What is a Socratic Seminar? A Socratic seminar is a way of teaching founded by the Greek philosopher Socrates. Socrates believed that: students learn best by asking questions.

What is the Rationale? Socratic seminars are named for their embodiment of Socrates’ belief in the power of asking questions, prize inquiry over information and discussion over debate. Socratic seminars acknowledge the highly social nature of learning and align with the work of John Dewey, Lev Vygotsky, Jean Piaget, and Paulo Frère. (Students) learn to work cooperatively and to question intelligently and civilly. (National Council of Teachers of English)

Why do we have Socratic Seminars Socratic Seminars help us engage a text in class.Socratic Seminars help us engage a text in class. The thought process is when we work together to understand a text it will help everyone’s understanding.The thought process is when we work together to understand a text it will help everyone’s understanding. 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 naturally.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 naturally.

Benefits of Socratic Circles Advances critical readingAdvances critical reading Spurs critical thinkingSpurs critical thinking Improves discussion and listening skillsImproves discussion and listening skills Increases vocabularyIncreases vocabulary Provides student ownership, voice, and empowerment Allows students to synthesize both the knowledge-base and the skills-base of the curriculum

Questioning is the key The phrase Socratic questioning is used to describe a kind of questioning in which an original question is responded to as though it were an answer.Socratic questioning This in turn forces the first questioner to reformulate a new question in light of the progress of the discourse. Jarratt, Susan C. Rereading the Sophists: Classical Rhetoric Refigured. Southern Illinois University Press, 1991.

How do we prepare for a Socratic Seminar? It is essential thatIt is essential that you read the text and prepare yourself with important questions and quotations.

What type of questions should I ask during the seminar? There are three levels of questions.There are three levels of questions. You should come up with a minimum of 1 question per level.You should come up with a minimum of 1 question per level.

Level 1 (Knowledge Questions): Knowledge means being able to show understanding by talking, writing, signing, drawing.Knowledge means being able to show understanding by talking, writing, signing, drawing. Please consider the following stems in creating your Knowledge Questions: What actually happened….?What actually happened….? Describe the scene when…Describe the scene when… What did you learn from captions or pictures?What did you learn from captions or pictures? the information in chapter 3?How would you summarize the information in chapter 3?

Level II (Application Questions): Application means supporting your ideas with evidence from text. Please consider the following stems in creating your Application Questions: Explain how … Explain why … Interpret …Interpret the reasons … Compare and contrast … Connect and explain …

Level III (Synthesis Questions): Synthesis means combining or connecting two different elements. In terms of the Socratic Circle: Text to Text (books, articles, authors, movies, etc.) Text to Self (personal experience, opinion, etc.) Text to World (politics, society, etc.) Text to Nature (environment, geography, etc.)

Level III (Synthesis Questions) Continued Please use the following stems in creating your Synthesis Questions: Analyze the author’s intent when…Analyze the author’s intent when… What would happen if …?What would happen if …? Hypothesize …Hypothesize … What world issue is examined and what is your opinion?What world issue is examined and what is your opinion? Speculate …Speculate … What’s missing in the text?What’s missing in the text?

Seminar Guidelines Please listen and look at each other when you speak.Please listen and look at each other when you speak. One person speaks at a time.One person speaks at a time. Each person will have a chance to ask a question.Each person will have a chance to ask a question. Respond to the person who asks the question.Respond to the person who asks the question. Use evidence from the text to support yourself.Use evidence from the text to support yourself. Always treat each other with mutual respect.Always treat each other with mutual respect.

What’s So Hard About It? For students: 1.Sometimes no one talks. 2.Sometimes everyone talks. 3.Must be prepared with questions. 4.Often no closure For teachers: 1.Must be an observer and not a participant 2.Can’t help when students flounder 3.Grading a skill vs. a tangible product 4.Often no closure

Improves Over Time The unexamined life is not worth living.The unexamined life is not worth living. ---Socrates ---Socrates “Students in classrooms with high academic demands and more emphasis on discussion- based approaches show higher end-of-year literacy performance.” (Applebee et al., 2003, p. 717)