1. Socratic Seminar Introduction
Compiled by Ashley Walker, M.Ed.

2. What is a Socratic Seminar?
The purpose of a Socratic Seminar is to achieve a deeper understanding about the ideas and values in a text
 Participants question and examine issues and principles related to a particular content and express different perspectives 
Meaning is constructed through analysis, interpretation, listening, and participation
The participants carry the burden of the responsibility for the quality of the discussion
The discussion is not about right answers; it is not a debate

3. Rules of Seminar Be courteous at all times.
Listen while others are talking.
Support all comments with evidence from the source.
Avoid raising your hand to talk – instead jump in at an appropriate time.
When disagreeing with a previous comment, disagree with the idea rather than attack the person.
Address the group when talking, not the teacher.

4. Habits of Mind

5. Debate vs. Dialogue
With your partner, read and annotate the “Dialogue vs. Debate” handout.
One partner will read Dialogue.
The other partner will respond by expanding and commenting on what that statement means.
One Partner will read Debate.

6. Salvador Late or Early, Sandra Cisneros
Take 20 minutes to closely read and annotate the passage.
anything that sticks out to you
patterns
characterization
questions
words
ideas

7. Big Ideas
Somewhere on your paper, write these three ideas in order of most important to least important.
Big Ideas 1 2 3
Love
Responsibility
Courage