Thank of some bad news you or a friend once received. Describe how you would deliver this news gently to someone else.

You might want to sit down for this...

Listen to your classmates' descriptions of bad news, and show sympathy

Before
I want to have a short talk with you.
It's the last thing I want to tell you, but ...
As your best friend, I think I should tell you the truth.
I hate to be the one who tells you this bad news.
You might want to sit down for this ...
I know this is going to come as a shock to you.
I'd better just come out and say it.

After
I'm very sorry to hear about ...
I can understand how you're feeling.
If you need my help, please feel free to let me know.
If you wanna talk, I'll be here.
You can tell me anything you want to say.
If there's anything I can do.
These things happen.
These things happen for a reason.
I'm so sorry.

Psychologists say people go through five stages of grief after receiving really bad news.

Denial/Anger/Bargaining with a higher power/Depression/Acceptance

Do you agree with the order of these stages? Can you give more examples of each stage?