THIRD DEGREE

A read.me game maximizes the learning from handouts and job aids. This type of game reinforces a reading assignment with peer pressure and peer support. THIRD DEGREE is a read.me game that ensures the players understand the principles presented in a handout.

Distribute copies of the handout and warn the players that they will be subjected to an inquisition on the content. Specify the date, time, and location for the follow-up read.me game.

At the start of the THIRD DEGREE game, organize the players into groups of four to seven. Within each group, identify the first victim through some random means.

For the next 2 minutes, the other players in the group will take on the role of inquisitioners, pounce upon this hapless victim, and pile up various questions. The inquisitioners may refer to their handouts and notes, but the victim should not. The inquisitioners need not take turns, be polite, or wait for the victim to finish an answer before firing the next question. There need not be any logical sequence among the questions. The whole idea is to try to confound the victim.

At the end of 2 minutes, stop the torture. Ask the current victim to select a new victim. Repeat the procedure for another 3 minutes. Continue the process until all players have had an opportunity to be the victim.

To convert this activity into a game, use this scoring procedure: At the end of the last inquisition, ask each player to distribute 100 points among the other players on the basis of their relative performance. The players do this by writing the points on pieces of paper, folding them, and placing them in front of the appropriate person. Each player opens the pieces of paper and adds up the points. The player with the highest total wins the game.

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