Transcript Socratic Seminars: A Beginners Guide

Socratic Seminars
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.
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.
How do we prepare for a Socratic
Seminar?
• Prior to the seminar you
will be given text to read,
mark, and summarize.
You will also write
questions to ask during
the discussion.
• It is essential you read
the text and prepare
yourself with these
questions and
quotations.
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.
Costa’s 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?
Costa’s Level II
(Application Questions):
Application means
supporting your ideas
with evidence.
Please use the following stems
in creating your Application
Questions:
• Explain how …
• Explain why …
• Interpret the reasons …
• Compare and contrast …
• Connect and explain …
Costa’s Level III
(Synthesis Questions):
Synthesis means combining
or connecting two different
elements.
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?
What will the seminar look like?
• The classroom will be
arranged in a two
concentric circles.
• You will be assigned to
either the Inside or
Outside Circle.
• You will have a partner.
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.
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.