Socratic
Seminar
What is it?
 In
the seminar, participants discuss
issues related to a particular text. It is a
group conversation that allows
participants to express their own
point of view and hear and build
upon the ideas of others.
Why are we doing it?
 The
purpose of a Socratic Seminar is
to achieve a deeper understanding of
the ideas in a text through critically
thinking in a group discussion.
 It also improves speaking and
listening skills.
How does it work?
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In a Socratic Seminar, the participants are
responsible for the quality of the discussion.
Good discussions occur when participants analyze
the text closely, listen actively, share their ideas and
questions, and use evidence to support their ideas.
The discussion is not about right answers; it is not
a debate.
Students are encouraged to think out loud and to
exchange ideas openly while examining ideas in a
thoughtful manner.
What will it look like?
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The desks will be set up in an inner circle (~6 desks)
and an outer circle (~15-20 desks).
The inner circle will be the only students speaking;
they will be discussing the topic at hand.
The outer circle will be taking notes on what is
being said and writing down ideas and questions
they want to discuss once they get into the inner
circle.
After a certain amount of time, participants in the
inner and outer circles will switch spots until all
students have had a chance to be in the inner circle.
Sentence Stems
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“What I think I heard you say was . . . ”
“So, what you’re saying is . . . ”
“I think _____________ because . . . ”
“_____________ was important because . . . ”
“One thing that surprised me was _____________ because I
always thought . . . ”
“I agree/disagree with ____________ because. . .”
“That reminds me of . . . ”
“An example that would support your idea is . . . ”
“I’d like to piggyback on what you said. . .”
“I’d like to add to what _________ said. . .”
“That is a good point, but. . .”
Socratic Seminar on
The Catcher in the Rye
Socratic Seminar on
“The American Dream”
How Will I Be Assessed?
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The rubric for participating in a Socratic Seminar is on the back
of your Class Discussion Guidelines. A high score reads as
follows:
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The student clearly made valuable contributions to the discussion
The student made relevant and thoughtful comments that helped the
class gain a new perspective or go deeper into the ideas
The student meaningfully restated other students’ comments and
questions in an effort to clarify and bring a new perspective
The student helped to make the discussion meaningful for others by
providing opportunities for their peers to engage in the discussion
The student made meaningful connections to other works of literature,
popular culture, or their own life experience
The student supported their comments and questions with evidence
from a text; they helped their classmates locate and examine important
parts of the text