Socratic Seminars

1. Socratic Seminars

2. What is a Socratic Seminar? A Socratic seminar is a way of teaching founded by the Greek philosopher Socrates. Socrates believed that: students learn best by asking questions. It is the teacher’s job to moderate the discussion instead of leading the discussion.

3. Why do we have Socratic Seminars • Socratic Seminars help us engage a text in class. • The thought process is when we work together to understand a text it will help everyone’s understanding.

4. How do we prepare for a Socratic Seminar? • The day prior to the seminar you will be given a Socratic Seminar prep sheet. Your job is to complete steps 1 – 4 for homework. • It is essential you read the text and prepare yourself with important questions and quotations.

5. What type of questions should I ask during the seminar? • There are three levels of questions. • You should come up with a minimum of 1 question per level.

6. Level 1 (Knowledge Questions): • Knowledge means being able to show understanding by talking, writing, signing, drawing. Please use the following stems in creating your Knowledge Questions: • Can you state, in your own words? • Can you describe? • Can you defend your position? • Can you summarize the information?

7. Level II (Application Questions): Applicationmeans supporting your ideas with evidence. Please use the following stems in creating your Application Questions: • Explainhow … • Explainwhy … • Interpretthe reasons … • Compare and contrast … • Connect and explain …

8. Level III (Synthesis Questions): Synthesis means combining or connecting two different elements. In terms of the Socratic Seminar you will be connecting two texts with each other OR connecting a text to the outside world.

9. Level III (Synthesis Questions) Continued Please use the following stems in creating your Synthesis Questions: • Imagine … • What would happen if …? • Hypothesize … • Theorize … • Speculate… • How is Text similar to Outside World?

10. What will the seminar look like? • The classroom will be arranged in a two concentric circles. • You will be assigned to either seminar A or seminar B. • You will be assigned a partner in the opposite seminar. FOR EXAMPLE: If I am in seminar A my partner will be in seminar B Mr. Sun-K will be facilitating, but NOT participating in the seminar.

11. What’s the deal with partners? If I am in Seminar B, I will be sitting in the outside circle taking notes for my partner who is in the inner circle participating in the Seminar A. Then we will switch. I will participate in the seminar and my partner will take notes for me. We will be switching notes at the end of each seminar to be used for Step 5 of the Socratic Seminar Prep Sheet.

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

13. Seminar Guidelines • Please listen and look at each other when you speak. • One person speaks at a time. • Each person will have a chance to ask a question. • Respond to the person who asks the question. • Use evidence from the text to support yourself. • Always treat each other with mutual respect.

14. How will I be assessed on the seminar? • By completing the seminar prep sheet. (30 pts). • By contributing to the conversation following these guidelines: - Aska question. • Respondto a question. • Cite evidence from the text. • All three requirements: 30 points. • Two requirements: 20 points. • 1 requirement:10 points. • No requirements: 0 points.

15. What do we need to do after the seminar? • The last 5 - 10 minutes of class on the day of a seminar: • Please complete step 5 of the prep sheet using your notes from your partner as a reference. Please staple your partner’s notes to the back of your prep sheet and turn it in the “In-Box.”

16. Please stand for Think On Your Feet