Where questions, not answers, are Where questions, not answers, are the driving force in thinking.the driving force in thinking.

What does What does SocraticSocratic mean? mean?

Socratic comes from the name Socratic comes from the name

SocratesSocrates,,    a classical Greek philosopher who developed a a classical Greek philosopher who developed a

Theory of KnowledgeTheory of Knowledge: :

the surest way to attain the surest way to attain reliable knowledgereliable knowledge was was

through the practice of through the practice of disciplineddisciplined

conversationconversation……dialecticdialectic. .

What is a Socratic Seminar?What is a Socratic Seminar?

*a method used to understand information *a method used to understand information by by creating dialecticcreating dialectic in class regarding a in class regarding a

specific text.specific text.

Participants seek Participants seek deeper understandingdeeper understanding of of complex ideascomplex ideas in text through in text through rigorous rigorous thoughtful dialoguethoughtful dialogue, rather than by , rather than by memorizing bits of information. memorizing bits of information.

The Text:The Text:*richness in ideas, issues, values and their *richness in ideas, issues, values and their

ability to stimulate dialogue. ability to stimulate dialogue. A good text raises importantA good text raises important

questionsquestions..

There are no right or wrong answers. There are no right or wrong answers. At the end of successful Socratic Seminars, At the end of successful Socratic Seminars,

participants often leave with more participants often leave with more questions than they brought with them.questions than they brought with them.

The Question:The Question:

The Socratic Seminar opens with a The Socratic Seminar opens with a

questionquestion

posed by the leader. Responses to the posed by the leader. Responses to the opening question opening question generate newgenerate new

questionsquestions from the leader and participants, from the leader and participants, leading to leading to new responsesnew responses. .

The Participants:The Participants:*carry the burden of responsibility for the *carry the burden of responsibility for the

quality of the seminar. of the seminar.

There are four ways to do this:There are four ways to do this:

••preparing preparing

• • participatingparticipating

••sharingsharing

••supportingsupporting

        How it works:How it works:

• Students are arranged in a circle.

• Participants understand and agree to the guidelines.

•An opening question is raised.

• Participants respond with textual evidence for support.

• Participants respond with questions to information they hear.

•Participants reflect on their experience.

Helpful Tips:Helpful Tips:Speak to each other Speak to each other directlydirectly by using each other’s by using each other’s namesnames..

Examples:Examples:What Hannah said made me think about…What Hannah said made me think about…I agree with Jose because…I agree with Jose because…

Raise Raise questions that require explanations questions that require explanations about about opinions and ethical beliefs.opinions and ethical beliefs.

Examples: Examples: Why do you hold this opinion? Why do you hold this opinion? What makes you think this way? What makes you think this way? Do you have any personal connections that Do you have any personal connections that influence your opinion about this?influence your opinion about this?

Try Try not to ask questions that have one word answers not to ask questions that have one word answers (unless needed to clarify information).(unless needed to clarify information).

Helpful Sentence StartersHelpful Sentence Starters

To add or build upon an idea:

In addition to what _________ said…

_________’s point about… made me also realize/consider…

Another essential point is…

This is demonstrated by… (provide specific evidence)

To agree with a viewpoint:

I agree with what _____ said because…

I hold the same view as ______ due to the fact that…

What makes me agree with _____ is… (provide specific evidence)

Helpful Sentence StartersHelpful Sentence Starters

To summarize or explain what someone said:

I think what ______ was saying is…

To sum up _____’s point…

What I concluded from ______’s point is…

To paraphrase what _____ said…

In order to clarify this point…

Helpful Sentence StartersHelpful Sentence Starters

To respectfully disagree or offer a new viewpoint:

While _______’s point is interesting, I also wonder/think…

In contrast to _______’s perspective, I believe….

On one hand it is valid that… On the other hand, one could also argue that…

Although I can see why ______ believed…, I disagree because…

Perhaps _______ might be true instead because…

This idea may be debated because…

There is limited evidence for the view that…

I interpreted this differently because…

A Socratic Seminar is A Socratic Seminar is NOT a debate!NOT a debate!

The difference between The difference between dialogue and debate:dialogue and debate:

Dialogue:Dialogue:

•Dialogue is collaborative: multiple sides work toward shared understanding.

•In dialogue, one listens to understand, to make meaning, and to find common ground.

•Dialogue enlarges and possibly changes a participant's point of view.

Debate:Debate:

•Debate is oppositional: two opposing sides try to prove each other wrong.

•In debate, one listens to find flaws, to spot differences, and to counter arguments.

•Debate defends assumptions as truth.

The difference between The difference between dialogue and debate:dialogue and debate:

• Dialogue creates an Dialogue creates an open-open-minded attitudeminded attitude: an : an openness to being wrong openness to being wrong and an openness to and an openness to change.change.

• In dialogue, one submits In dialogue, one submits one's best thinking, one's best thinking, expecting that other expecting that other people's reflections will people's reflections will help improve it help improve it rather than rather than threaten it.threaten it.

•Debate creates a close-minded attitude, a determination to be right.

•In debate, one submits one's best thinking and defends it against challenge to show that it is right.

Dialogue:Dialogue: Debate:Debate:

Homework:Homework:

• Make a list of 7 questions you’d like to ask during Make a list of 7 questions you’d like to ask during our Socratic Seminarour Socratic Seminar– 2 CLOSE-ENDED QUESTIONS2 CLOSE-ENDED QUESTIONS: who, what, when, where : who, what, when, where

(why, how)(why, how)        Write a question about the text that will help         Write a question about the text that will help everyone in the class come to an agreement about events everyone in the class come to an agreement about events or characters in the text. This question usually has a or characters in the text. This question usually has a "correct" answer."correct" answer.

– 5 OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS5 OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS: would, could, should, what : would, could, should, what if, (why, how)if, (why, how)         Write an insightful question about the text that will          Write an insightful question about the text that will require proof and group discussion and allow people to require proof and group discussion and allow people to share their opinions. share their opinions.

Expectations of Participants:Expectations of Participants:Did I…..Did I….. Speak Speak loudlyloudly and and clearlyclearly? ? Cite reasons and Cite reasons and evidenceevidence for my statements? for my statements? Use the Use the texttext to find support? to find support? ListenListen to others respectfully? to others respectfully? Stick with the subject? Stick with the subject? Talk to others, not just to the “leader”? Talk to others, not just to the “leader”? ParaphraseParaphrase accurately? accurately? Avoid inappropriate language?Avoid inappropriate language? Ask Ask questionsquestions to clear up confusion? to clear up confusion? SupportSupport others? others? Avoid hostile exchanges? Avoid hostile exchanges? Question others in a Question others in a respectfulrespectful manner? manner? Seem Seem preparedprepared??

Your participation will be evaluated according to the levels of your responses. Level 1 = 1 point, Level 2 = 2 points, Level 3 = 3 points

*5 points are required for our first Socratic Seminar.Nobody is allowed to speak more than 5 times.

Response Level CriteriaLevel 1: basic comment, “yes” or “no” responses, “I agree” or “I disagree” Level 2: giving opinions, explaining your position (“I agree because…”)Level 3: contributing new information and in-depth responses, making connections to the text (citing pg. numbers), raising key questions to generate discussion

How will I be assessed?How will I be assessed?