Everyone has an opinion

"Giving Reluctant Students a Voice" is a reminder that everyone has an opinion, and the challenge for teachers is creating effective, as well as various, avenues that allow students to express their views constructively and safely. In other courses, we've addressed the difficulty some students have speaking in front of large groups. On the flip side, we've noted that some students remain reluctant, if not deliberately disengaged, in small group discussions. Blogs force commentary, which I would argue always has the potential to be both dynamic and deep, if prompts are posed well. Moreover, you can't fake a response without knowledge of the material, i.e. no off-topic babbling. Within the English class, blogs are a logical extension of journals but far more compelling because they're interactive. Students are not writing for themselves nor for their teachers, but rather their peer group. It literally gives voice to everyone, without fear of being cutoff or misunderstood. That process and venue are what cultivate critical thinking, not to mention good writing!