Socratic SeminarSocratic SeminarTake it seriously counts as a project Take it seriously counts as a project

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

• A Socratic seminar is a A Socratic seminar is a way of teaching founded way of teaching founded by the Greek philosopher by the Greek philosopher Socrates. 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 to teacher’s job to moderate the discussion moderate the discussion instead of leading the instead of leading the discussion.discussion.

Why do we have Socratic SeminarsWhy do we have Socratic Seminars

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

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

Benefits of Socratic CirclesBenefits of Socratic Circles

• Advances critical Advances critical readingreading

• Spurs critical Spurs critical thinkingthinking

• Improves Improves discussion and discussion and listening skillslistening skills

• Increases Increases vocabularyvocabulary

• Provides student Provides student ownership, voice, ownership, voice, and empowermentand empowerment

• Allows students toAllows students to

synthesize both thesynthesize both the

knowledge-base knowledge-base and the and the

skills-base of the skills-base of the

curriculumcurriculum

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

• Utilize your Utilize your Socratic Socratic Seminar prep sheet – this is Seminar prep sheet – this is homework.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 quotations.questions and 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 to question of the day and to be prepared for class.be prepared for class.

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

• These questions These questions should be critical should be critical thinking and higher thinking and higher level questions level 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 of the female characters of the play have in common?the play have in 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 thinking Level 2 – Interpretative – critical thinking question that requires evidence from the question that requires evidence from the texttext

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

Level 2 - Level 2 - InterpretativeInterpretative

• - Explain how…- Explain how…

• - Explain why…- Explain why…

• - Explain the reasons - Explain the reasons why…why…

• - Compare and contrast…- Compare and contrast…

• - Connect and explain…- Connect and explain…

• - What was the problem - What was the problem with…?with…?

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

whenwhen…?…?•   

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

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

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

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

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

you…?you…?

Level 3 - Level 3 - ApplicationApplication

What will the seminar look like?What will the seminar 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 seminar A or seminar B. 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 Bpartner will be in seminar B• Ms. Ivery will be facilitatingMs. Ivery will be facilitating, ,

but NOT participating in the but NOT participating in the seminar. seminar.

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

• If I am in If I am in Seminar BSeminar B, I , I will be sitting in the 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 I will participate in the will participate in the seminar and my seminar and my partner will take notes partner will take notes for me.for me.

How does the discussion work in a How does the discussion work in a seminar?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 in a Just like in a casual conversation, casual conversation, no one begins the no one begins the conversation, a conversation, a conversation begins conversation begins naturally. 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 question.ask a 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.

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 question.ask a 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 the How will I be assessed on the seminar?seminar?

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

• By contributing to the conversation following By contributing to the conversation following these guidelines: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 Observation By completing the Socratic Seminar Observation

form form (5 points)(5 points)

Total _________/50Total _________/50