Leading a discussion section can sometimes feel like a uniquely stressful teaching experience. The spontaneous, necessarily responsive nature of learning through open discussion can be a powerful teaching tool, but can also be a substantial source of stress. This can be especially the case when the discussion section will focus on or involve ethical subject matter. The following is meant to help guide you through the process of planning a discussion section, with a specific focus on the unique needs and challenges of discussions in ethics.
To begin, what kind of learning goals do you want your discussion section to work toward?
Below are five general types of learning goals. Click on the arrow to right of each learning goal type to see examples of specific goals of that type.
Identify and remember specific ethical concepts, questions, claims, and theories (from class or readings).
Learn context around ethical claims and theories.
Learn a range of ethical views on a given issue.
Identify their own personal values, principles, virtues, or choices.
Articulate differences between distinct ethical questions, claims, and theories.
Articulate relationships between ethical concepts, questions, claims, and theories.
Recognize the reasoning and motivation behind ethical claims or theories.
Recognize the reasons or motives behind their own values, principles, or choices.
Apply a general ethical theory to a particular issue or case.
Practice identifying ethical claims.
Practice identifying components of arguments for ethical claims.
Practice clearly communicating ethical claims and arguments in speech.
Practice understanding and responding to feedback.
Practice respectfully and effectively discussing ethical issues.
Defend or critique a particular claim or choice.
Defend or critique an ethical theory.
Defend or critique their own personal values, principles, virtues, or choices.
Provide an original defense or critique of an ethical claim or theory.
Modify an ethical claim or theory to respond to some problem.
Provide an original solution to (or even an original way of thinking about) a particular issue or case.
Click on the type title itself to see strategies for working on goals of that type.