1. Agenda February 19 Journal Creating a Socratic Seminar for Of Mice and Men HW: Jigsaw Readings and Questions from the textbook Journal: What did you like most about the novel? Why? What did you like least about the novel? Why?

2. Pick a Topic What did you find interesting about the novel? What did you not like about the novel? What do you want to talk about? Suggested topics: –Themes: The predatory nature of human existence Fraternity and the idealized male friendship The impossibility of the American Dream –Motifs The corrupting power of women Loneliness and Companionship Strength and Weakness –Symbols George and Lennie’s Farm Lennie’s Puppy Candy’s Dog –The Characters

3. Select a Text Text selection should help students engage with your selected topic –Students should be able to form ideas from the text –Students should be able to refer to the text in their discussion Text selection should be short so the discussion can include everyone –Selected quotes –One to two pages from the novel

4. Prep Work Prep work should engage students with the text –Prep works helps students review text to prepare for the opening questions –Prep work should be broad so students can look at the text with an open mind For Example –Read through the text and underline the most ambiguous statement and the statement that interests you the most. Explain your choices –What is similar between the selected quotes? What is different?

5. Opening Question Opening Questions should focus students on your selected topic Opening Questions should bring students back to the text Opening Questions should have no right answer –Thus they should not be able to be answered with a simple yes or no –Example: do you like Lennie? Did George do the right thing? These are yes or no questions and tend to stop conversations Examples of Opening Questions: –How do the ideas of history, knowledge and experience expressed in “Why we Study History” related to those in the Howard Zinn article? Explain using evidence from the text. –If Daisy represents the American Dream what is Fitzgerald saying about our American Dream?

6. Reflection Reflections should allow students to reflect on the entire discussion and their own opinions Reflections can also be used to help students reflect on their own behavior For example –Is Ancient History relevant to your life? Is History in general relevant to your life? Why or Why not? –After this discussion do you believe the American Dream is still achievable today? Do Fitzgerald’s ideas change your mind? –What did you do well in the discussion? What could you have done better?

7. Sharing your Seminar Share your Socratic Seminar with your table group –Tell them your topic –Show them your selected text(s) –Read to them your prep work and opening question Write down one thing that you like about each seminar and one suggestion that would make each seminar stronger

8. Vote Choose one Socratic Seminar from your table Use the poster provided to write LARGELY and LEGIBLY: –The Selected text pages (or quotes) –The Prep Work –The Opening Question

9. Reading Assignments 1.Women Help Lead the New Deal (Sarah Dillon, Omar, Chelsa) 2.African Americans Make Advances and Face Challenges and The New Deal Affects Native Americans (Sam, Nahani, Aaron, Madeline, Freddy) 3.The New Deal Creates a New Political (Corinne, Jason, Vanessa, James) 4.The Role of Government Expands (Stu, Alyssa, Dave, Curtis) 5.Movies and Radio Captivate Americans (Mickey, Edward, Jake, Trevor, Shawn) 6.The New Deal and the Arts and The Literature of the Depression (Kellie, Austin, Esther, Michael)