Name: ____________________________________________________________ Period: ____________
A Separate Peace
Group 2 Socratic Seminar Questions
Final Discussion
Socratic Seminar: For your participation grade for this unit you will be graded based on the quality of
contribution in this discussion combined with your participation regarding the novel.
25 Points Total
A 25 – 22.5 Points: Verbal contribution 3+ times; high quality contribution (high level original question,
textual evidence, detailed personal connection), Written contribution, fully prepared for discussion
B 22.5 – 20 Points: Verbal contribution 1-2 times; decent quality contribution (offered an original
question, not most supportive textual evidence, offered personal connection), Written contribution,
fully prepared for discussion
C 20 – 17.5 Points: Verbal contribution 0-2 times; contribution wasn’t of quality (unoriginal question, no
textual evidence, personal connection isn’t relevant), poor quality written contribution, somewhat
prepared for discussion
D 17.5 – 16 Points: No verbal contribution; written contribution (range of quality), prepared for
discussion (range of quality)
In order to be fully prepared for the discussion, answer each of the following questions. In order to receive full credit,
support your answers with textual evidence. You don’t need to rewrite the quote, but should have page numbers
prepared so that you can read from the textbook when responding to the question. Additionally, some of the questions
are based on personal connections; these connections should be relevant and detailed. After the discussion fill out the
written contribution by responding to what your peers discussed and comment on what you learned from this novel.
1. Competition. Can competition bring out the best and the worst in people?
2.
War. How does war change the atmosphere at Devon? Would you call A Separate Peace a war novel?
3. Ironically, it seems as though Gene and Finny’s friendship improves after the accident. Why does knocking Finny
out of the tree seem to benefit their friendship?
4. How has Gene changed? How has Finny changed? Are they still in “competition” with each other? Does Gene still
envy Finny?
5. How might their friendship be different if Finny had never fallen out of the tree?
6.
Colors. Pick one of the following colors and explain how it can represent a bigger idea: white, grey, green (olive
or army), or blue?
7. REAL WORLD CONNECTION – Do real life traumatic experiences have the ability to change a person and their
relationships with others? How so? Explain.
8. ORIGINAL, OPEN-ENDED DISCUSSION QUESTION. Please write your own original discussion question
relating to ASP and the topic of Jealousy/Envy or Competition:
Written Contribution: 1. Respond to what your peers discussed. Who made a really good point and what did they say?
Who did you agree or disagree with? Why? 2. What did you learn from this novel or unit? 3. What participation grade do
you think you earned? Why?