Constructive

Conversation
Skills

Interrupting

Synthesize

Paraphrasing

Prompt starters:

Response starters:

Prompt starters:

Response starters:

What is the main point we want

to communicate?
How can we bring this all
together?
What is our conclusion?
What can we agree upon?
What key idea can we take
away?

We can agree that

The main point seems to
be
The evidence seems to
suggest that
Even though some might
think that, we can or
could conclude that
It boild down to
What if we

Can I hear what you heard?

Does that make sense?
What do you think?
How can we relate what I said
to the topic/question?
What are you hearing?

So, you are saying that

Let me see if I
understand you
Am I right in hearing you
say that.?
In other words
Essentially, you think
that
It sounds like you are
saying
In a nutshell, you are
arguing that

Prompt starters:
I hate to interrupt, but
Id like to add something
Id like to raise a point
If I could speak for a moment
Id like to cut in here
As I was saying
What I was trying to say

Supporting w/ Examples

BUILD IDEAS!
Response starters:
I like the part when
Thats an interesting idea.
I hadnt thought of that.
I see what you mean.
I really liked your ideas
about
I agree with you there.
I agree with _______ (name).

Challenging Ideas
Prompt starters:
Do you agree?
In my honest opinion
It is my belief that
Based on my experience, I think
From where I look at it
From my point of view
I would argue that
It seems clear that
Based on these facts

Response starters:

I see it a different way

On the other hand
I see your point, but
That doesnt take away
from the fact that
I see your point, but
That may be true, but
With all due respect
I agree to some extent,
but
Counter Argument Prompts
Im afraid I disagree
Although
entirely.
Even though it seems that
Were going to have to
One might argue that, however
agree to disagree.
It might seem that, however
There are many reasons why,
but

Elaborate and/or Clarify

Affirmation

Building on Ideas

Prompt starters:

Response starters:

Can we add to this idea of

What other ideas or examples
relate to this idea?
What else could support this idea?
What contradicts this?
What are some other points of
view?
What do you think about the idea
that?
How does this connect to the
idea?
Im not sure if this is relevant,
but
How can we bring this back to the
question of?

I would add that

Building on your idea that I
think
I want to expand on your point
about
I want to follow up on your
idea
The idea connects to
Lets stay focused on the idea
of
That makes me think of
That reminds me of
Im hearing