1. starting An academic conversation
What is an academic conversation?
How do you start one?
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2. What are these students doing?
Warm-Up
Look at the picture.
What are these students doing?
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3. Discuss Response
What do you think
they are talking about?

4. Academic or Social?

5. 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”

6. 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.”

7. Examples Statement Follow-Up Question
I 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?

8. Academic Conversation Tips

9. 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.”

10. For Reference and More Practice …
Refer to the Starting an Academic Conversation Student Reference Sheet.
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