Religion in the classroom

Religion has been always a problematic topic; even some people think that talking about religion is impolite. As a teacher it is fundamental to know how to handle controversial topics. It is a fact that classrooms are integrated by heterogeneous people. So face up controversial topics in the classroom can be a challenge, because these kind of topics help to develop debates, discussion and critical thinking in our students. However to talk about religion on the classroom can be a real mess if the teacher does not have the appropriate tools. First the teacher must give an introduction about tolerance and respect. Also underline that there are not wrong points of view. Then the teacher can start with the lesson about religion. However at the beginning this kind of activity will not have immediate results. Because to develop critical mind is a long process but definitely this type of topic helps to build it up. As the program director of teaching effectiveness program highlights “ Sometimes you leave the classroom feeling exhausted and wondering if anything was really accomplished. On better days, you still leave exhausted but knowing that you have accomplished something very special”.
The are many resources that can be connect to Religion in order to increase the knowledge and the understanding. For example the Religulous movies which is a satirical documental about religion can be part of the lesson. This movie has an extreme different point of view about religions. Moreover the film was a chaos in terms of effects on people. But this extreme point of view about religion of the film let students see, analyze and understand the importance of to talk about controversial topics. Finally the main point is to integrated controversial topics in the classroom. Topics that spreading out different opinions are always worthy for students. Religion, politics, sex, drugs and many others complicated topics stimulates student’s mind. The right teacher’s behave in this type of lesson is lets and motivates students to create their own opinions and thoughts. On the other hand it is fundamental to guide student’s mind but do not influence them. .

# http://tep.uoregon.edu/resources/diversity/methods/methodscontroversialissues.html

Academic Writing: Hedging and responsibility

In an academic writing it is necessary to have a position in a specific topic. Hedging means a particular position about a topic, opinion, research, etc. The writer through hedging communicates his or her point of view. Also there are different levels of hedging there are words that shows certainty, for example this must, it is important to develop, will. On the other hand there are words that show a soft hedging for example seems, look like, may, appear to be, etc. A clear example of expressing hedging in a soft way is: It may be said, may seen
Finally we think hedging allows the writer to make a particular decision about information. In addition academic writing needs hedging because the reader must know the writer’s stance.
Another important feature in an academic writing is responsibility this means the writer is the responsible of his or her opinions. Also the writer’s opinions must have evidence, so the arguments have to be coherent in according to his or her research.

By Maria Jose Acevedo and Sebastian Aranis.