Narrative Socratic Seminar
Name: _______________________________________
Criterion B: Organizing
Level
0
1-2
Level descriptor
The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.
The student:
i. makes minimal use of organizational structures though these may not always serve the context and
intention

Employs claim, evidence, or reasoning
ii. organizes opinions and ideas with a minimal degree of coherence and logic

Some repetition

Rarely acknowledges the ideas of another speaker

Transitions to another topic

Inconsistently states ideas concisely
iii. makes minimal use of referencing and formatting tools to create a presentation style that may not
always be suitable to the context and intention.

3–4
Acknowledges author or title of texts used in evidence
The student:
i. makes adequate use of organizational structures that serve the context and intention

Employs claim, evidence, reasoning
ii. organizes opinions and ideas with some degree of coherence and logic

Little to no repetition

Often acknowledges the ideas of another speaker

Transitions to another topic

Inconsistently states ideas concisely so as not to hog the discussion
iii. makes adequate use of referencing and formatting tools to create a presentation style suitable to
the context and intention.

5–6
Acknowledges author and/or title of texts used in evidence
The student:
i. makes competent use of organizational structures that serve the context and intention

Sufficiently employs claim, evidence, reasoning
ii. organizes opinions and ideas in a coherent and logical manner with ideas building on each other

No repetition

Acknowledges the ideas of another speaker

Transitions to another topic appropriately

Usually states ideas concisely so as not to hog the discussion
iii. makes competent use of referencing and formatting tools

7–8
Acknowledges author and title of texts used in evidence
i. makes sophisticated use of organizational structures that serve the context and intention effectively

Effectively employs claim, evidence, reasoning
ii. effectively organizes opinions and ideas in a sustained, coherent, and logical manner with ideas
building on each other in a sophisticated way

No repetition

Acknowledges the ideas of another speaker
Narrative Socratic Seminar
Name: _______________________________________

Transitions smoothly to another topic appropriately

States ideas concisely so as not to hog the discussion
iii. makes excellent use of referencing and formatting tools to create an effective presentation style.

Clearly acknowledges author and title of texts used in evidence
Narrative Socratic Seminar
Name: _______________________________________
Guiding Questions for the Narrative Socratic Seminar
You will discuss these questions with your classmates in a graded Socratic seminar
Instructions
Think about the texts we have read in this unit. Use details from them as well as your responses to
them (including the experience of writing your own fictional story!) to jot answers to the guiding
questions below.
Unit Texts (You may not have read all of these, but you certainly read some!)
“The Long Road to Forgiveness” by Kim Phuc
“Salvation” by Langston Hughes
“Shame” by Richard Gregory“Vegetarian Enough” by Annie Choi
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
“Kitty and Mack: A Love Story” by Walter Dean Myers
“Curtis” by Paul Fleishman
“The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell
“The Interlopers” by Saki
“Cora Unashamed” by Langston Hughes
“The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara
“Mistletoe” by Jane Bradbury
“The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien
The fictional short story written by YOU! 
Focus Question
1.
How do we tell life stories?
Additional Guiding Questions
2. Why do people write stories from life? And why do others read them? What do we have to
learn from them?
3. How do people’s experiences shape who they are? How have my experiences shaped who I
am?
4. How do authors use writing to deepen their understanding of themselves? How can I use
writing to deepen my understanding of myself?
5.
Does everyone have a story to tell?
6. How do people engage others in their stories?
7.
How do literary elements affect the reader?
8. How do authors depict turning points?
9. What are the consequences—good or bad—of telling one’s story? (for oneself, for readers, for
the larger community, etc.)
10. How true are true stories? Does nonfiction mean it’s completely true?
11. How are imaginative stories also true?
12. What literary element is the most effective in portraying a theme?
13. How does recognizing themes help you as a reader?
14. How does the universality of themes reveal the human condition?
15. Which of the narratives caused you to learn something about your own identity or the
relationships you have.