How to disagree productively by Julia Dhar

How to disagree productively by Julia Dhar

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Bardzo mi przykro, ale lekcje na platformie The Blue Tree działają jedynie na komputerze lub tablecie.

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TRANSCRIPT

People argue because they feel strongly about their beliefs or perspectives and want to be heard. Sometimes it’s about proving a point, but other times it’s about defending what matters to them. Arguments can come from misunderstandings or differences in values, but they’re not always a bad thing. If handled the right way, disagreements can lead to better understanding and growth.

TRANSCRIPT

I don’t really think about arguments in terms of winning or losing. I guess it depends on the situation. Sometimes I feel like I’ve made my point clearly, but other times I realize that I’ve misunderstood the other person’s perspective. I try to focus more on finding common ground instead of just trying to ‘win’ the argument. That way, it feels like a win for both sides, not just one person.

Would the world be a better place if people knew how to argue productively?
TRANSCRIPT

Definitely! If people knew how to argue productively, the world would be a much better place. Arguments wouldn’t be about tearing each other down, but about genuinely trying to understand different viewpoints. We could solve problems more effectively and create stronger communities. Productive disagreement helps people see that it’s okay to have different ideas and still work together toward solutions.

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part one

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key language

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COMPREHENSION

  • What is the state of public discourse?
  • How do many arguments finish?
  • What is Julia’s life mission?
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part two

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key language

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COMPREHENSION

  • Why did Julia’s parents send her to a debating club?
  • How does formal debating work?
  • How did Julia’s first attempt at debating go?
  • How good did she become eventually?
  • What are the three elements of a productive debate?
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part three

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key language

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COMPREHENSION

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COMPREHENSION

  • What is a rebuttal and why is it so important for debating?
  • What was Julia’s initial thought on successful debaters?
  • What is the first step to a productive disagreement?
  • Why is it more beneficial to debate face to face?
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part four

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key language

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COMPREHENSION

  • What is the second step towards a productive disagreement?
  • What is the best strategy to win a debate?
  • How can this principle be used in public discourse?
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part five

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key language

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COMPREHENSION

  • What is the third key to a productive disagreement?
  • What are the benefits of practising intellectual humility?
  • What question does Julia recommend we all ask ourselves?

Julia Dhar

What is it that you have changed your mind about? And why?

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follow up

Julia describes at length how Fred Rogers convinced Senator Pastore to change his mind about funding public television. 

Would you like to see a short clip about this hearing? Here it is, and I cannot recommend it enough 🙂

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POLL

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Julia Dhar believes we should all do three things to make our disagreements more productive. Which of these three things, do you think, is the most difficult to put to practice?
Total Votes : 5
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lesson glossary

Disagreeing Productivity