In a group discussion, which of these is the best example of a clarifying
question?
a. what are the main points of j. d. salinger's story?
o
o
b. what were emily dickinson's primary influences?
o
c. aside from john milton and homer, who is the greatest writer of
epics?
o
d. when you say that h. g. wells lacked genius, how are you defining
genius?

What inference can be made about the characters beliefs

Why is it important for students to establish some common values before beginning a discussion

Read the following excerpt from life on the mississippi by mark twain. no girl could withstand his charms. he "cut out" every boy in the village. when his boat blew up at last, it diffused a tranquil contentment among us such as we had not known for months. but when he came home the next week, alive, renowned, and appeared in church all battered up and bandaged, a shining hero, stared at and wondered over by everybody, it seemed to us that the partiality of providence for an undeserving reptile had reached a point where it was open to criticism. how does twain's use of understatement serve his purpose? be sure to use specific details from the text to support your answer.