1. Quick Response Task: In your notes finish the following statements about your experience with Socratic Seminars… 0 My past experiences with Socratic Seminars have been… 0 I enjoy Socratic Seminars because… 0 One thing I would like to change about Socratic Seminars is… 0 Socratic Seminars are beneficial because… 0 Be prepared to share! If you don’t know what Socratic Seminars are don’t worry!

2. Socratic Seminar Prep What is a Socratic Seminar? 0 An active way for you the learner to engage in a lively and academic discussion by posing intelligent questions and offering equally intelligent insight as a response to those questions… 0 A way for you to SHOW me what you know in an authentic manner!

3. What a Socratic Seminar is NOT… 0 A Ping-Pong style of discussion where questions are simply asked and answered 0 A chance for the quiet people to hide 0 An offering of ideas not supported by specific textual references 0 An exercise in pondering “what if” 0 It is not all about you- you have to work together to make this work 0 It is not about ME…I am here to facilitate!

4. Earning Points… 0 There are 3 ways to earn points: 0 Posing an intelligent, higher level question to the group 0 Specifically responding to a question posed by your peers 0 Making an insightful comment AND referencing the text or your previously prepared research What you say and what you ask needs to be insightful, intelligent and relevant.

5. Preparation Come prepared by doing the following: 0 Be prepared by having read the selection being discussed 0 Bring your notes & make sure you have reviewed them ahead of time- highlight or use sticky notes to draw your attention to things you might way to mention 0 Write your questions- you will always need to write at least 5 questions using the DOK handout 0 Come to class having completed your outside research and the research recap that goes with it

6. Preparing cont. 0 A day or two ahead before a scheduled Socratic Seminar you will be assigned your pre-seminar tasks: writing questions, organizing your notes & doing some outside research 0 Your questions and research will need to be uploaded to turnitin.com (more on this later) the night before your Socratic Seminar

7. Preparing cont. Research Recap: 0 A brief summary 0 A connection to the novel 0 Two or more elements of your choice from the “Responding to the Test” handout (label them) 0 The link to your online source This is for EACH of your outside sources…

8. Preparing cont. Outside Sources: 0 AVOID googling the book or the themes 0 AVOID Wikipedia, ask.com, ehow.com, yahoo answers, blogs (unless they are linked to some sort of credible news organization)

9. Preparing cont. Your Questions: 0 4 question levels on DOK chart 0 Your questions should come from levels 3 & 4 ONLY 0 Questions should not lead to a response where your peers must respond to details not known… 0 At a minimum you will need to write at least 5 questions- no need to answer them, just write the question, and indicate which level it comes from

10. Turnitin.com 0 Turn both questions & research recap (one document) into turnitin.com 0 Must be submitted by 7:30 am the day of the Socratic Seminar- late submissions will not be accepted 0 You must submit your assignment as an attachment- do not copy and paste!

11. Turnitin.com 0 Technology troubles need to be addressed by you! 0 DO NOT wait until class to tell me you had an issue- send an email to prevent a potential loss of points. 0 Late assignments run the risk of not being graded so plan accordingly so you do not end up with a zero…

12. The Day of the Socratic Seminar Bring the following: 0 The novel 0 Your questions 0 Your notes (which should include your research recap) We will sit in a large circle and one students will be selected to start the seminar It is my expectation that Socratic Seminars take up a majority of the class period

13. During a Socratic Seminar We DO NOT raise our hands- simply JUMP IN 0 Be polite 0 Be respectful 0 Don’t monopolize the discussion! 0 Make it FUN!!! 0 (you could be taking a test, or writing a timed- write!)

14. Research Recap 0 Need 1 outside source! Suggested items to research: 0 Technology and Modernization 0 The concept of totalitarian government via “Big Brother” 0 Warfare, torture and manipulation as a means to exert power Visit this website for more ideas: http://www.studentsfororwell.org/