1. The Socratic Seminar

2. What is a Socratic Seminar?
It is a discussion of an essential question in which student opinions are shared, proven, refuted, and refined through dialogue with other students.

3. Who was Socrates?
A 4th Century BC Greek philosopher and intellectual
Socrates believed that it was more important to enable students to think for themselves than to merely fill their heads with "right" answers.
He engaged his pupils in dialogues by responding to their questions with questions, instead of answers. This process encourages independent thought and reasoning.

4. Who was Socrates?
Socrates was very controversial and angered Athenian leaders.
He was put on trial, convicted of corrupting the Athenian youth, and sentenced to death.
He chose to die by drinking a tea made from hemlock, a poisonous flower used in executions at the time.

5. The Socratic Paradox
Socrates was said to have stated, “I know that I know nothing”, which really meant that he is not saying that he does not know anything, but instead that one cannot know anything with absolute certainty, but can feel confident about certain things.

6. So Socrates….

7. Socrates in Action

8. A Socratic Seminar is based on dialogue, not debate
Dialogue is…
Collaborative
About understanding
Listening for deeper meaning
Re-evaluating assumptions
Keeping an open mind
Temporarily suspending beliefs
Respecting all participants
Exploring different possibilities
Open-ended
Debate is…
Oppositional
About proving others wrong
Listening for flaws
Defending assumptions
Close-minded
About defending beliefs
Belittling or demeaning others
Having one right answer
Demands a conclusion

9. A Real Socratic Seminar

10. What a Socratic Seminar Looks Like

11. Roles in Socratic Seminar
Inner Circle- you are the speakers
You are responsible for conducting the discussion
Outer Circle- you are the supporter of the speaker in front of you
You are responsible for listening to all the speakers, and evaluating the speaker you are supporting in front of you
After minutes, students swap places and begin the discussion again

12. During the Seminar Be prepared to participate and ask good questions
Show respect for all opinions-no put downs or disrespect
Do not interrupt a speaker
Build on what others say- Add to, paraphrase, clarify, etc.

13. During the Seminar Use active listening skills
Participate openly and keep your mind open to new ideas
Refer to the text often, and use evidence from the text
Discuss the ideas of the text, and not each other’s personal experiences
Take notes about important points you want to remember or new questions you want to ask.

14. Rules for Socratic Seminar
Discuss, not debate
Be courteous! No put-downs!
Do not raise your hand, but wait until someone has completed their thought before you speak
Respect differing opinions and ideas
Everyone must speak at least once!