Same Day, Two Tellings
Two people were there for the same day, but not in the same place. Each of you writes it down from where you stood, without reading the other first. Then you read both side by side and sort out what you can both say happened. Historians do the same with two sources, and so does the child's version of this game, LensQuest on Spark & Anvil, where four people see one moment from four places.
1. Pick the day
2. The first telling
Write what happened as you saw and heard it, from where you were. No names needed: "I", "my sister", "the driver" is plenty.
3. The second telling
Now you. Write the same day from where you were. Don't worry about matching: the differences are the interesting part.
4. Read both, then sort
Words to start you off
These are only the words each of you used, not a verdict: the same thing can be told in different words.
- Both tellings use
- Only the first uses
- Only the second uses
Sort it out together
- Settled: what do both tellings say happened?
- Open leads: what does only one telling say? Could the other person have seen or heard it from where they were?
- Words: where did you choose different words for the same thing (a "bang" or a "crash", "late" or "a bit behind")? Which word makes it sound worse?
- The fifth account: together, write what the two of you can actually say happened, and one thing you still don’t know.
Nothing you write is kept on this device or sent anywhere. It stays on this page until you print it or leave. Print it if you want to keep it.