Academic Reading Circles: Roles

Role 1
LEADER
• Prepares concept-checking questions to ask the others.
• Recognises the text structure; uses this to guide the discussion.
• Gives everyone a chance to speak (invites contributions, manages discussion).
• Moves between sections and approaches.
• Asks more general topic-related questions at the end.

SUMMARISER
• Summarises the main points and the results.
• Comments on the significance of the results.
• Suggests opportunities for future research.

Role 2

CONTEXTUALISER
• Identifies, researches and explains contextual information contained within the text.
• This may include information about:
– Ideas
– Maps
– Pictures
– Charts
– Historical background
– Scientific processes
– Theoretical underpinnings.
CONNECTOR
• Makes connections to the wider world.
• May look for similar research elsewhere.
• May draw on own experience/ knowledge.
• Analyses implications; makes predictions/recommendations.

Role 3
HIGHLIGHTER
• Finds key, widely used scientific terms in the text.
• Looks at the meaning, and explains it to peers.
VISUALISER
• Takes key concepts contained in the text; represents them visually.
• May use photos, graphs/charts, systems diagrams, or flow charts.