1. Roles, Rules, and Relationships
The Socratic Seminar:
Roles, Rules, and Relationships

2. First, what is a Socratic Seminar?
An extended discussion to explore various questions about a given topic or theme.
An opportunity to share thoughts, values, and ideas.
A dialogue across a common table, whereby we can all listen and learn from one another.
It is not a debate: “Dialogue is about seeing the connections among the parts. Debate is about seeing the distinctions among the parts.”
First, what is a Socratic Seminar?

3. There will be three groups of texts
There will be three groups of texts. The first is the main text, which is what we are currently reading as a class. The second are the choice texts, which are all other texts we have previously read during the 9 weeks, including all articles of the week. The third group is the anchor text, which is a brand new text.
On Monday: You will receive the anchor text. With this text, you will read and annotate as well as develop 3 leveled questions relating back to the main text, and the choice texts. For the first seminar, the facilitator will decide your partnerships, texts, and rounds. For later seminars, and as you mature in your dialogue, you will get to decide.
On Tuesday: We decide as a class which leveled questions are the strongest and which ones we want to address in our seminar. We will choose a total of 12 questions, and up to 3 questions will be addressed per round.
On the Block Day: We will begin the seminar right away. Everyone will know their assigned roles, the facilitator will open and close each round. Your summative grade will be based on your leveled questions (30%), question responses (50%), and participation in dialogue (20%). The seminar will last from minutes.
On Friday: As part of your participation score, you will write a brief reflection on the seminar.
How does it work?

4. Everyone must read. If you do not read and develop questions, you will lose credit and you will not be able to participate.
Everyone must develop 3 questions to contribute. Sometimes your questions will be adopted as main questions, and other times you can use them to keep the conversation going during the seminar.
Everyone must enter the dialogue. If you are reluctant to discuss, this is where your question responses come in handy. Read your answers straight from your paper. You receive credit based on the level of quality discussion you engage in.
Rules of Engagement

5. Facilitator: Usually Ms. Gibson or the teacher in the classroom
Facilitator: Usually Ms. Gibson or the teacher in the classroom. The leader will ask the essential questions, keep the conversation focused and on schedule, as well as remind all participants of the agreed upon norms.
Synthesizers: Provide thoughtful answers to the essential questions by combining ideas, values, and textual evidence. Allowed to verbalize dialogue and share space at the inner table. When rounds change, they reverse roles with the analyzers.
Analyzers: Silently share space on the outer ring, and observe and analyze the synthesizers. Analyzers focus their analysis on one or two synthesizers and record information, in order to generate and deepen their own responses. When rounds change, they reverse roles with the synthesizers.
What are the roles?

6. First, the facilitator will open with an essential question.
Each round will consist of the synthesizers being in the center, while the analyzers remain on the outer ring to silently observe.
Each synthesizer will have a partner or two analyzing their responses. They then switch places at the end of each round, so that the analyzer fills in any gaps and adds depth and clarity to the conversation as a new synthesizer.
2-4 rounds completes the Seminar, and each round lasts minutes.
How the Rounds Works

7. At various points, there will be an empty seat in which an analyzer can enter the conversation and become a temporary synthesizer. They will only have 30 seconds to be in the “hot” seat.
The Hot Seat

8. Your leveled questions and responses to the seminar questions
Your leveled questions and responses to the seminar questions. On Tuesday your leveled questions are due, and on the block day your seminar responses are due. On Friday, your reflections are due.
All leveled question responses must be neatly written with usage of at least new and relevant terms from your AP lang. survival packets. Underline or highlight your terms.
You will turn your responses in after the seminar closes, along with your final reflection pages.
A name tag for seminar day. Dialogue requires that you use one another’s names.
Stem sheet for help with questioning. Choose 5-10 that you plan to use often. Write them on your response sheet.
What to Bring

9. The Essential Question.
What role does education play in the human experience?
The Essential Question.

10. The Anchor Text Anchor Text: As Malia Steps Out, The Obamas Step Back
For the past eight years, the Obamas pushed hard to maintain their eldest daughter’s privacy. How that’s changing now that Malia is an adult and making her own rules.
Buzzfeed article:
The Anchor Text

11. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass By Frederick Douglass
The Main Text

12. Choice Texts MLK’s The purpose of Education
“This is Water”- David F. Wallace
Consider the Lobster- David F. Wallace
Let Teenagers Try Adulthood- Leon Botstein
High School Training Ground- Malcolm London
Abigail Adam’s Letter prompt
Benjamin Banneker’s Letter prompt
Cesar Chavez’s article Prompt
AoWs
Summer Reading
Choice Texts