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# 4.2 Playing with sections of text

As well as playing with individual words, you can also play with larger sections of writing, from sentences to paragraphs or even whole articles. This is about being playful with how you react to the text on initial reading. Then, deciding whether there are possibilities for seeing the words and meanings differently as you explore more deeply. You can try this out in the next activity.

## Activity 5 ‘Flipping’ initial responses

Allow about 15 minutes

- 1. Re-read Kerry’s statement. On first reading, did you assume that Kerry was suggesting the new housing estate would be positive or negative for the community? What made you assume one way or the other?

Kerry:
New houses, new people coming from somewhere outside the community, of course it will have a big impact on people’s behaviour but also on how they see their community!
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### Discussion

Kerry’s statement is probably interacting with your own assumptions and experiences, either positive or negative. One playful technique you can try is to read the same passage deliberately from a different perspective.

- 2. If you ‘flip’ your initial response and read Kerry’s statement from the other perspective, how does that change the meaning of her comment?

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- 3. Write a response to Kerry’s post which recognises how her comment has made you consider it from two different perspectives. Try and write your response to keep possibilities for replies as open as possible on either side of the debate.

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Activities 4 and 5 introduced some ideas for how to be playful with words, either individual words or sections of text. You will now move on to think about what other materials you can play with on forums.

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