Teaching Political Science Sections

Controlling Your Section

You have a job to do, a certain amount of material that needs to be covered, a certain level of understanding that you need to achieve. While the students must be able to discuss the material and ask questions - you need to stick to your outline if you are going to give them the information they need. Do not allow a talkative student to dominate or redirect the discussion toward his or her own interests. The New Professor’s Handbooklists many strategies for dealing with problem behaviors. The following is just an excerpt from a larger list of specific problem behaviors and corresponding strategies to deal with each tactfully. See the original for additional information in this vein.

The Monopolizer...

...dominates discussions and takes up too much section time. You may have to interrupt to allow others to speak. Try saying something like.. "You have made some interesting comments, does someone else have something to contribute on this topic?" If you have the opportunity to preclude someone’s involvement before you throw the question out to the class, you may say .. "We have been primarily hearing from one or two people today, I’m interested in hearing from others on this question".

The Distractor...

...asks questions or makes comments that have nothing to do with the material currently being discussed. Nip it in the bud! Be direct, say something like.. "that question is interesting but not directly related to the material we are discussing, perhaps we can discuss it further after class." Or perhaps, "Your comment is interesting but off the point. I wish we had the time to discuss that here but unfortunately we have a great deal of material to discuss today".

The Questioner...

...asks question after question. Try turning it around and ask the questioner what he or she thinks you meant. Or you may simply say that the question will be answered later in the class or course.

The Apologizer...

...always prefaces a comment or question with an apology; "..maybe I should know this but..", or "this is probably a stupid question..", etc. You’ll need to encourage this person to stop apologizing – if not for their sake for yours! Respond to their doubt by saying something like.. "That is a very interesting point – exactly the kind of question that you need to ask." Or emphasize that if one person has a question others are probably confused as well.

If you have more serious problems with a student speak with the head TA, the graduate advisor, or someone at CTD.