What does What does SocraticSocratic mean? mean?

Socratic comes from the name Socratic comes from the name

SocratesSocrates    

Classical Greek philosopher who Classical Greek philosopher who developed a Theory of Knowledge. developed a Theory of Knowledge.

The VisionThe VisionSocrates believed that enabling

students to

think for themselves

was more important than filling their heads with “right

answers.”

The VisionThe VisionParticipants seek a

deeper understanding of complex ideas through

thoughtful dialogue,

rather than by memorizing information.

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

A Highly motivating form of intellectual and scholarly discourse

How long is it? How long is it?

30-50 minutes discussion

Dialogue is NOT Debate!Dialogue is NOT Debate!

Is collaborative One listens to find common ground

Enlarges points of view

Reveals assumptions for re-evaluation

Creates an open-minded attitude

Is oppositional One listens to counter arguments.

Affirms participant's points of view.

Defends assumptions as truth

Creates a close-minded attitude

DebateDebate DialogueDialogue

Expects other’s reflections will improve their own thinking

Temporarily suspending one's beliefs

Searches for strengths Respects others and

seeks not to alienate Assumes that

cooperation can lead to greater understanding

Remains open-ended

Defends thinking to show that it is right.

Calls for investing in one's beliefs.

One searches for weaknesses

Rebuts contrary positions and may belittle others

Debate assumes a single right answer

Demands a conclusion

Debate Debate DialogueDialogue

What was Socrates' Theory What was Socrates' Theory of Knowledge? of Knowledge?

Socrates was convinced that the way Socrates was convinced that the way to attain reliable knowledge was to attain reliable knowledge was

through disciplined through disciplined

conversationconversation

He called this method He called this method dialecticdialectic. .

What does dialectic What does dialectic mean? mean?

di-a-di-a-leclec-tic (noun) --- the art or practice -tic (noun) --- the art or practice of of

examining opinions or ideas logically, examining opinions or ideas logically,

often by the method of often by the method of

QuestionQuestion and and AnswerAnswer

so as to determine their validity. so as to determine their validity.

What is discussed? What is discussed?

A Socratic Seminar is a method used to A Socratic Seminar is a method used to understand information regarding aunderstand information regarding a

specific textspecific text

Participants seek deeper understanding Participants seek deeper understanding of complex ideas in text through of complex ideas in text through

thoughtful dialogue, rather than by thoughtful dialogue, rather than by memorizing bits of information. memorizing bits of information.

The Text: The Text: You must use the text to help support your You must use the text to help support your

claims and to raise: claims and to raise:

questionsquestions

There are no right or wrong answers. There are no right or wrong answers. At the end of successful Socratic Seminars, At the end of successful Socratic Seminars,

participants often leave with more participants often leave with more questions than they brought with them.questions than they brought with them.

The Question: The Question:

A Socratic Seminar opens with a A Socratic Seminar opens with a

QuestionQuestionposed by the leader or from a posed by the leader or from a

participant.participant.

Responses to the opening question Responses to the opening question generate new ideas and, leading to generate new ideas and, leading to

new responses. new responses.

The Leader: The Leader:

In a Socratic Seminar, the leader plays a dual In a Socratic Seminar, the leader plays a dual role as role as

Leader Leader and and ParticipantParticipant & keeps the discussion focused on the text by& keeps the discussion focused on the text by

asking follow-up questionsasking follow-up questions helping clarify positions when arguments helping clarify positions when arguments

become confusedbecome confused involving reluctant participantsinvolving reluctant participants

The Leader:The Leader:

As a seminar participant, the leader As a seminar participant, the leader actively engages in the group's actively engages in the group's

exploration of theexploration of the

texttextTo do this effectively, the leader must To do this effectively, the leader must know the text well enough to anticipate know the text well enough to anticipate

varied interpretations and recognize varied interpretations and recognize important possibilitiesimportant possibilities

The ParticipantsThe Participants

In a Socratic Seminar, participants are In a Socratic Seminar, participants are responsibile for the responsibile for the quality of the seminar. of the seminar.

There are three ways to do this:There are three ways to do this:

Studying Studying

ParticipatingParticipating

SharingSharing

Starting DialogueStarting Dialogue Students must risk making

mistakes in order to learn how to learn to think critically, and work collaboratively.

9 Guidelines for Participants in 9 Guidelines for Participants in a Socratic Seminara Socratic Seminar

1.1. Refer to the Refer to the text text during the discussion. during the discussion.

2.2. Do not stay confused; ask for Do not stay confused; ask for clarification.clarification.

3.3. Stick to the Stick to the pointpoint..

4.4. Don't raise Don't raise handshands; take turns speaking. ; take turns speaking.

5.5. ListenListen carefully and carefully and Speak upSpeak up so that all so that all can hear you. can hear you.

6.6. Talk to Talk to each othereach other, not just to the leader. , not just to the leader.

7.7. Discuss Discuss ideasideas rather than each other's rather than each other's opinions. opinions.

8.8. NO DEBATES! DISCUSSION ONLYNO DEBATES! DISCUSSION ONLY

Sample questions that Sample questions that demonstrate constructive demonstrate constructive participation in Socratic participation in Socratic

Seminars.Seminars. Here is my view and how I arrived at it. Here is my view and how I arrived at it. How does it sound to you? How does it sound to you?

Do you see gaps in my reasoning? Do you see gaps in my reasoning? Do you have different data? Do you have different data? Do you have different conclusions? Do you have different conclusions? How did you arrive at your view? How did you arrive at your view? Are you taking into account something Are you taking into account something

different from what I have considered?different from what I have considered?

Expectations of ParticipantsExpectations of ParticipantsDid I…..Did I….. Come prepared?Come prepared? Speak loudly and clearly? Speak loudly and clearly? Cite reasons and evidence for my statements? Cite reasons and evidence for my statements? Use the text to find support? Use the text to find support? Listen to others respectfully? Listen to others respectfully? Stick with the subject? Stick with the subject? Talk to others, not just to the leader? Talk to others, not just to the leader? Paraphrase accurately?Paraphrase accurately? Avoid inappropriate language?Avoid inappropriate language? Ask questions to clear up confusion? Ask questions to clear up confusion? Support others? Support others? Avoid hostile exchanges? Avoid hostile exchanges? Question others in a civil manner? Question others in a civil manner?