1. Socratic
Seminars

2. The Vision
Socrates believed that enabling students to think for themselves was more important than filling their heads with “right answers.”

3. What are Socratic Seminars?
Highly motivating form of intellectual and scholarly discourse.
An effective Socratic Seminar creates dialogue as opposed to debate

4. Debate Dialogue Is oppositional One listens to counter arguments.
Affirms participant's points of view.
Defends assumptions as truth
Creates a close-minded attitude
Is collaborative
One listens to find common ground
Enlarges points of view
Reveals assumptions for re-evaluation
Creates an open-minded attitude

5. Debate Dialogue Defends thinking to show that it is right.
Calls for investing in one's beliefs.
One searches for weaknesses
Rebuts contrary positions and may belittle others
Debate assumes a single right answer
Demands a conclusion
Expects other’s reflections will improve their own thinking
Temporarily suspending one's beliefs
Searches for strengths
Respects others and seeks not to alienate
Assumes that cooperation can lead to greater understanding
Remains open-ended

6. The Participants Share responsibility for the quality of the seminar.
Most effective when participants:
study the text closely in advance
listen actively

7. The Participants Most effective when participants:
share their ideas and questions in response to others
search for evidence in the text to support their ideas

8. Things to Do! Make direct textual references
Summarize others’ views AND expand on those views
Ask thoughtful questions AND ask clarifying questions
Be respectful AND exhibit leadership!

9. Let’s Not: Interrupt or dominate the discussion
Repeat another person’s point with no additional commentary
Seek to entertain or appear prepared rather than participating authentically
“Zone out” or get
distracted or off topic

10. I Blame Facebook, Texting, Twitter, etc.!
Let’s avoid one-way conversations!
The goal behind speaking is to not only express your thoughts, but to encourage others to open up and share!

11. Conducting a “Fishbowl”
Divide the class into “Inner” and “Outer” circles

12. Conducting a “Fishbowl”
Inner circle = active participants
Outer circle = students observe an active participants for:
New ideas – Positive comments
Question asked – Negative Behavior
Referred to text – Side conversations

13. Preparation for Socratic Seminar
50 / 50 / 50 Write-up! *due next Wednesday!
1st: 50 words minimum on Barneys Case Stirs Talk of ‘Shopping While Black’ article - include both summary and commentary
2nd: 50 words minimum on ‘Stop and Frisk’ Is Not Racial Profiling article – include both summary and commentary
Summary should highlight rhetorical appeals (logos, pathos, ethos) used in the articles!
3rd: 50 words minimum – How do these articles relate to: Crash and A Class Divided – share both factual info, as well as personal insights

14. Preparation for Socratic Seminar
Finally AND Most Importantly:
Create 2-3 interpretive discussion questions. These questions should be thought-provoking and challenging – yet, enjoyable to answer!!!
Make sure your questions...
(1) promote discussion. We want questions that do not have a clear answer.
(2) directly rooted in the two articles (Barneys… and ‘Stop and Frisk’…), and in the films (A Class Divided and Crash).
(3) lead to bigger ideas outside of the articles and films. Example: How does racial bias, stereotyping, bigotry, acts of discrimination, etc. impact you? How do you react/respond to it?

15. Inspiration for your Questions!
‘Stop and Frisk’ Is Not Racial Profiling
Barneys Case Stirs Talk of ‘Shopping While Black’

16. Guidelines for Questioning
Ask hypothetical questions
Ask questions with no right or wrong answers
Continue to ask “Why?”
Probe the responses of the participants with further questioning
Allow yourself to both guide the discussion but to go with it as well

17. Guidelines for Questioning
Learning occurs based on the kinds of questions asked
Develop opening, core, and closing questions before the seminar
Non-judgmental and derived from the text
Questions that raise questions
Avoid using YES/NO questions