Interpretive discussions are an effective pedagogical method throughout educational systems in classes of nearly every subject and grade.
[1][2] A major goal of pedagogical interpretive discussions is for students to delve deeply into texts in order to better understand their meanings.
In addition, students are expected to be able to engage in conversation about the meaning of texts with others whose perspectives and backgrounds may differ from their own.
Some consider that this includes calling on participants who are habitually quiet, even when they do not volunteer, to try to engage them in discussions and to encourage them to share their opinions and interpretations.
Fact-based questions tend to have one valid answer and can involve recall of texts or specific passages.
Evaluative questions ask discussion participants to form responses based on experiences, opinions, judgments, knowledge and/or values rather than texts.
Resolving basic or focus questions typically requires investigation and examination of multiple passages within a selection.