1. Practice Socratic Seminar: “The Necklace”
Goal: to practice preparing for a Socratic seminar discussion.

2. DAY ONE: PREP

3. 1. Read: “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
For context, please read “meet the author” and “background to the story” on page 223.
Now read “The Necklace” on pages
Note: Depending on how carefully you “read” this short story, you may need to read it again…

4. 2. Record your responses in paragraph form (at least 2 paragraphs per prompt) to the following prompts:
How important is status? What is the key to status within a society? In responding to this question, think about how status is established within “The Necklace” as well as Persepolis, and other texts you may have read. Think about how status is established in the real world as well.
What is the moral of “The Necklace”? Is this moral a relevant or important one to discuss today? Why or why not?

5. 3. Create Your Discussion Questions:
Opening Questions: create at least 1 clarifying or comprehension based question. This question should have a correct answer, and will aid in everyone’s basic understanding of the story. Core Questions: create 3-5 evaluative, thoughtful discussions that will support the bulk of the discussion. These questions should not be easily answered, do not have a “correct” answer, and generally challenge people’s current way of thinking.
Closing Questions: create 3-5 literary analysis based questions. These questions should support a literary analysis of the text. They should be interpretive questions about symbols, character development, setting, etc.
Due After Seminar:
At least 7 questions
Responses to prompts
Goals & reflection from Seminar

6. 4. Goals for Seminar: list 3 personal goals for the upcoming Seminar.

7. DAY TWO: SEMINAR & REFLCTION

8. Socratic Seminar Guidelines
LISTEN
No one can speak while someone else is speaking.
BUILD
Speakers must try to build on what others say, not debate their views.
REFER TO THE TEXT
Speakers must refer directly to the section of the text from which their ideas come rather than making general comments or observations.

9. 5. Reflection: 10 minutes
What did you want to say, but did not have the chance to verbalize?
How did one or more of your opinions shift as a result of the discussion?
What new questions or ideas did the discussion generate?
What views did you strongly agree or disagree with? Why?
Evaluate your own participation in the discussion. Consider both the positive and negative aspects of your contributions.