FEBRUARY 9-13, 2015

The Crucible Unit Wrap Up

FEBRUARY 9, 2015 EQs: What are my strengths and

weakness in literature? How may I improve my strengths and weaknesses? What skills can I strengthen?

Quickwrite: If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? Why would you make this change? Would it help improve the world? Explain.

ASSIGNED STATIONS Textual Evidence –

Reviewing how to find and use appropriate textual evidence within writing and short answers.

Annotations Reviewing what annotations are, why they are

used, and the benefits of. Writing

Peer Review / Self Revise Native American Myths Begin writing Native American Myths if not started.

Binder Set-up Chance to check for missing work and update

binders.

THE CRUCIBLE – ACT IVFEBRUARY 10, 2015

EQs: What current world events are similar to the events in The Crucible? How are the events similar?

Quickwrite: Has there ever been a moment where you stood up for something/someone despite the consequences? What was it and what were the consequences for standing up for what you believed in? Do you believe the accused in The Crucible should admit to being witches or stand firm that they are innocent?

FEBRUARY 11, 2015 EQs: What is a Socratic Seminar? How

may I effectively engage in a Socratic Seminar?

Quickwrite: T-Chart http://youtu.be/QxZMGK6IdEs?t=35s

4 positives of the video, 4 negatives. Pay attention to the students and the way they interact rather than the video quality.

SO WHAT IS A SOCRATIC SEMINAR? Socratic Seminars are class discussions

generated by asking questions, inspired by the Greek Philosopher Socrates who believed learning was generated through inquiry and discussion.

CLAIMS & COUNTERCLAIMS Claim: an argument or opinion that is

powerful, unique, and can be supported by evidence. This is another word for “thesis” or “controlling idea.”

Counterclaim: the prefix “counter” means against, so the counterclaim to your claim is any opposing idea. Anticipate, mention, and disprove counterclaims as a part of presenting your claim.

ACADEMIC VS. CASUAL LANGUAGE Academic Language: language used

in textbooks, in classrooms, and on tests.  It is different in structure and vocabulary from the everyday spoken English of social interactions. In other words, it is FORMAL English.

Casual Language: Language used in everyday communication. Informal English.

USING APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE What is appropriate language for a

scholarly setting? Academic language. You shouldn’t use curses or slang within a scholarly setting.

What other ways do we communicate outside of using words? Hand gestures and body language.

Why is it important to be mindful in how we present ourselves in conversation? To give a good impression, a credible presentation of ideas, and provide a positive academic environment.

APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE What is the importance of using

appropriate academic language while in a scholarly setting?

Why is it important to be respectful while building off claims, refuting claims, or presenting new evidence?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Discussion questions are questions that

have no real right or wrong answer, but require deeper thinking than a simple “yes” or “no” answer.

Discussion questions generate conversation.

Discussion questions are debatable. Discussion questions should promote

further thinking and discussion.

ROLES Speakers: participate directly in

discussion using claims/counterclaims in an appropriate and respectful manner. They take notes of key points in discussion or ideas/ thoughts/ questions that they have during discussion.

ROLES Coaches: take key notes of

discussion and take notes of the things their speaker does well and things their speaker can improve on. They also take notes on what they think might help strengthen their speaker’s arguments or credibility.

HOW IT WORKS You will choose a partner to work with.

The Socratic Seminar is split into two discussions—Discussion A and Discussion B.

During Discussion A, one person will be speaker and the other will be the coach.

During Discussion B, the roles will switch between partners.

EVERYONE WILL BE A SPEAKER OR A COACH.

DURING THE SEMINAR You are not only answering the discussion

questions, but promoting discussion by asking others related questions, building off the claims/counterclaims of others, and being sure to include everyone in discussion.

EVERYONE who is a speaker at that time MUST SPEAK.

The only person speaking should be the person holding Dr. Wiggles. Do not throw him to the same people over and over again. Be sure everyone gets a chance to speak.

CREATING DISCUSSION QUESTIONS You have two minutes to find a partner.

After the time is up, I will simply pair you up if you have not found one.

Next you will create two discussion questions about The Crucible. You should consider the historical context, themes, conflicts, etc.

Remember, discussion questions should generate discussion! It can not simply be YES or NO for an answer.

WITH YOUR PARTNER After you are done with creating your

two discussion questions, I want you to come up with two rules that you think we should have during the Seminar. Be prepared to explain WHY you think those rules should be implemented.

TOMORROW (ASSUMING WE GET THE LAB) I will give you a handout with some starter

questions for you to prepare for. You will come up with a stance for these

starter questions, then conduct research to support your claim.

When we come back to the room, you will then strengthen your claim with evidence from the text, informational articles we’ve read, and whatever you found during your research.

FEBRUARY 12, 2015 EQs: How can I best support my stance

in a Socratic Seminar? How can I determine if information is credible or not? How may I properly implement evidence into a collaborative / Socratic discussion?

Quickwrite: None Tasks: Socratic Seminar Notes

FEBRUARY 13, 2015Sit with your partner. One person in front, one behind them!! Keep the literature book at your desk! You need it! EQs: How may I properly engage my peers in

a Socratic Seminar? How can I best support my claims/counterclaims in discussion? How may I build off the claims of others? How can I help propel the discussion at hand?

Quickwrite: What are your goals for today’s Socratic Seminar? How do you plan to reach these goals? (Have at least 2 goals)

EVALUATION There are two sides: self-evaluation and

coach evaluation. Self-Evaluation you evaluate yourself! Coach Evaluation you evaluate your

partner! Please put the correct names in the correct

spaces or grading might get messed up! Be sure to take down key points during

BOTH discussions. Remember, coaches, you are to aid your speaker! Be sure to pay attention so you can adequately help them!

GROUP A How do the witch trials empower

individuals who were previously powerless?

Consider: What made someone powerful in The Crucible? Who was in power? How were they in power? What did they do to maintain that power? Why might it have been important to them to be in power?

5 MINUTE BREAK Coaches and speakers are to discuss

courses of actions, areas of strengths, areas of improvement, and what key points have been made.

We will then resume the discussion.

NEW QUESTION OR…NAW? What were the Puritan ideals/beliefs of

the time? What characters went against these ideals/beliefs? How did they go against these ideals?

Consider: What characteristics the characters had that were OPPOSITE of typical Puritan behavior.

GROUP B What events have we seen in current

societies that are similar to the witch hunts of Salem? How are these events similar and what do you believe it says about society and history?

Consider: Power struggles, discrimination, oppression, intolerance, crimes/punishments, and the motives of people’s actions.

5 MINUTE BREAK Coaches and speakers are to discuss

courses of actions, areas of strengths, areas of improvement, and what key points have been made.

We will then resume the discussion.

NEW QUESTION OR…NAW? Why do you believe John Proctor refused to

sign his name despite that it would save his life? What did Proctor’s name mean to him? Why might not signing the confession be important to him?

Consider: What is in a name? What sort of significance comes with a name? Consider personal experience, what Proctor says in the text, and any cultures you can think of.

CLOSING - REFLECTION Did you meet your goals for the

Socratic Seminar? How? What do you feel went well with the Seminar? What do you feel needs improvement?

BE DETAILED.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: All make up work needs to be in by

Wednesday at the LATEST (Feb. 18, 2015).

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get this work done. I want you to succeed and it’ll be a hard thing to do when you have fallen behind in only the first six weeks of the semester.

I love all of you, have a good and safe weekend!