Ask a Clarifying Follow-Up

Worked classroom example

Humanities

Worked example

“You said the route changed after the bridge. Do you mean the northern bridge or the one beside the station?”

Teaching sequence

1. Prepare a map-based explanation with one missing location detail. Introduce ask a clarifying follow-up with one clear success criterion: listen to a partner’s explanation, paraphrase its main point and ask a follow-up that resolves a genuine gap.
2. Model one short example from a short group explanation. Think aloud about the language choice and the subject evidence; invite learners to test the example with a partner.
3. Learners apply the move to a new piece of Humanities content. Use the prompt “What do you still need to know to follow that explanation?” to check whether their language matches their evidence.
4. Collect one independent response. Check that the follow-up responds to what the speaker said rather than repeating a prepared question. Record one next step and adjust the scaffold to what this response shows.

Try it tomorrow

Listen to a partner’s explanation, paraphrase its main point and ask a follow-up that resolves a genuine gap.

Independent check

Check that the follow-up responds to what the speaker said rather than repeating a prepared question.

Scaffold built into this activity: Some scaffold

Display question stems and let learners rehearse a paraphrase before asking.

Teacher language

Ask learners to point to the evidence, wording or feature behind their answer. Give thinking time before inviting a revision.

Adjust the support

More support

Display question stems and let learners rehearse a paraphrase before asking.

Greater independence

Remove the stems and ask learners to build a follow-up that tests evidence or a hidden assumption.

Use the response to choose the next step; the scaffold label describes this activity design, not the learner.