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 to teacher’s job to moderate the 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 a text it will it will help help everyone’s everyone’s understanding.understanding.

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

• The The day prior to the day prior to the seminar you will be seminar you will be given a Socratic given a Socratic Seminar prep sheet.Seminar prep sheet. Your job is to Your job is to complete complete steps 1 – 4steps 1 – 4 for homework. for homework.

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

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

seminar?seminar?• There are There are

threethree levels of levels of questions. questions.

• You should You should come up with come up with a a minimum minimum of of 1 question per 1 question per level.level.

Level 1 (Knowledge Level 1 (Knowledge Questions):Questions):

• KnowledgeKnowledge means being means being able able to show to show understanding by talking, understanding by talking, writing, signing, drawing.writing, signing, drawing.

Please Please use the following use the following stemsstems in creating your in creating your Knowledge Questions:Knowledge Questions:

• Can you state, Can you state, in your own words?

• Can you Can you describe?• Can you defend your your

position?position?• Can you summarize the the

information?information?

Level II (Application Level II (Application Questions):Questions):

ApplicationApplication means means supporting your ideas supporting your ideas with evidence.with evidence.

Please Please use the following use the following stemsstems in creating your in creating your Application Questions:Application Questions:

• Explain how …• Explain why …• InterpretInterpret the reasons

……• Compare and contrast

…• Connect and explain …

Level III (Synthesis Level III (Synthesis Questions):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.

Level III (Synthesis Level III (Synthesis Questions) ContinuedQuestions) Continued

Please Please use the following use the following stemsstems in creating your in creating your Synthesis Questions:Synthesis Questions:

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

if …?if …?• Hypothesize …Hypothesize …• Theorize …Theorize …• Speculate…Speculate…• How is How is TextText similar similar

to to Outside World?Outside World?

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.

• If you sit in the center If you sit in the center circle first you will begin circle first you will begin the class with the the class with the speaking portion of the speaking portion of the seminar. seminar.

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 in Just like in a casual 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 listen and look

at each otherat each other when you when you speak.speak.

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

• Invite each other into Invite each other into the conversation. the conversation.

• 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 By completing the seminar prep sheetcompleting the seminar prep sheet. . (30 pts). (30 pts).

• By By contributing to the conversation contributing to the conversation following these guidelines:following these guidelines:- Ask- Ask a question.a question.– RespondRespond to a question.to a question.– Cite evidenceCite evidence from the text. from the text.

• All All threethree requirements requirements: : 30 points30 points..• TwoTwo requirements requirements: : 20 points.20 points.• 11 requirement requirement:: 10 points.10 points.• NoNo requirements requirements:: 0 points.0 points.

Things to Keep in MindThings to Keep in Mind

• Refer to the text when needed during the discussion. A seminar is not a Refer to the text when needed during the discussion. A seminar is not a test of memory. You are not "learning a subject"; your goal is to test of memory. You are not "learning a subject"; your goal is to understand the ideas, issues, and values reflected in the text. understand the ideas, issues, and values reflected in the text.

• It's OK to "pass" when asked to contribute. It's OK to "pass" when asked to contribute. • Do not participate if you are not prepared. A seminar should not be a Do not participate if you are not prepared. A seminar should not be a

bull session. bull session. • Do not stay confused; ask for clarification. Do not stay confused; ask for clarification. • Stick to the point currently under discussion; make notes about ideas Stick to the point currently under discussion; make notes about ideas

you want to come back to.you want to come back to.• Don't raise hands; take turns speaking.Don't raise hands; take turns speaking.• Listen carefully.Listen carefully.• Speak up so that all can hear you.Speak up so that all can hear you.• Talk to each other, not just to the leader or teacher.Talk to each other, not just to the leader or teacher.• Discuss ideas rather than each other's opinions.Discuss ideas rather than each other's opinions.• You are responsible for the seminar, even if you don't know it or admit You are responsible for the seminar, even if you don't know it or admit

it.it.

Dialogue is characterized Dialogue is characterized by:by:

• suspending judgment suspending judgment • examining our own work without defensiveness examining our own work without defensiveness • exposing our reasoning and looking for limits to exposing our reasoning and looking for limits to

it it • communicating our underlying assumptions communicating our underlying assumptions • exploring viewpoints more broadly and deeply exploring viewpoints more broadly and deeply • being open to disconfirming data being open to disconfirming data • approaching someone who sees a problem approaching someone who sees a problem

differently not as an adversary, but as a differently not as an adversary, but as a colleague in common pursuit of better solution.colleague in common pursuit of better solution.

Expectations of Expectations of Participants in a Socratic Participants in a Socratic

SeminarSeminarWhen I am evaluating your Socratic Seminar When I am evaluating your Socratic Seminar participation, I ask the following questions about participation, I ask the following questions about participants. Did they….participants. Did they….

• Speak loudly and clearly?Speak loudly and clearly?• Cite reasons and evidence for their statements?Cite reasons and evidence for their 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 each other, not just to the leader?Talk to each other, not just to the leader?• Paraphrase accurately?Paraphrase accurately?• Ask for help to clear up confusion?Ask for help to clear up confusion?• Support each other?Support each other?• Avoid hostile exchanges?Avoid hostile exchanges?

What do we need to do after What do we need to do after the seminar?the seminar?

• Please completePlease complete step 5 of the prep step 5 of the prep sheet sheet ..

• Not necessary for Not necessary for this first session. this first session.