Socratic Seminars
http://www.accountingethics.com
/images/socrates.jpg
What is a Socratic seminar?
• An organized discussion forum to explore a
universal question relating to a text
• Participants are in two groups – observers and
discussers. The roles switch halfway through
seminar
The rules - discussers
• Fishbowl format
• Only one discusser in the fishbowl talks at a time
• Discussers may make whatever statement they wish.
Must end with a question to the group.
• Extra credit points if all discussers contribute
• A tolerant, open atmosphere is maintained at all
times – everyone’s viewpoint is valuable and
welcome. This is a dialogue, not a debate.
The rules - observers
• Fishbowl format
• Observers do not talk, but take notes
• Observers: Please write three comments made you
agree with and three that you disagree with
• At the end of the discussion, observers are given a
chance to discuss/critique discussers
• A tolerant, open atmosphere is maintained at all
times – everyone’s viewpoint is valuable and
welcome. This is a discussion, not a debate.
Inner circle
Outer circle:
Observers
Discussers
Socratic seminar preparation:
Levels of questions
World connection question – Write a question
connecting the text to the real world.
- If you were given only 24 hours to leave your
home town, what might you pack? (After
reading the first 30 pages of Night)
Socratic seminar preparation:
Levels of questions
Close-ended question – Write a question about the
text that will help everyone in the class come to
agreement about events or characters in the text.
- These have right or wrong answers
- Who, What, Where, When questions
- Example: What happened to Hester Prynne’s
husband that she was left alone in Boston without
family? (After the first four chapters of The
Scarlett Letter)
Socratic seminar preparation:
Levels of questions
Open-ended question – What does it mean? You
can find the answer in the text, but it requires
justification.
- WHY or HOW questions
- Example: Why did Gene hesitate to reveal the
truth about the accident to Finny that first day in
the infirmary? (Mid-way through A Separate
Peace)
Socratic seminar preparation:
Levels of questions
Universal – why does it matter? BIG questions
dealing with themes of the text with no one
answer.
- Why do humans create art?
- Why do humans write books?
- Why are people racist?
Grading
Points can be earned for:
-Making analogies
-Spotting contradictions
-Making a relevant point
-Responding to a question
-Drawing another person
into conversation
-Using factual or specific
evidence
-Asking a clarifying
question or moving the
discussion along
Points can be subtracted
for:
-Not paying attention or
distracting others
Interrupting
Irrelevant comment
Monopolizing
Personal attack
*Each seminar is worth 50 points, so be sure to participate!
Today’s assignment:
• Each person must write:
– 2 world connection questions
– 2 close-ended questions
– 3 open-ended questions
– 3 universal theme questions
– Use Battle Royal as your source text. Due end of
the period.