Socratic Seminars

What is a Socratic Seminar?

A Socratic seminar is a way of teaching founded by the Greek philosopher Socrates.

Socrates believed that:students learn best by

asking questions. It is the teacher’s job to

moderate the discussion instead of leading the discussion.

Why do we have Socratic Seminars

• Socratic Seminars help us engage a text in class.

• The thought process is when we work together to understand a text it will help everyone’s understanding.

How do we prepare for a Socratic Seminar?

• The day prior to the seminar you will be given a Socratic Seminar prep sheet. Your job is to complete steps 1 – 4 for homework.

• It is essential you read the text and prepare yourself with important questions and quotations.

What type of questions should I ask during the

seminar?• There are

three levels of questions.

• You should come up with a minimum of 1 question per level.

Level 1 (Knowledge Questions):

• Knowledge means being able to show understanding by talking, writing, signing, drawing.

Please use the following stems in creating your Knowledge Questions:

• Can you state, in your own words?

• Can you describe?• Can you defend your

position?• Can you summarize the

information?

Level II (Application Questions):

Application means supporting your ideas with evidence.

Please use the following stems in creating your Application Questions:

• Explain how …• Explain why …• Interpret the

reasons …• Compare and

contrast …• Connect and explain

…

Level III (Synthesis Questions):

Synthesis means combining or connecting two different elements.

In terms of the Socratic Seminar you will be connecting two texts with each other OR connecting a text to the outside world.

Level III (Synthesis Questions) Continued

Please use the following stems in creating your Synthesis Questions:

• Imagine …• What would happen

if …?• Hypothesize …• Theorize …• Speculate…• How is Text similar

to Outside World?

What will the seminar look like?

• The classroom will be arranged in a two concentric circles.

• You will be assigned to either seminar A or seminar B.

• You will be assigned a partner in the opposite seminar.

FOR EXAMPLE:If I am in seminar A my

partner will be in seminar B

Mr. Sun-K will be facilitating, but NOT participating in the seminar.

What’s the deal with partners?

If I am in Seminar B, I will be sitting in the outside circle taking notes for my partner who is in the inner circle participating in the Seminar A.

Then we will switch. I will participate in the seminar and my partner will take notes for me.

We will be switching notes at the end of each seminar to be used for Step 5 of the Socratic Seminar Prep Sheet.

How does the discussion work in a seminar?

• The seminar is to serve as a discussion, not a lecture. Just like in a casual conversation, no one begins the conversation, a conversation begins naturally.

Seminar 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 a question.

• Respond to the person who asks the question.

• Use evidence from the text to support yourself.

• Always treat each other with mutual respect.

How will I be assessed on the seminar?

• By completing the seminar prep sheet. (30 pts).

• By contributing to the conversation following these guidelines:- Ask a question.– Respond to a question.– Cite evidence from the text.

• All three requirements: 30 points.

• Two requirements: 20 points.

• 1 requirement: 10 points.• No requirements: 0 points.

What do we need to do after the seminar?

• The last 5 - 10 minutes of class on the day of a seminar:

• Please complete step 5 of the prep sheet using your notes from your partner as a reference. Please staple your partner’s notes to the back of your prep sheet and turn it in the “In-Box.”

Please stand for Think On Your Feet