TED Talk Lesson - How to Disagree Productively and Find Common Ground

Lesson Plan for Synchronous Instruction

Overview:
Drawing on her background as a world debate champion, Julia Dhar offers three
techniques to reshape the way we talk to each other so we can start disagreeing
productively and find common ground.

Connection to the Curriculum:

NCA LOC #8: Utilize communication to embrace difference - Chapter 5 of ​Speak Up!​,
and LOC #9: Influence public discourse - Chapter 21 of​ Speak Up!​.

Objectives:
The student will:
1.) Watch the video;
2.) Independently answer a five question writing-to-learn activity;
3.) Participate in a group discussion based on the content of the video.

Aim of the lesson:​ Teach students how to productively disagree and apply Dahr’s
principles of debate to create dialogic communication in real life situations.

Content Aim Description Time Resources

1.) Warm up discussion: Prime the students to Students will share 10 Adapted to present the
“What are differences begin thinking of their opinions on min TedEd lesson plan.
people have?” “How can differences between characteristics that
differences lead to people and how this make people think
disagreements?” affects ideology and differently.
communication.

2.) Video: How to disagree Provide students with Julia Dhar offers 15 TED Talk by Julia Dhar
productively and find expert advice and three techniques to min
common ground. debate principles they reshape the way https://ed.ted.com/less
can apply to work we talk to each ons/m18TCiU9#watch
through differences other so we can
and conflict. start disagreeing
productively and
find common
ground.

3.) Independent
writing-to-learn activity.
Assess the students Five short answer 15
recognition and questions to get min
understanding of key students thinking
points from the video. about the content
from the video.
TEDEd Lesson Plan
created by Julia
McAlpine
4.) Group discussion: “What Allow students to learn Two question 15 TEDEd Lesson Plan
is a time that you have from their experience round table min created by Julia
changed your mind and how to apply discussion. McAlpine
about something and Dhar’s principles in
why?” “How can you use real life.
the principles of debate
in your own life?”

Resources:

Dhar, J., & McAlpine, L. (n.d.). Lessons Worth Sharing. Retrieved August 10, 2020,
from https://ed.ted.com/lessons/m18TCiU9/review_open Lesson based on the TED Talk
'How to disagree productively and find common ground' by Julia Dhar.
 WORKSHEET

TED Talk- How to Disagree Productively and Find Common Ground

Writing-to-Learn Activity

Based on the information provided in the video, answer the following questions:

1.) What is the foundation of debate?

2.) Why is finding common ground important to a successful debate?

3.) What’s an example of shared reality being used to persuade another

person?

4.) Why is it important to separate ideas from identity?

5.) What is the humility of uncertainty?