1. "The unexamined life is not worth living." -Socrates
Socratic Seminars
"The unexamined life is not worth living." -Socrates

2. Background
The Socratic method of teaching is based on Socrates' theory that it is more important to enable students to think for themselves than to merely fill their heads with "right" answers. Therefore, he regularly engaged his pupils in dialogues by responding to their questions with questions, instead of answers. This process encourages divergent thinking rather than convergent.

3. PRE-SOCRATIC SEMINAR QUESTION-WRITING
Before you come to a Socratic Seminar class, please read the assigned text and write at least four questions.  Your questions should include no more than one from each of the categories (question types) described in this presentation.
Please note that all examples come from the Pledge of Allegiance.

4. CLOSE-ENDED QUESTION
Write a question about the text that will help everyone in the class come to an agreement about events or individuals in the text. This question usually has a "correct" answer.
Example:  What is the definition of a republic?

5. OPEN-ENDED QUESTION
Write an insightful question about the text that will require proof, insights, and group discussion to discover or explore the answer to the question.
Example: What is involved in pledging allegiance? What does taking the pledge say about your relationship to government? Is pledging allegiance a responsibility of citizenship?

6. REAL-WORLD/CURRENT EVENT CONNECTION QUESTION:
Write a question connecting the text to the real world. 
Example:  Should “under God” remain in the Pledge of Allegiance? What did the Supreme Court recently decide?

7. UNIVERSAL THEME/ CORE QUESTION
Write a question dealing with a theme(s) of the text that will encourage group discussion about the universality of the text.
Example: Has our nation lived up to its pledge of liberty and justice for all?

8. Some Guidelines
Do not participate if you are not prepared. A seminar should not be a bull session.
Do not raise your hand; just speak to each other.
Refer to the text when needed during the discussion. A seminar is not a test of memory. You are not "learning a subject"; your goal is to understand the ideas, issues, and values reflected in the text.

9. Some MORE guidelines
Invite others into the discussion- “Plato what do you think about
Comments must be appropriate, respectful, and focused
Listen to and build on one another’s comments- “I agree with Sue’s point about….and I would like to add….”

10. This is a Dialogue not a Debate
Dialogue is :
suspending judgment
examining our own work without defensiveness
exposing our reasoning and looking for limits to it
communicating our underlying assumptions
exploring viewpoints more broadly and deeply
being open to disconfirming data
approaching someone who sees a problem differently not as an adversary, but as a colleague in common pursuit of better solution

11. Mrs. Cullison’s questions
What is the philosophy behind Franklin’s public service?
What IS an American in Franklin’s view?
What virtues do you feel are missing from Franklin’s list?
Some say Franklin is America's first Horatio Alger--a man of humble origins who arrives at great wealth and stature by virtue of his own industry. Do you agree?
What elements of Franklin's narrative help to sustain this depiction?
What elements appear to work against it? To what factors would you attribute his "success"?