Materials
One copy of the handout ‘Statements’, flip chart paper, pens, string or chalk (optional), space for people to move about.
Preparation
Prepare two posters – one says: ‘I agree’ and the other says: ‘I disagree’ – and put them on the floor at opposite ends of the room, so that people can form a straight line between them. (You may want to draw a chalk line between them or use a piece of string). Choose statements from the handout which you want to discuss.
Exercise
– Explain that you are going to read out a series of statements that the participants may agree with to a greater or lesser extent.
– Point out the two extreme positions – the posters stating ‘I Agree’ and ‘I Disagree’. Explain that people may occupy any point along the (imaginary) line, but that they should try to position themselves, as far as possible, next to people whose views almost coincide with their own. Brief discussion is permitted while people are finding their places!
– Read out the statements in turn.
– Stimulate reflection and discussion. Ask those at the endpoints to explain why they have occupied these extreme positions. Ask someone near the center whether his/her position indicates the lack of a strong opinion or lack of knowledge.
– Allow people to move their position as they listen to each other’s comments.
– When you have gone through the statements, bring the group back together for the debriefing.
Debriefing
Begin with reviewing the activity itself and then go on to discuss what people have learnt:
- Were there any questions that people found impossible to answer – either because it was difficult to make up their own mind, or because the question was badly phrased?
- Why did people change positions during the discussions?
- Were people surprised by the extent of disagreement on the issues?
- Do you think there are ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ answers to the different statements, or is it just a matter of personal opinion?
- Might it ever be possible for everyone to reach an absolute agreement about these topics?
Recommendations
You may want to run the lining-up part of the activity relatively quickly, without giving much time for discussion between the various points, and then select two or three of the statements and discuss them in more detail with the whole group. However, it is worth stopping the activity at certain points in order to give people the opportunity to reflect both on some of the points and on their position relative to that of other people.
