Socratic Seminar 2% of semester grade (That’s the equivalent of 4 quizzes!!!)

What is a Socratic Seminar? A Socratic seminar is a way of teaching founded by the Greek philosopher Socrates.A Socratic seminar is a way of teaching founded by the Greek philosopher Socrates. Socrates believed that:Socrates believed that: students learn best by asking questions. It is the teacher’s job to moderate the discussion instead of leading the discussion.It is the teacher’s job to moderate the discussion instead of leading the discussion.

Why do we have Socratic Seminars Socratic Seminars help us engage a text in class.Socratic Seminars help us engage a text in class. The thought process is when we work together to understand a text it will help everyone’s understanding.The thought process is when we work together to understand a text it will help everyone’s understanding.

How do we prepare for a Socratic Seminar? Come with a list of questions and main events on the given handout for your assigned chapters.!Come with a list of questions and main events on the given handout for your assigned chapters.! It is essential you read the text and prepare yourself with important questions and quotations.It is essential you read the text and prepare yourself with important questions and quotations.

What type of questions should I ask during the seminar? There are three levels of questions.There are three levels of questions. You will recognize these from when we did Mini MEL-Con practice!!!You will recognize these from when we did Mini MEL-Con practice!!!

Level 1 (Knowledge Questions): Can you state,Can you state, in your own words? Can youCan you describe? your position?Can you defend your position? the information?Can you summarize the information?

Level II (Application Questions): Explain how … Explain why … Interpret …Interpret the reasons … Compare and contrast … Connect and explain …

Level III (Synthesis Questions): Synthesis means combining or connecting two different elements. In terms of the Socratic Seminar you will be connecting a text to the outside world.

Level III (Synthesis Questions) Continued Imagine …Imagine … What would happen if …?What would happen if …? Hypothesize …Hypothesize … Theorize …Theorize … Speculate…Speculate… How is Text similar to Outside World?How is Text similar to Outside World?

What will the seminar look like? The classroom will be arranged in a two concentric circles.The classroom will be arranged in a two concentric circles. You will be assigned to either seminar A or seminar B.You will be assigned to either seminar A or seminar B.

What do I do? If you are in the INNER CIRCLE, you will spend 15 minutes discussing the chapters with your peers. You must participate a certain # of times to get the grade that you want!!! If you are in the OUTER CIRCLE, you will be taking notes on the items that your classmates in the INNER CIRCLE bring up. You must take a certain amount of notes to achieve the grade you want!!!

Look at the Socratic Seminar Requirements sheet!