Name: ______________________________Date: ___________________Period: ________
The Stranger
Socratic Seminar
Directions: For your final assessment on The Stranger you are going to engage in a 40 minute
Socratic Seminar discussion with half of the class. You will not know until the day of the
seminar what your topic will be, who you will be discussing with, and at what time during the
period you will be discuss in the inner circle. You may prepare as many notes as possible and
you are allowed to use your book during the discussion. This will count as your TEST grade for
the novel. See the rubric on the reverse side for grading.
When you are in the outer circle you will be required to take notes on the topic that is being
discussed. These notes include your opinion to the prompt along with evidence from the text(s),
as well as, your reaction to the Socratic Seminar discussion. Consider the following questions:
What would you contribute to the discussion? Would you agree or disagree with what is being
said? What questions would you ask the group? What is your overall impression of the
discussion? Does the group follow the structure/format of a Socratic Seminar? Your notes in the
outer circle should be thorough, thought provoking and written neatly. This assessment will
count as a 100 point TEST grade for the novel. See the rubric on the reverse side for
grading.
Topics for Socratic Seminar Discussion
Option #1: Analyze how Greek tragedy exemplifies the meaning of citizenship, the ethics of
civil disobedience, the issue of individual freedom vs. control of the state, the journey from
ignorance to knowledge, and the significance of family. What other themes does Greek tragedy
portray in Oedipus Rex? Which is the most prominent? What message does Sophocles want to
leave his audience with?
Option #2: In the “Idea of Theater” critic Frances Fergusson suggests, Oedipus “is engaged in a
quest for [his] true human condition.” Discuss the role of fate in tragedy. Is fate a primary
element in tragedy? Is it even necessary? Is it more “tragic” to have the catastrophe brought
about by fate or by the protagonists’ own failings, or by some contribution of the two, or by
some other cause?
Option #3: Think about the following statement: “Destiny is not a matter of chance; it’s a matter
of choice.” Explain whether Oedipus Rex demonstrates or refutes the validity of this statement.
Consider the extent to which Oedipus is responsible for his tragedy and to extent to which it is
the result of external forces.
Option #4: Think about how Oedipus discovers his own tragedy. What does this reveal about his
discovery of self and his discovery of relationship to the world? How does knowledge relate to
action(s) of the play and how does it affect the audience? What does Oedipus learn?
A Level Participant:
Participant offers enough solid analysis, without prompting, to move the
conversation forward. Through comments, demonstrates a deep
knowledge of the text and question. Participant has come to the seminar
prepared, with notes and marked/annotated texts. Participant, through
comments, shows active listening to other participant. Participant offers
clarification and/or follow-up that extends the conversation. Participant’s
remarks often refer back to specific parts of the text. (72/75 points)
B Level Participant:
Participant offers solid analysis without prompting. Through comments,
participant demonstrates a good knowledge of the text and the question.
Participant has come to the seminar prepared, with notes and
a
marked/annotated text. Participant shows that he/she is actively listening
to others
and offers clarification and/or follow-up. (63/75 points)
C Level Participant:
Participant offers some analysis, but needs prompting from the seminar
leader.
Through
comments,
participant
demonstrates
a
general
knowledge of the text and question. Participant is less
prepared, with few notes and no annotated text. Participant is actively
listening to others, but does not offer clarification and/or follow-up to
others’ comments. Participant relies more upon opinion, and less on the
text to drive comments. (57/75 points)
D Level Participant:
Participant offers little commentary and comes to the seminar ill
prepared with little understanding of the text and question. Participant
does not listen to others, offers no commentary to further the
discussion. Distracts the group by interrupting other speakers or by
offering off topic questions and comments. Participant ignores the
discussion and its participants. (50/75 points)
F Level Participant:
Participant does not speak during the Socratic Seminar or comes ill
prepared with no understanding of the text and question. (0/75 points)
RUBRIC:
Discussion:
__________/75 points
Outer Circle Notes:
__________/25 points
____________________________________________
TOTAL:
__________/100 points