Intro. To Socratic Seminar

Reminders Today:. To Socratic Seminar A & B Preparation of notes/prep. sheet Tomorrow: Socratic Seminar A Friday: Final proposed thesis on Educational Issue. Tuesday: Argumentative Essay 1,000 words Draft Due Topic: “Real Education”

What is a Socratic Seminar? A Socratic Seminar is a way of teaching founded by the Greek philosopher Socrates. Socrates believed that: We learn best by asking questions. It is the student’s job to lead and keep the discussion moving. The teacher is a moderator in the background.

Why do we have Socratic Seminars? Socratic Seminars help us engage with a text (Show that we are actively reading.) When we work together to understand a text it will help everyone’s understanding. Great ideas require dialogue.

How do we prepare for a Socratic Seminar? It is essential you read the assigned section of the text and prepare yourself with important questions and points for analysis. The day prior to the seminar you will be given a Socratic Seminar prep packet to complete. You must also bring your ANNOTATED reading with notes, and key passages highlighted.

What type of questions should I ask during the seminar? There are three levels of questions. You should come up with a minimum of 3 question per level.

Level 1 Knowledge Questions: Knowledge: Show basic understanding of key details and information presented in text. Example Questions: How is the character of Julia described in Ch. 4? Can you identify the finding of study cited in the article? Can you describe the speaker’s view on the topic of jealousy? How would you explain the central conflict between Adam and Cal? Define Describe Identify Observe Explain Name Time for clarifying confusions, getting on the same page Creating the foundation

Level II Application Questions: Application: use textual evidence to support your own analysis of the content Explain how … Infer why … Interpret the reasons … Compare and contrast … Analyze the ways… Compare / Contrast Infer (Explain reasoning) Analyze Sequence Group

Level III Synthesis Questions: Synthesis: combining or connecting different sources to formulate/create an original view. Make cross-textual connections and/or real world connections Connect to outside text Evaluate/Assess Predict/Speculate Hypothesize Connect to outside world

Level III Synthesis Questions Continued Level Three Starters Imagine … What would happen if …? Hypothesize … Theorize … Speculate… How is what X believes similar to what Y argues? Level three Qs get the biggest buzz in the circle but need to be closely monitored if they stray too far from the text

What will the seminar look like? The classroom will be arranged in a two concentric circles. You will be assigned to either seminar A or seminar B. You will be assigned a partner in the opposite seminar. THEREFORE: If I am in seminar A, my partner will be in seminar B. Ms. Rose will be facilitating and observing, but NOT participating in the seminar.

What’s the deal with partners? If I am in Seminar B, I will be sitting in the outside circle taking notes for my partner who is in the inner circle participating in the Seminar A. Then we will switch. I will participate in the seminar and my partner will take notes for me. We will submit our notes on our partner’s interactions during the seminar to Ms. Rose following the activity.

How does the discussion work in a seminar? The seminar is to serve as a discussion, not a lecture. Just like in a casual conversation, no one begins the conversation, a conversation begins organically.

This is NOT a debate. Dialogue is… Collaborative About understanding Listening for deeper meaning Re-evaluating assumptions Being willing to modify your views Searching for strength and validity in all ideas About respecting all participants Open-ended Debate is… More structured Oppositional About proving a claim Listening for argument flaws Defending assumptions & beliefs Discussing strength & validity in your ideas Having a more valid answer Arriving at a conclusion

Seminar Guidelines Please listen and look at each other when you speak. One person speaks at a time. Each person will have a chance to ask a question. Respond to the person who asks the question. Don’t “dominate the discussion.” If you notice someone is not speaking, try to draw them in. Use evidence from the text to support yourself. Always treat each other with mutual respect.

How will I be assessed on the seminar? By completing the Seminar prep packet. (10 pts). By contributing to the conversation following these guidelines: - Ask a question. Respond to a question. Cite evidence from the text. -Listen Actively All four requirements: 40 points. Three requirements: 30 points. Two requirement: 20 points. One requirements: 10 points.

Day of the Seminar (Procedures) Students report to assigned positions with packets, annotated readings, and review questions with outer circle partner. Outer partner completes Participation Form for inner circle partner during the seminar. Volunteer begins discussion by providing a brief summary of the reading.

POSITIONS SEMINAR SPEAKERS! Take your seat. Take out: -your reading -your pen/pencil -your prep sheets with notes/ questions

Seminar Proceedings 5 min: Sem. A turn to your Evaluator, share your questions, what you plan to share in the seminar 38 min: Discuss ideas, arguments, questions… show active listening 2 min: Sem. A submit your Prep Sheets to evaluator. **Evaluators should be filling out the top part of their rubrics for partners at this time. 38 min: Tally, make notes on partner’s contribution, follow along with reading references 2 min: Collect partner’s prep sheet. Staple to your rubric. Submit to Ms. Rose.

Seminar A: “Why I Love Education” Poem by Suli Breaks Seminar B: “My Alternative School” Article from The Guardian

ANNOTATING YOUR READING