Introduction to Socratic Seminars
Challenging Students to Think for Themselves
“Wisdom begins in wonder.”
“Everywhere
is walking
distance if
you have the
time.”
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“The secret of
managing a team is
to keep the four
guys who hate you
away from the five
guys who are still
undecided.”
Socratic Seminars Help to Develop:
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Reading skills
Writing skills
Listening skills
Speaking skills
Test-Taking skills
Critical Thinking
Initiative
Classroom Community
Originality
Self-Respect
Self-Confidence
Access to Today’s Materials
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Socratic Seminars
Transmission
of Facts
Socratic Seminars
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To enlarge
understanding of
issues, ideas, and
values.
Dialogue: An
exchange of ideas or
opinions.
Debate: To engage in
argument by discussing
opposing points.
“Man is a rational animal who always loses his
temper when called upon to act in accordance
with the dictates of reason.”
Questioner: What does he mean by rational?
Responder: I think he means logical.
Questioner: How is logical different from rational?
Responder: One way is by using steps.
Questioner: Explain how using steps is rational.
Responder: It is reasonable to use steps.
Questioner: Can you give examples when to be
reasonable uses steps?
The Process of Socratic Seminars
Prep
Work
Seminar
Reflection
Prep Work
1. Read the text carefully,
like you would when
reading a love letter.
2. Highlight the phrase or
sentence in the text
which:
• is your favorite
• is most ambiguous
Salvador Late or Early – Opening Question
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Which pair of words best captures the
essence of the text?
 Love
: Fear
 Respect : Pity
 Courage : Despair
Salvador Late or Early - Reflection
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What did you observe
about:
 the
other participants?
 the process?
 yourself?
 the leader?
Sandra Cisneros
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Caramelo (2002)
Loose Woman: Poems
(1994)
Woman Hollering Creek
and Other Stories (1991)
My Wicked Wicked Ways
(1987)
The House on Mango Street
(1983)
How are revenge and maturity related?
Maturity
Adulthood; full development.
About Revenge - Reflection
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What did you observe
about:
 the
other participants?
 the process?
 yourself?
 the leader?