Transcript the gift of the magi 6th grade lit. socratic seminar

“THE GIFT OF THE MAGI”
O’Henry
Pre-reading Focus…
1.
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4.
5.
6.
Is it better to give or receive? Explain.
What makes a wise person different from a foolish
person?
Is it worth it to sacrifice something important to you
for someone else? Explain.
Tell about a time you wanted something that
seemed out of reach.
What does the “spirit” of the holidays” mean to
you?
Is it better to be poor and in love or rich and
friendless? Explain.
Read “What is a Magi?”
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Predict:
 Based
on what we’ve discussed and read, what do you
think that “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry will be
about? Provide evidence from our discussion or reading
to support your predictions.

Consider each of the following fictional
couples. If they had been the main characters
in “The Gift of the Magi,” what would each
have sold (sacrificed) for the other?
Remember that each character must sell
something that would have been needed to
use the gift he or she receives. If you are not
familiar with a couple, you may skip the item
or get help from a friend.
Fictional Couple
Item SHE sold
Item SHE purchased
Item HE sold
Item HE purchased
Figurative Language
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Hyperbole
Allusion
Personification
Simile
Alliteration
Socratic
Seminar
An introduction
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Socrates

“Let him that would move the world, first
move himself.”

Socrates
Born 470 BC
 Greek philosopher
 Student: Plato
 Socratic method:
- a form of inquiry & discussion

Socratic Seminar!
“Dialogue is a conversation
with a center, not sides.”
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Dialogue Vs. Debate
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Dialogue vs. Debate
Dialogue
•Collaborative: shared
understanding
•One listens to understand, to
make meaning, and to find
common ground
•Creates an open-minded
atmosphere, an openness to
being wrong, and a willingness
to accept all viewpoints
Debate
•Oppositional: Opposite sides
trying to prove each other
wrong
•One listens to find flaws, to
spot differences, and to find
arguments
•Creates a close-minded
attitude, a determination to be
right, and defends his/her belief
that he/she is right
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*Socratic Seminar

A collaborative, intellectual dialogue facilitated with
open-ended questions about a text
Purpose:

To achieve a deeper understanding about the ideas
and values in a text.

To examine key issues and principles from various
points of view

To connect the deeper meanings to self and others
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How it Works:

Make sure you have your “ticket” questions with you

Enter the classroom with complete order and
sophistication. Find your seat and be ready for
seminar!

Fishbowl
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Leader & Encourager
.
for each fishbowl…
A “Leader” will begin the discussion by opening up
with one of the prepared questions, add questions,
move the discussion along, reroute people back on
track, etc. The leader doesn’t give his or her
opinions.
 An “Encourager” will record who speaks, track the
type of responses (Q, R, C), compliment speakers’
ideas, and refer to others’ ideas when speaking
him/herself.


Encourager will prompt people to speak or encourage
you with regard to a point made
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The Seminar consists of three
phases
1. Opening:

The “Leader” asks the first question and any
panel member my begin by responding

Panel members listen and respond as they are
inclined
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2. Discussion (Ticket Q’s)
Ticket questions are the foundation:

TQs are posed by the “Leader”

Follow-up ideas, important points, and new questions
evolve through the discussion

Refer to your text

Apply discussion to the real world, to your real world.

Do not let your discussion die!
This is the bulk of the conversation. Length of
discussion per question will vary.
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3. Connection
Closing Question – this is were we will
summarize our new knowledge, identify
new ideas, and understand new
perspectives related to the text or issues
discussed in seminar
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Time-Out

If the teacher calls a “time-out,” we step out of
the seminar for a moment and function as a
regular class with classroom rules. The
purpose of a time-out is to reflect on how
things are going, or to allow the facilitator to
teach something or adjust the climate of the
conversation.

The teacher will call “time-in” to return to
seminar.
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Fishbowl Norms (Inner Circle)
Do not raise hands
 Listen carefully
 Ask a question
 Address one another respectfully
 Base any opinions on the text
 Do not interrupt
 Speak at least 3x but monitor “air time”
 Refer to the text
 Present your own thoughts, but be open and
flexible to new ideas based on points made
by others
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Norms for the Outer Circle

No side conversations (talking to peers sitting
near you during seminar)

Be respectful: No rude comments or laughing at
people

Take notes—write down meaningful comments,
disagreeable comments, or “ah-ha” moments,
epiphanies. These will help you with your
reflection sheet.
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Participants have 3 main
tasks:
1. Prepare
2. Participate

Listen, think, respond

Refer to text
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Connect to other texts or world
3. Reflect
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What you need to do to prepare...

Prepare your Socratic Seminar “ticket”
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Understand the story in order to support
your opinions by referring to it when
speaking
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Completing your “ticket”

Develop Responses to Core Questions

Respond DEEPLY—beyond the literal.
Think about the bigger picture, the
themes, the symbolism; use your own
ideas or consult outside resources to
support your idea.

Ticket must be complete and shown to me
to enter the Socratic Seminar.
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Lack of Preparation:
No “ticket,” no admission
 Loss of “ticket points” (late)
 Alternative assignment:
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Strong note-taking during Seminar
5-paragraph essay in response to the observed
discussion
No higher than a B- on the assignment
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Reflect:
 After
your seminar, you will complete
the reflection sheet.
 Use
your notes to recall points made by
others or new ideas
 Respond
 Turn
carefully and deeply
in your notes and your reflection
the day after seminar.
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Schedule:
Begin working on your ticket questions.
 Seminar will be
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Yellow card, Red card

A yellow card is given as a warning to anyone who
is not following seminar guidelines, especially
regarding respect or side conversations

A second violation results in a red card, which
means the student can no longer participate and
must complete the outside assignment