Activity 1 - What is a throughline?

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A throughline is the main connecting theme or anchoring idea in a story. It’s a helpful framing tool used in plays, movies, novels, speeches and TED Talks! Every Talk should have a throughline that is clearly identifiable throughout the entire Talk.

Activity Tasks

1. Compare - Look at the following two examples of throughlines, one good and one bad. What are the differences between the two?
   1. Throughline 1 - Football is a great sport because you learn a lot about teamwork.
   2. Throughline 2 - Losing a series of football games motivated my team to come together and recognize each other’s strengths. Now I use this important skill with my family too!
2. Discuss - What do you notice about the above two throughlines? Which Talk are you more interested in hearing, and why? What makes a throughline special or interesting?
3. Record - What makes a good throughline? Using page 22 of your ideas journal, write down a definition of a good throughline.

​The strongest throughlines convey:

• (1) Something only you can give a Talk about; it’s a unique learning that you believe should be shared with the world; (2) A new way to look at something; you’re sharing with the audience a connection they may not have made or an idea they may not have heard before; (3) An answer to the question, “Why is this an important idea for me to share right now?”; (4) A short summary of your Talk; picture someone reciting this as they describe your Talk to a friend.

Activity 2 - Guess the throughline!

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Activity Tasks

1. Watch - In your groups, watch one of the following TED-Talks together. Note down what you think the throughline is for your talk on page 22 of your ideas journal:
   1. Groups 1 & 5 - India Hawkins: Facing the Real Me, Looking into the mirror with natural hair
   2. Groups 2 & 6 - Haaziq Kazi: Cleaning our Oceans, A big plan for a big problem
   3. Groups 3 & 7 - Darlene Hamida: Superhero Training, What you can do right now
   4. Groups 4 & 8 - Ashton Cofer: A young inventor's plan to recycle styrofoam
   5. Extra Video - James Philips: ADHD, Finding what works for me
2. Discuss - What was the throughline for your talk? Take it in turns to explain in less than 30 seconds or less what the throughline was. Your student leader will reveal the real throughline! 

Activity 3 - Create your throughline

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Activity Tasks

1. Create - Revisit your final talk idea and create a throughline for your future talk. Record it on page 23 of your ideas journal. Feel free to write down more than one potential throughline.
2. Share - Now pair up with another person, or with your group, and share your throughlines with each other. 
3. Feedback - Give each other spade or diamond feedback on which throughlines have the most potential and on ways to make them even stronger. Use page 23 of your journals.
4. Reflect - How did it feel to get feedback on your throughline? How might you adjust your throughline to make it more authentic to your personal story?

Further Explorations

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things to reflect

1. I have identified other speakers’ main ideas.
2. I have identified the main idea of my talk and have a working throughline.
3. I have received and shared feedback with others.

things to do

1. Begin to think about the overall framework or outline of your final Talk.

things to share

1. Try sharing some excerpts from your ideas journal on social media with #TEDEdStudents.

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