Transcript WORLD CONNECTION QUESTION:

Socratic Seminar
British Literature
Quote from Socrates
“The unexamined life is not worth
living."
-Socrates
Socratic comes from the name Socrates
(ca. 470-399 BC) who was a classical
Greek philosopher; he developed a Theory
of Knowledge.
 Socrates was convinced that the surest
way to attain reliable knowledge was
through the practice of disciplined
conversation; he called this method

dialectic.
Dialectic

Dialectic (noun) means the art or practice
of examining opinions or ideas logically,
often by the method of questions and
answer, so as to determine their validity.
Socratic Seminar

A Socratic Seminar is a method to try to
understand information by creating an inclass dialogue based on a specific
text. The participants seek deeper
understanding of complex ideas through
rigorously thoughtful dialogue, rather than
by memorizing bits of information or
meeting arbitrary demands for 'coverage.'
Multiple Perspectives
The familiar photo
warrants a
response for the
viewer. Is this an
old woman or
youthful dame.
Multiple Perspectives
Do you see a rabbit or a duck?
The Learning Pyramid
Bloom’s Taxonomy
WORLD CONNECTION
QUESTION:
Write a question connecting the text to the
real world.
Example: If you were given only 24 hours
to pack your most precious
belongings in a back pack and to get
ready to leave your home town, what
might you pack? (After reading the first
30 pages of NIGHT).
CLOSE-ENDED QUESTION:

Write a question about the text that will
help everyone in the
class come to an agreement about events
or characters in the text. This
question usually has a "correct" answer.

Example: What happened to Hester
Pyrnne's husband that she was
left alone in Boston without family? (after
the first 4 chapters of THE
SCARLET LETTER).
OPEN-ENDED QUESTION:
Write an insightful question about the text
that will require proof
and group discussion and "construction of
logic" to discover or explore the
answer to the question.
Example: Why did Gene hesitate to reveal
the truth about the
accident to Finny that first day in the
infirmary? (after mid-point of A
SEPARATE PEACE).
UNIVERSAL THEME/ CORE
QUESTION:
Write a question dealing with a theme(s)
of the text that will
encourage group discussion about the
universality of the text.
Example: After reading John Gardner's
GRENDEL, can you pick out its existential
elements?
Guidelines for Participants in a
Socratic Seminar
1. Refer to the text during the discussion. A
seminar is not a test of memory. The goal is to
understand the ideas, issues, and values
reflected in the text.
2. Cite reasons and evidence for your statements.
3. Do not participate if you are not prepared. A
seminar should not be a bull session.
4. Do not stay confused; ask for clarification.
5. Stick to the point currently under discussion;
make notes about ideas you want to come back
to.
Guidelines for Participants in a
Socratic Seminar
6. Take turns speaking; you should not have to
raise your hands, but if the need arises you may
do so.
7. Listen carefully to all that is being said, and
write down the ideas that are expressed.
8. Follow proper speaking techniques (make eye
contact, sit up in your chair, speak to the group
not the teacher, do not pile your desk with
irrelevant materials…).
Guidelines for Participants in a
Socratic Seminar
9. Avoid hostile exchanges. Question each
other in a civil manner. Discuss ideas
rather than each other's opinions.
10. You are responsible for the seminar,
even if you don't know it or admit it.
Group Make-up
1. Group Seminar
Everyone participates in one large group
2. Concentric Circles
There is an inner circle and an outer circle. The inner
circle speaks. The outer circle takes notes and works to
assist the inner circle
3. Small Group Seminar
Small groups are formed for more intimate
conversations.
4. Role-play
A role play seminar is a variation on the other
forms. Participants assume the role of a character from
the text.