Socratic SeminarSocratic Seminar

What is a Socratic What is a Socratic Seminar?Seminar?

• A Socratic seminar is a A Socratic seminar is a way of teaching way of teaching founded by the Greek founded by the Greek philosopher Socrates. philosopher Socrates.

• Socrates believed that:Socrates believed that:

students learn best by students learn best by asking questionsasking questions. .

• It is the It is the teacher’s job teacher’s job to moderate the to moderate the discussion instead of discussion instead of leading the discussion.leading the discussion.

Why do we have Socratic Why do we have Socratic SeminarsSeminars

• Socratic Seminars Socratic Seminars help us help us engage a engage a text in class. text in class.

• The thought The thought process is when process is when we we work together to work together to understandunderstand a text it a text it will will help everyone’s help everyone’s understanding.understanding.

How do we prepare for a How do we prepare for a Socratic Seminar?Socratic Seminar?

• Utilize your Utilize your Socratic Socratic Seminar prep sheet – this Seminar prep sheet – this is homework.is homework.

• It is essential It is essential you read you read the text and prepare the text and prepare yourself with important yourself with important questions and questions and quotations.quotations.

• On the day of the seminar, On the day of the seminar, your job is to answer the your job is to answer the question of the day and question of the day and to be prepared for class.to be prepared for class.

What type of questions What type of questions should I ask during the should I ask during the

seminar?seminar?• These questions These questions

should be critical should be critical thinking and thinking and higher level higher level questions questions designed to get designed to get you to analyze, you to analyze, evaluate, and evaluate, and connect with the connect with the text. text.

Good Questions/Bad Good Questions/Bad QuestionsQuestions

• What characteristic do all What characteristic do all of the female characters of the female characters of the play have in of the play have in common?common?

• Who are some of the Who are some of the characters in characters in FrankensteinFrankenstein??

• What are some symbols What are some symbols present in the novel and present in the novel and what do they represent? what do they represent?

• When was When was Frankenstein Frankenstein written? written?

Levels of QuestioningLevels of Questioning

• Level 1 – comprehensionLevel 1 – comprehension

• Level 2 – Interpretative – critical Level 2 – Interpretative – critical thinking question that requires evidence thinking question that requires evidence from the textfrom the text

• Level 3 – Application – critical thinking Level 3 – Application – critical thinking that requires a connection between the that requires a connection between the text and the outside worldtext and the outside world

Level 2 - Level 2 - InterpretatiInterpretati

veve• - Explain how…- Explain how…• - Explain why…- Explain why…• - Explain the reasons - Explain the reasons

why…why…• - Compare and - Compare and

contrast…contrast…• - Connect and - Connect and

explain…explain…• - What was the - What was the

problem with…?problem with…?

• - Can you explain what - Can you explain what must have happened must have happened

whenwhen…?…?•   

• - Imagine…- Imagine…• - What would - What would

happen if…?happen if…?• - Is there a better - Is there a better

solution to…?solution to…?• - How would you - How would you

feel if…?feel if…?• - If you could create - If you could create

a solution…?a solution…?• - How many ways - How many ways

can you…?can you…?

Level 3 - Level 3 - ApplicationApplication

What will the seminar What will the seminar look like?look like?

• The classroom will be The classroom will be arranged in a arranged in a two two concentric circles.concentric circles.

• You will be assigned to You will be assigned to either either seminar A or seminar A or seminar B. seminar B.

• You will be assigned a You will be assigned a partner in the opposite partner in the opposite seminar.seminar.

FOR EXAMPLE:FOR EXAMPLE:• If I am in seminar A my If I am in seminar A my

partner will be in seminar partner will be in seminar BB

• Mrs. Ward will be Mrs. Ward will be facilitatingfacilitating, but NOT , but NOT participating in the participating in the seminar. seminar.

What’s the deal with What’s the deal with partners?partners?

• If I am in If I am in Seminar BSeminar B, , I will be sitting in the I will be sitting in the outside circle taking outside circle taking notesnotes for for my partner my partner who is in the inner who is in the inner circle participating in circle participating in the Seminar A.the Seminar A.

• Then we will switch.Then we will switch. I will participate in I will participate in the seminar and my the seminar and my partner will take partner will take notes for me.notes for me.

How does the discussion How does the discussion work in a seminar?work in a seminar?

• The seminar is to The seminar is to serve as a serve as a discussion, not a discussion, not a lecture.lecture. Just like Just like in a casual in a casual conversation, no conversation, no one begins the one begins the conversation, a conversation, a conversation conversation begins naturally. begins naturally.

Seminar GuidelinesSeminar Guidelines• Please Please listen and look at listen and look at

each othereach other when you when you speak.speak.

• One person speaks at a One person speaks at a timetime..

• Each person will have a Each person will have a chance to chance to ask a ask a question.question.

• Respond Respond to theto the person person who who asks the question.asks the question.

• Use Use evidence from the evidence from the texttext to support yourself. to support yourself.

• Always Always treat each other treat each other with mutual respect. with mutual respect.

How will I be assessed on How will I be assessed on the seminar?the seminar?

• By creating and answering 3 By creating and answering 3 higher level higher level focus questions (30 pts)focus questions (30 pts)

• By contributing to the conversation By contributing to the conversation following these guidelines:following these guidelines:

– You must speak at least 3 times You must speak at least 3 times in the in the

Socratic Seminar – each time you Socratic Seminar – each time you speak will be worth speak will be worth 5 points5 points

3 times speaking (15 pts)3 times speaking (15 pts)• By completing the Socratic Seminar By completing the Socratic Seminar

Observation form Observation form (5 points)(5 points)

Total _________/50Total _________/50