1. Socratic Seminar
Eastern Suffolk BOCES
November 3, 2014
Amy Benjamin

2. Working with a partner, answer these questions
Traditional Lesson
Working with a partner, answer these questions
about “Dreams” by Langston Hughes.
Look up the word “fast” in both dictionary.com and merriam-webster.com.
Which, if any, provides the best definition for this context?
2. Give two examples of metaphors in this poem.
3. What does the word “go” mean in the second stanza? What word in the
first stanza corresponds with it?
4. In African-American and African literature, flying is a commonly used
motif. What does flying represent in this poem?

3. Sit in a circle.
Seminar: “Harlem”
Opening Q: Are there any words in this poem that you need to know more about?
Launching Q: What adjective would you use to characterize the imagery in
this poem?
Optional Q’s:
1. Contrast any two of the images to each other.
2. Why do you think this poem is called “Harlem” and not “Dream Deferred”?
3. Why do you think Langston Hughes built this poem on questions, rather
than statements?

4. What are some differences between a traditional reading comprehension lesson and Socratic Seminar?

6. What is it about the writing that
Launching Q:
What is it about the writing that
qualifies it as poetry?
Optional Q’s:
What word or phrase from the text might
serve to capture all three poem/chapters?
2. Do you think Ha would say that she likes her teacher?
3. What do all three of these poem/chapters have in common?

7. Text-based finite Q’s:
Explain the title “More is Not Better.”
What are Ha’s feelings in each of these poem/chapters?
How do we know?
3. Explain the organizational pattern in “Spelling Rules.”
Non text-based, personal connection Q’s:
What are your spelling demons?
How do you feel about English spelling?
What should you do when you see someone being
mocked and excluded?
4. How should you treat new students to your school?

9. In stories, small visual details can signify
Launching Q:
In stories, small visual details can signify
important conditions. Find examples of
small visual details and what they signify.
Optional Q’s:
What three (different) nouns characterize Buddy’s feelings in
this chapter? (Use abstract nouns: -ence, -ity, -ness, -ation, - ment)
2. Which events in this chapter do you think will become important
later in the story?

11. Launching Q: Optional Q’s:
A tragic hero is defined as a person in a high
position of trust and power who causes his or her own
downfall because of a tragic flaw. (A tragic flaw
is a human failing, such as any one of the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, lust,
sloth, wrath, envy, gluttony). The fall of the tragic hero affects the larger society,
not just that person and his or her immediate family and friends.
Do you think the author of Wizard of Lies means to portray B. Madoff as a
tragic hero?
Optional Q’s:
If you didn’t know what a Ponzi scheme was, would you be able to
figure it out based on the information in this review?
2. Do you get the feeling that the reviewer, Liaquat Ahamed, agrees with
the portrayal of B. Madoff in Wizard of Lies?

12. Non text-based, personal connection Q’s:
Text-Based Finite Q’s:
Identify the thematic sentence that is in the first paragraph.
Identify and analyze three metaphors in the text.
How does Diane Henriques establish her credibility in writing a book
about B. Madoff?
Non text-based, personal connection Q’s:
Why do smart people get duped?
Do you agree that “everybody is guilty of something”?

13. 2010

14. With a partner, write a sentence that captures any two of these
Launching Q:
With a partner, write a sentence
that captures any two of these
infographics.
Optional Q’s:
What might be another related topic for a graphic that would
extend your knowledge on this issue?
2. Which of these, if any, do you find most alarming? Why?

15. Non text-based, personal connection Q’s:
Text-Based Finite Q’s:
How much money would a person
who is paid $2M a year today have
been paid in 1980?
2. Express the information in
“The 1 Percent” graphic as a ratio.
Non text-based, personal connection Q’s:
What do you think are some reasons for
the growing income disparity in the U.S.?
2. Do you think that income disparities between the very rich
and the very poor are beneficial to the middle class?

16. Seminar Starters
What do you think the author means by…..?
What do you think the author would say about…?
Why do you think the author chose to….?
Why do you think the author chose the word _____?
Which event in this passage do you think will turn
out to be important later?
Why do you think the author included____?