Peer-to-peer-talk in whole-classroom discussions

We observed stretches of peer-to-peer-talk during teacher-guided whole-classroom discussions aimed at sharing perspectives in Dutch Language and Literature lessons. This conversation-analytic study zooms in on how these stretches of peer-to-peer-talk emerge. Students are mainly found to respond to each other with challenges and assertions. A challenge is formulated as a wh-question - imperative, interrogative, declarative or phrasal - and is used for questioning the given response rather than obtaining information. An assertion is used to express a point of view and is formulated in two ways: as personal opinion, formulated in I-perspective, and as statement, formulated in second person singular or by the use of ‘generic you’. Both a challenge and an assertion subsequently elicit a student contribution. A challenge mostly provokes a contribution in which a student expresses to stick to his/her point of view. An assertion mostly provokes a subsequent assertion in which agreement or disagreement is expressed. This study reveals that students work on one another's contributions from moment to moment in interaction. The insights from this study can support teachers in encouraging dialogue during whole-classroom discussions.