The following is the approximate timetable and process they use. Students make lists of issues that interest or concern them and rank them in order of preference. Each caucus must have a different topic. Some negotiation occurs, with every caucus getting its first or second choice. As a group the caucus fleshes out a working definition of the topic it plans to present, and start to rank the various ways people respond to the topic from the least extreme to the most extreme.
Students start to sort responses into pro and con categories.
This session is the last major brainstorming session for ideas to go into the CIR from the caucus as a larger group, as the division of labor will have mini-groups within the caucus performing different tasks. In addition to doing library and Web research, students should be encouraged to make phone calls or interview representatives of various institutions to obtain primary-source material. Their goal is to stay on target to run a practice oral presentation in their meetings on day 6. The report cannot run for more than five minutes, and no more than five students from each Caucus can deliver the presentation orally. After the dry run students finalize the CIR and take care to ensure that it stays within its five-minute limit.