Joining a Conversation: Who is at�the Table?
Routine Argument Writing
What is the Atwoodian Table?
The Atwoodian Table is named after its creator,�Robin Atwood, a National Writing Project leader.
Let’s try it out!
The issue:�Many restaurants do �not allow kids under �12 years of age.
Should fancy restaurants�ban children?
Image by Fabiano Silva from Pixabay
Lots of people�are talking�about this issue.�
But before we enter�the conversation,�we need to find out ...�
Who is at the table?
Let’s prepare to enter the conversation!
Draw in your writer’s notebook or with a digital tool
Kids at fancy restaurants
Who is at the table?
Maura Judkis (reporter for The Washington Post)
Bans on children tend to happen after a restaurant has observed a pattern of children misbehaving, damaging property or getting in the way, and when other customers complain about it. Sometimes those complaints even come from other parents: Imagine paying $120 for a babysitter and�a nice meal, only to be seated next to some rowdy kids disrupting your dinner one table over.
—Excerpt from Restaurant bans kids under 14 to punish their misbehaving parents
#1
After reading the first text, add to your table
Kids at fancy restaurants
Add to your table
Kids at fancy restaurants
Maura Judkis
Restaurants ban children due to misbehavior and customer complaints. People don’t want to spend money for a babysitter and a meal just to sit next to�bad kids.
Continue with reading the source material�and bringing more voices to the table . . .
Who is at the table?
Theo Selles (family therapist)
It is discrimination. Let’s be honest. Any time you say yes�to one group of people and no to another group of people, you clearly are discriminating. It’s easy to pick on the kids because they’re the obvious producers of the noise.
—Video: Banning kids from restaurants: Discrimination or Good Sense?
#2
Add to your table
Kids at fancy restaurants
Maura Judkis
Restaurants ban children due to misbehavior and customer complaints. People don’t want to spend money for a babysitter and a meal just to sit next to�bad kids.
Theo Selles
Banning kids is discrimination and just picking on children because they can be noisy.
Who is at the table?
Troy Taylor (Florida restaurant owner)
“The decision to ban children came after a dangerous incident with a child on our patio. It’s basically about children’s safety. We’re a small, local place, and I couldn’t stand to have someone get hurt, especially a kid, on our watch,” he said.
—Excerpt from:�Florida beer garden restaurant bans kids after parents fail to supervise them
#3
Add to your table
Kids at fancy restaurants
Maura Judkis
Restaurants ban children due to misbehavior and customer complaints. People don’t want to spend money for a babysitter and a meal just to sit next to�bad kids.
Theo Selles
Banning kids is discrimination and just picking on children because they can be noisy.
Troy Taylor
A restaurant owner banned kids after a dangerous incident. “It’s basically about children’s safety.”
Who is at the table?
A parent (in response to a poll)
People are paying for their food and table; why can’t they have their kids with them? Not all children are annoying or scream through dinners. Most don’t. Instead of making blanket bans on children, these things should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Unruly customers, old or baby, should be asked to leave. Bans don’t make sense.
—Excerpt from: Is it okay for restaurants to ban children? | The Tylt
#4
Add to your table
Kids at fancy restaurants
Maura Judkis
Restaurants ban children due to misbehavior and customer complaints. People don’t want to spend money for a babysitter and a meal just to sit next to�bad kids.
Theo Selles
Banning kids is discrimination and just picking on children because they can be noisy.
Troy Taylor
Restaurant owner banned kids after a dangerous incident. “It’s basically about children’s safety.”
Parent
Instead of a whole ban, any issues “should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.”
Now it’s your turn to join the conversation at the Atwoodian Table . . .
Add your own voice to the table!
Add some reasons and evidence from the texts that helped you arrive at your claim.
Kids at fancy restaurants
Maura Judkis
Restaurants ban children due to misbehavior and customer complaints. People don’t want to spend money for a babysitter and a meal just to sit next to�bad kids.
Theo Selles
Banning kids is discrimination and just picking on children because they can be noisy.
Troy Taylor
Restaurant owner banned kids after a dangerous incident. “It’s basically about children’s safety.”
Parent
Instead of a whole ban, any issues “should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.”
Add your own claim about the issue here.
This student used sticky notes to summarize the source material and kept�the notes on a page in their writer’s notebook.�
Example of a student’s Atwoodian Table
Important
notes about the Atwoodian Table
The table is round, not square or rectangular; there are no “sides.”
Teachers should select texts and sources that represent multiple perspectives about an issue.
Varying perspectives should go beyond pro/con and bring forward nuances of the issue.
This approach can be used with excerpts or full-length texts.
Further considerations and next steps
At this point, your students have done a lot!
You can stop here, or your students can draft an argument and try out …
… the possibilities are endless!
Multiple uses for the Atwoodian Table
To make your own copy of this slideshow, click here.