Our Discussion Method
Based on the University of Chicago's method for discussing literature in high school and college classes, our guidelines, we believe, tend to lead to more fruitful and satisfying discussions.
- Two volunteer leaders plan a series of questions to start and encourage the discussion.
- The focus is on the work itself, not the author's life or the historical period (except to explain something that might be obscure). Also beside the point are critics' opinions, comparisons with other books, relevance today, or personal meaning.
- Of course, plot, style, character development, themes, structure, effects, and author's intent are great for discussion.
- We are supposed to hold back on expressing whether we liked the book until the very end of the discussion.
- We do not digress into personal news or socializing during the discussion. We do plenty of that before and afterwards.
Historic Documents
The original 1966 guidelines from Judy Brown are available in PDF.
Sample Questions: Members are invited to give copies of past discussion questions to Lynn Adams for inclusion here.
