Socratic SeminarSocratic Seminar2% of semester grade2% of semester grade

(That’s the equivalent of 4 (That’s the equivalent of 4 quizzes!!!)quizzes!!!)

What is a Socratic What is a Socratic Seminar?Seminar?• A Socratic seminar A Socratic seminar

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

• Socrates believed Socrates believed that:that:

students learn best students learn best by asking questions. by asking questions.

• It is the teacher’s It is the teacher’s job to job to moderatemoderate the the discussion instead discussion instead of of leadingleading the the discussion.discussion.

Why do we have Socratic Why do we have Socratic SeminarsSeminars• Socratic Socratic

Seminars help Seminars help us us engage a engage a text in class. text in class.

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

How do we prepare for a How do we prepare for a Socratic Seminar?Socratic Seminar?

• Come with a Come with a list of list of questions and main questions and main eventsevents on the given on the given handout handout for your for your assigned chapters.!assigned chapters.!

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

What type of questions What type of questions should I ask during the should I ask during the

seminar?seminar?•There are There are threethree levels of levels of questions. questions.

•You will You will recognize these recognize these from when we from when we did Mini MEL-did Mini MEL-Con practice!!!Con practice!!!

Level 1 (Knowledge Level 1 (Knowledge Questions):Questions):

• Can you state, Can you state, in your own words?

• Can you Can you describe?

•Can you defend your position?your position?

•Can you summarize the the information?information?

Level II (Application Level II (Application Questions):Questions):

• Explain how …• Explain why …• InterpretInterpret the

reasons … …• Compare and

contrast …• Connect and

explain …

Level III (Synthesis Level III (Synthesis Questions):Questions):

Synthesis means combining or connecting two different elements.

In terms of the Socratic Seminar you will be connecting a text to the outside world.

Level III (Synthesis Level III (Synthesis Questions) ContinuedQuestions) Continued

• Imagine …Imagine …• What would What would

happen if …?happen if …?• Hypothesize …Hypothesize …• Theorize …Theorize …• Speculate…Speculate…• How is How is TextText

similar to similar to Outside World?Outside World?

What will the seminar What will the seminar look like?look like?

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

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

What do I do?What do I do?If you are in the INNER CIRCLE, If you are in the INNER CIRCLE,

you will spend 15 minutes you will spend 15 minutes discussing the chapters with your discussing the chapters with your peers. You must participate a peers. You must participate a certain # of times to get the certain # of times to get the grade that you want!!!grade that you want!!!

If you are in the OUTER CIRCLE, If you are in the OUTER CIRCLE, you will be taking notes on the you will be taking notes on the items that your classmates in the items that your classmates in the INNER CIRCLE bring up. You INNER CIRCLE bring up. You must take a certain amount of must take a certain amount of notes to achieve the grade you notes to achieve the grade you want!!!want!!!

Look at the Look at the Socratic Socratic Seminar Seminar

Requirements Requirements sheet!sheet!