everyone. Undeniably or arguably?

    Arguably.

    "Undeniably" says you agree absolutely. "Arguably" leaves a little wiggle room.

The big picture

In a good class discussion you take turns, support points with evidence or examples and respond to what you have just heard. Every time someone speaks you can agree, build on or challenge their comment, using a sentence starter and a reason, and you can use adverbs such as "undeniably" and "arguably" to show how far you agree.

Key points

1Effective discussions take turns (no interrupting), develop ideas with evidence or examples, and respond to what the other speaker says.
2You can respond to a comment by agreeing, building on it or challenging it in an effective way.
3Sentence starters help each move: "I agree because", "Expanding on this, I would add that" and "I see it differently because" are three of the six.
4Building on is similar to agreeing, but it takes the point on a slightly different route, developing it further.
5Bare yes, no, "I agree" and "I don't agree" do not keep a discussion flowing. Add evidence or an example.
6"Undeniably" shows absolute agreement. "Arguably" leaves a little wiggle room.
7Use Standard English confidently in classroom discussion.

Worked example

Problem

Jo says: "I think our school should have a quiet room." Your first idea is to reply "I agree." Turn that into a reply that keeps the discussion alive.

⚠ Watch out

Thinking that building on a comment means the same as agreeing with it. They are similar, but building takes the point on a slightly different route and develops it further. Another trap is the bare "I agree." or "No.", which does not keep the discussion flowing.

🧠

Memory hook

Last word, then move, then starter, then reason: listen for the last thing said, choose agree, build or challenge, grab the starter that fits, and finish with "because".

✓

Check yourself

Imagine someone says "Yeah, fine." in reply to a classmate. Change it into one sentence that starts with a sentence starter and adds a reason. Which move did you pick, and which starter?

Flashcards

(12)
What are the three ways to respond to someone in a discussion?
Agree with their comment, build on their comment, or challenge their comment in an effective way.
What does taking turns mean in an effective discussion?
Not interrupting the other speaker.
What do effective discussions use to support the points being made?
Evidence or examples.
What does responding to the other speaker involve?
Listening to what they say, as well as thinking about your own points, so that you engage with what they say.
Which starters help you agree?
"I agree because" and "I share the same viewpoint because".
Which starters help you build on a point?
"Expanding on this, I would add that" and "Another aspect to consider would be".
Which starters help you challenge a point?
"I see it differently because" and "It's worth questioning whether".
How is building on different from agreeing?
Similar, but building takes the point on a slightly different route, developing the comment further.
Why avoid a bare "I agree." or "No."?
They do not keep the discussion flowing. Starters give the chance to add evidence or examples.
What does "undeniably" show at the start of a statement?
The speaker absolutely agrees. They are not just agreeing; they are saying they agree.
What does "arguably" show at the start of a statement?
A little wiggle room: the speaker is not saying absolutely that this is the way it is.
Which kind of English should you use confidently in classroom discussion?
Standard English.

Tap any card to flip it, or use Study as deck to go through them one at a time. In the full lesson these run as a spaced-repetition deck — you rate each card Hard, Good or Easy and the tricky ones keep coming back until they stick.

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