Creating Socratic Questions:

Using the GATE IconsJosefino Rivera, Jr.

Lit and Personal Choice2.13.2009

Homework from yesterday

If you haven’t done so, please turn in your:LogsCharacter Committee Sheets

Socratic Seminar

Fishbowl discussion (not debate)Aims to get at deeper understanding through questioning

Critical analysis of a topic (e.g. Hamlet)

GATE Icons:Gifted and Talented EducationDepth (below surface)

Language of the DisciplineDetailsRulesPatternsTrendsEthicsUnanswered QuestionsBig Idea

Complexity (multiple layers)Over timeAcross DisciplinesMultiple Perspectives

Depth: Language of the Discipline

A discipline is a branch of knowledge

Each discipline has its own set of terminology

Depth: Language of the Discipline

English--Shakespeare playsPun Iambic Pentameter

Soliloquy BlockingMetaphor SubtextSimile Motive

Socratic Questions withLanguage of the DisciplineCreate a question that incorporates “Language of the Discipline” Example: Using the language of poetry, what literary devices does Shakespeare use and why?

Or create a question that doesn’t necessarily use the phrase “Language of the Discipline” but a derivative from it Example: What would a poet say about the literary devices Shakespeare uses?

Depth: Details

This elaboration of an idea or event so that you can both recall the specificities and analyze their meaning.

Socratic Questions with DetailsCreate a question that incorporates “Details” What were the Details of the letters Hamlet wrote to Claudius?

Create a questions that doesn’t necessarily use the word “Details” but a derivative from it What were the specific imaginary flowers Ophelia passed out and why?

Depth: Rules The rules define the organizational elements of the text. This process requires the identification and description of factors, either human-made or natural, which affect the information at hand.

Socratic Questions withRulesCreate a question that incorporates “Rules” What Rules did women have to abide by?

Create a questions that doesn’t necessarily use the word “Rules” but a derivative from it What is acceptable behavior for women and how is it different from acceptable behavior for men?

Depth: Patterns

Recurring elements or repeated factors of an event or idea. It also focuses on the order of events which occur to predict what comes next.

Example: 3, 13, 7, 17, 11, 21, 15, ___

Socratic Questions withPatternsCreate a question that incorporates “Patterns” A recurring Pattern of “ears” seems to surface in the play. Why?

Create a questions that doesn’t necessarily use the word “Pattern” but a derivative from it Is Ophelia’s father’s death a parallel to Hamlet’s father’s death?

Depth: Trends

Identify changes over time. Note factors or events – social, political, economic, geographic – that cause effects to occur or happen

Whereas patterns were predictable, Trends can suddenly change

Example: Slap-bracelets to Livestrong Bracelets

Socratic Questions withTrendsCreate a question that incorporates “Trends” What Trends with hidden agenda exist in the play?

Create a questions that doesn’t necessarily use the word “Trends” but a derivative from it Although Hamlet never seems to be able to actualy do anything to Claudius, what ultimately breaks that cycle?

Depth: Unanswered Questions

What ideas are unclear? What information is unclear? What don’t we know? What areas have not been explained or proved yet? Do any conclusions need further evidence or support? These are questions which arise when using this icon in discussion.

Socratic Questions withUnanswered QuestionsCreate a question that incorporates “Unanswered Questions” Shakespeare leaves Gertrude’s true intentions an Unanswered Question--what were they?

Create a questions that doesn’t necessarily use the phrase “Unanswered Questions” but a derivative from it It’s still unclear as to why Polonius tells his son to be true and honest, but does not practice those virtues. Why?

Depth: Ethics

Identify and analyze the possible rights and wrongs of a given idea or event.

Determine the elements that reflect bias, prejudice and discrimination.

Socratic Questions withEthicsCreate a question that incorporates “Ethics”Was it ethical for Ophelia to kill herself?

Create a questions that doesn’t necessarily use the word “Ethics” but a derivative from itIs it wrong of Laertes to seek revenge?

Depth: Big Idea

The big idea is in other words a generalization, principle, or theory about the text.

Make a conclusion from evidence that explain: a collection of facts or ideas

Socratic Questions withBig IdeaCreate a question that incorporates “Big Idea” What is the Big Idea behind the political conflict with Norway?

Create a questions that doesn’t necessarily use the phrase “Big Idea” but a derivative from it What’s is Shakespeare’s main argument?

Complexity Icons

These icons are meant to be used in conjunction with the Depth icons, in order to add another layer of meaning.

Complexity: Over Time Time changes everything.

Identify and describe the effects that time has on the text.

How and why do things change or remain the same?

Socratic Question withOver TimeCreate a question that incorporates “Over Time” How do the Details of Claudius’s character change Over Time?

Create a questions that doesn’t necessarily use the phrase “Over Time” but a derivative from it Are there any behavioral rules that change Over Time in the play?

Complexity: Multiple Perspectives

Look at ideas and events from different perspectives, since not everybody looks at things the same way.

Look through another’s eyes

Socratic Questions withMultiple PerspectivesCreate a question that incorporates “Multiple Perspectives” Explain the possible solutions to the Ethical dilemma Hamlet faces from Multiple Perspectives.

Create a questions that doesn’t necessarily use the phrase “Multiple Perspectives” but a derivative from it What might Toni Morrison say about Ophelia’s behavior?

Complexity: Across Disciplines

Connecting information among various branches of knowledge: from English to history, math, psychology, art, etc.

Socratic Questions withAcross DisciplinesCreate a question that incorporates “Across Disciplines”Would Shakespeare’s Big Idea change if we were looking at this text from Across Disciplines?

Create a questions that doesn’t necessarily use the phrase “Across Disciplines” but a derivative from itHow are the Rules of meter and rhythm similar to an Algebraic Property?

For Homework:

Create 11 Socratic Questions for our Hamlet seminar using the GATE icons, one question per icon. Be sure to prepare for the discussions by finding evidence from the text (act, scene, and line) for each of your questions.

Character Paper: Step 1

Memorize Scene