11/20/2015 1 The Socratic Seminar A How - To Guide English 621 What is a Socratic Seminar? • A Socratic seminar is a teaching and learning method founded by the Greek philosopher Socrates. He believed that students learn best by asking questions. • It is then the teacher’s job to moderate the discussion instead of to lead the discussion. • Seminars help us engage a text in class. When we work together to understand a text, it helps everyone’s understanding.
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11/20/2015
1
The Socratic Seminar
A How-To Guide
English 621
What is a Socratic Seminar?
• A Socratic seminar is a teaching and learning method founded by the Greek philosopher Socrates. He believed that students learn best by asking questions.
• It is then the teacher’s job to moderate the discussion instead of to lead the discussion.
• Seminars help us engage a text in class. When we work together to understand a text, it helps everyone’s understanding.
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How do we prepare for a Socratic Seminar?
• Prior to the seminar date, students will be given a Socratic Seminar prep sheet.
• Each student’s job is to complete steps 1-4 for homework prior to the actual seminar date.
• It is essential that students read the text and prepare themselves with important questions and quotations.
What types of questions should I ask during a Socratic Seminar?
• There are three levels of questions. You should create a minimum of two questions per level.
• Level 1: Comprehension Questions:
• Can you state, in your own words…
• Can you describe…
• Can you defend your position…?
• Can you summarize the information…?
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What types of questions should I ask during a Socratic Seminar?
• There are three levels of questions. You should create a minimum of two questions per level.
• Level 2: Interpretive Questions: (Critical thinking questions that require evidence from the text)
• Explain how or explain why…
• Interpret the reasons…
• Compare and contrast…
• Connect and explain…
What types of questions should I ask during a Socratic Seminar?
• There are three levels of questions. You should create a minimum of two questions per level.
• Level 3: Application Questions: (Critical thinking questions that connect the text to the outside world)
• Imagine…
• What would happen if…
• Hypothesize…
• Theorize…
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What will the Socratic Seminar look like?
• The classroom will be arranged in two concentric circles.
• When you are in the inner-circle, you are participating in the conversation, asking and answering questions.
• If you are in the outer-circle, you will be observing your discussion partner, taking notes, and staying quiet.
• Your teacher will observe from outside the circle, and (hopefully) not be leading the discussion.
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How does the discussion work in a Socratic Seminar?
• The seminar is simply a discussion, not a lecture.
• Just like in normal conversation, students speak naturally about the subject matter.
• It is meant to be an informal - yet informative - discussion focused on our texts.
• A few 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 questions and everyone has a chance to respond.
• Respond to the person who asks the questions.
• Use evidence from the text to support your claims and opinions.
• Each person should also have a copy of the text. (In this case, your movie notes)
How will students be assessed on the Socratic Seminar?
• By completing the seminar prep sheets.
• By contributing to the conversation in three ways:
• ASK questions
• RESPOND to questions
• CITE EVIDENCE from the text
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What’s the seminar prep sheet look like?
Step 1
What’s the seminar prep sheet look like?
Step 2
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What’s the seminar prep sheet look like?
Step 3
Observations
Peer Observation
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What do students need to do after the Socratic Seminar?
• After the seminar ends, complete STEP 4 of the prep sheet (using full sentences and paragraphs) and turn it in the next day.
How will students be assessed on the Socratic Seminar?
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How will students be assessed on the Socratic Seminar?
What is the topic of our seminar?
• In our Socratic Seminar, we are going to examine the topic:
• “Ideologies, culture and values.”
• Keep in mind that:
• Ideology means “A set of beliefs or opinions of a group or individual.”
• Culture means “The behaviors and beliefs of a particular social, ethnic, or age group.”
• Value means “A person’s principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgementof what is important in life.”
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What is the text for our seminar?
• On the Way to School
Creating Good Questions for Discussion
• Some tips for creating questions:
• Create ‘open-ended’ questions that will generate discussion no matter what book you have read.
• Don’t ask questions like, “When was the movie made?” or “What was the name of Carlito’s horse?”
• Ask questions like, “Why do you think these people put such an importance on education?” or “Do you think we take school for granted? Would we be better students if we appreciated school a bit more?” or “How is child obedience to their elders shown in the text?” or “What is the toughest part for you getting to school?”
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What is the topic of our seminar?
• Remember:
• This is our first seminar, so we will try and have a bit of fun with it.
• Mr. Kelly will NOT be leading the discussion. That’s your job.
• Be respectful of others’ opinions.
• Don’t take over the conversation, allow equal time and opportunity for all to speak.
• This Socratic Seminar will help us examine more closely the texts we read or watch, but it will also serve as valuable practice for the seminars we will conduct during our upcoming study of Shakespeare.
When is our Socratic Seminar?
• Our seminar will take place in class on Tuesday, December 1.
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