Question

Please help meee -- Suppose a student contradicts a statement that she has made during a group discussion. Which of these is the best way to work toward resolving the contradiction?

A. "O.K., the character's motivation is a tricky topic. Let's move on to the chapter where the author describes the setting."
B. "The problem with that statement is that it's based on an article that is clearly biased. The author works for an oil company."
C. "It sounds like you're supporting two different sides of the issue. Let's look at how the research supports these points."
D. "I'm not sure we can trust that source. Can we find out a little more about who wrote it and when?"

Answer 1

The best answer is C.

Option C acknowledges the student has contradicted herself without being judgmental. It also allows for further inspection and discussion by having everyone think about the research and decide which contradictory opinion is the best one.

Option A totally changes the subject, which is not the best way to resolve the contradiction. Option B tells the student what to think instead of allowing her to arrive at her own conclusion. Option D does not bring the contradiction to the student's awareness.

Therefore, Option C is the best way to resolve the contradiction.