1. English 4 Unit: Looking for Alaska
Unit 2: Day 1
English 4
Unit: Looking for Alaska

2. Write to the following prompt:
Bellringer:
Remind me what is expected in a Socratic seminar. How does the outside behave? How does the inside behave? What is the ultimate purpose?

3. Agenda Warm-up: Journal Anticipation Guide homework check
Socratic Seminar: first group: 15min.
2nd group: 15minutes
Intro to journal exit tickets
Issue books: Read last ten minutes
T.O.D.

4. Anticipation guide: Take out your own sheet of paper.
Read the following 10 statements. This first part is SILENT.
On your own paper, number each question but do NOT rewrite it.
Instead, reword your response into the question, explaining whether you agree or disagree.
Do NOT start any of your statements with “yes” or “no”
Write two or three sentences explaining your thoughts about each statement.
There are not right or wrong answers, but there are weak and strong ways of arguing your point!

5. Anticipation guide statements:
Teenagers think that they are invincible.
Friends are more important than family.
It is more important to have friends than to follow the rules.
The choices teenagers make will always determine their success later on.
Trust is the most important part of friendship.
Life is one endless struggle. Things never get easier.
It is impossible for boys and girls to “just be friends.”
Most of the stereotypes about teenagers are true.
Adults never trust teenagers, even though they should
Being a teenager is the most difficult time in a person’s life

6. Socratic Seminar:
INSIDE CIRCLE + the OUTSIDE CIRCLE
OR… THE “AVACADO”

7. The Steps Inner Circle discusses a question from the question sheet
Outer Circle listens and takes notes on the Inner Circle’s discussion because they will be discussing the same question in a moment.
Outer Circle and Inner Circle switch
The new Inner Circle discusses the same question the new Outer Circle just finished discussing.
The new Outer Circle listens and takes notes for the next time they are the Inner Circle
After all the questions are discussed, the teacher or facilitator will ask each student to respond, in writing, to a question which was highly disputed during the Socratic Circle. The response will be due either at the end of class or at the first of class the next day.

8. INSIDE CIRCLE RESPONSIBILITIES
Be respectful of one another… One person speaks at a time.
Respond to a question from the discussion question sheet.
Use evidence from the text to back up your claims

9. OUTSIDE CIRCLE RESPONSIBILITIES
Listen to the inner circle
Take notes on things you want to comment on since you will be addressing the same question when you get in the circle

10. What Might I say?? Agreement  “I agree with _____ because _____.”
  “I like what _____ said because _____.”
  “I agree with _____; but on the other hand, _____.”
Disagreement
  “I disagree with _____ because _____.”
  “I’m not sure I agree with what _____ said because _____.”
  “I can see that _____; however, I disagree with (or can’t see) _____.”

11. What Might I Say?? Clarifications Confusion
  “Could you please repeat that for me?”
  Paraphrase what you heard and ask, “Could you explain a bit more, please?”
  “I’m not sure I understood you when you said _____. Could you say more about that?”
  “What’s your evidence?”
  “How does that support our work/mission at _____?”
Confirmation
  “I think _____.”
  “I believe _____.”
Confusion
  “I don’t understand _____.”
  “I am confused about _____.”

12. What Might I Say?? Extension  “I want to go back to what _____ said.”
  “I was thinking about what _____ said, and I was wondering what if _____.”
  “This makes me think _____.”
  “I want to know more about _____.”
  “Now I am wondering _____.”
  “Can you tell me more about _____?”
Review
 “I want to go back to what _____ said.”

13. Characteristics of Accountable Talk
Accountability to the Learning Community
Careful listening to each other
Using and building on each other’s ideas
Paraphrasing and seeking clarification
Respectful disagreement
Using sentence stems

16. Ticket out the door Exit ticket:
Reflect on the ideas you heard during the Socratic seminar. Did any of your opinions change? Were any ideas confirmed or strengthened by other people’s evidence?
Be sure to explain how.