Socratic Seminar
What is a Socratic Seminar?
Socrates believed that enabling students to think for themselves was more important than filling their heads with the “right answers.” In a Socratic Seminar, participants seek deeper understanding of complex ideas through rigorously thoughtful dialogue, rather then by memorizing bits of information or meeting arbitrary demands for “coverage.” A Socratic Seminar fosters active learning as participants explore and evaluate the ideas, issues, and values in a particular text.
Guidelines
This should be a dialogue, not a debate, so there are no winners or losers, just a community of idea builders.
§ Bring paper and text. Take notes as the discussion progresses in case you hear something you would like to comment on later.
§ Bring questions and annotated text (come prepared or do not sit in the circle).
§ During the discussion, create other strong questions that will further the discussion, clarify the text, or help another class member understand a complex concept.
§ Raising hands is not necessary. Listen to each other and speak so all can hear you.
§ Listen to each other’s statements.
§ Paraphrase the previous speaker’s statements before responding. For example, say “I hear you are saying…” or “Do you mean….”
§ Use evidence to support your claims.
§ Stick to the point currently under discussion and make notes if you think of an important tangent.
§ Look each other in the eye and use first names.
§ It is okay to pass, but you should offer a contribution a few times during the seminar.
Pre-seminar Question Writing
On a separate sheet of paper, write questions for the following categories:
World Connection Question
Write a question connecting the text to the real world.
Example: Do you think you would go as far as Rainsford to save your own life? Why or why not?(“The Most Dangerous Game”)
Example: How can Richard Connell’s view of morality be applied to less severe scenarios in the real world?
Theme Question
Write a question dealing with the BIG IDEAS of the text that will encourage group discussion about possible themes in the text.
Example: How does the concept of morality play a role in this text? (“The Most Dangerous Game”)
Character Analysis Question
Write a question that deals with HOW a character is portrayed or is developed in the text.
Example: Does Rainsford’s morality change throughout the story? Why or why not? (“The Most Dangerous Game”)
Additional Level 2 and 3 Questions
Write another three level 2 and/or 3 questions about the text that captures the main points of the entire reading. Use your notes and handouts on questions to help you.