PMI (Plus Minus Interesting)

Students identify the Plus (positive), Minus (negative), and Interesting points of a provocative hypothetical idea, then discuss in pairs and as a class.

Procedure

1. Give the class a provocative idea. Everyone works individually for a few minutes listing P (plus), M (minus), and I (interesting) points. Example ideas:
   • A new law forbids eating in all public places.
   • Every family is only allowed meat once a month.
   • People wear badges showing what mood they are in.
   • Public buildings are no longer heated to save energy.
   • A scientist discovers how to make gold cheaply.
   • Children over 5 are given the vote.
   • Students are allowed to use AI for all school and university work.
2. Students pair up and share their ideas.
3. Ideas are discussed with the whole class.

Tips

• Practises lateral thinking and creativity alongside speaking.
• Suitable for all age groups — choose ideas appropriate to the class.
• Can use current controversial topics, or topics from the textbook.
• Variation: after individual work, small groups evaluate and rank other students' points.
• Can be prefaced with a brainstorm of students' own suggestions for changes, then one is chosen for PMI analysis.
• Online: group discussions work well in breakout rooms.
• Based on Edward de Bono's CoRT Thinking framework.