1. Where questions, not answers, are the driving force in thinking.
Socratic
Seminars
Where questions, not answers, are the driving force in thinking.

2. What is a Socratic Seminar?
*a method used to understand information by creating dialectic in class regarding a
specific text.
Participants seek deeper understanding of complex ideas in text through rigorous thoughtful dialogue, rather than by memorizing bits of information.

3. The Question: Question
The Socratic Seminar opens with a
Question
Responses to the opening question generate new
Questions and lead to new responses.

4. The Participants: •preparing • participating •sharing •supporting
*carry the burden of responsibility for the quality of the seminar.
There are four ways to do this:
•preparing
• participating
•sharing
•supporting

5. Expectations of Participants:
Did I…..
Speak loudly and clearly?
Cite reasons and evidence for my statements?
Use the text to find support?
Listen to others respectfully?
Stick with the subject?
Talk to others, not just to the leader?
Paraphrase accurately?
Avoid inappropriate language?
Ask questions to clear up confusion?
Support others?
Avoid hostile exchanges?
Question others in a civil manner?
Seem prepared?

6. Effective groups need to use both dialogue and discussion
Discussion & Dialogue
Dialogue is "an interchange of ideas especially when open and frank and seeking mutual understanding."
It is a collective inquiry in which we suspend opinions, share openly, and think creatively about difficult issues.
Effective groups need to use both dialogue and discussion

7. Dialogue is NOT Debate!

8. What type of questions should I ask during the seminar?
Open ended
Creates discussion
Prompts additional questions
NO YES/NO ?’s

9. What will the seminar look like?
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 a partner in the opposite seminar.
FOR EXAMPLE:
If I am in seminar A my partner will be in seminar B
Ms. Earhart will be facilitating, but NOT participating in the seminar.

10. What’s the deal with partners?
If I am in Seminar B, I will be sitting in the outside circle taking notes for my partner who is in the inner circle participating in the Seminar A.
Then we will switch. I will participate in the seminar and my partner will take notes for me.
We will be switching notes at the end of each seminar to be used for Step 5 of the Socratic Seminar Prep Sheet.

11. Create some questions!
Write 2 questions & answers based on the texts .
Types of Questions
Factual (Knowledge)- answers are verifiable – who, what, when, where, how? (write p. # & importance)
Inductive (Application)– why, how, so what? (provide ex’s & importance)
Synthesis (Analytical) – connects to other texts, ideas, or situations; how is X similar to Y? What does X tell us about Z? (provide ex’s & importance)

12. Essential Question
“Why do historians reach different conclusions regarding causation, change and continuity over time and comparison when interpreting historical events and periods?”