Syntax

Phase one: Orientation to the case

Teacher introduces materials, and reviews facts

Phase two: Identifying the issues

Students synthesize facts into a public policy issue

Students Id values and value conflicts

Students recognize underlying factual and definitional questions

Phase three: Taking positions

Students articulate positions, stated in terms of values or consequences of decision

Phase four: Exploring stances and patterns of argumentation

See where values are violated (factual)

Prove the desirable or undesirable consequences of positions

Clarify values

Set priorities: assert priority of one value over another and demonstrate lack of gross violation of second value

Phase five: refining and qualifying the positions

Students state positions and reasons for them

Phase six: testing factual assumptions based on qualified positions

ID factual assumptions; determine if assumptions are correct based on facts