SOCRATIC SEMINAR

SALVADOR LATE OR EARLY

FOR FIRST “SPEAKING & LISTENING” GRADE
TASKS FOR TODAY:
Review Socratic Seminar Guidelines

Prepare for Socratic Seminar

Conduct a “Casual” Socratic Seminar

Homework:

Read “What the?” from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,

paying particular attention to POV, VOICE, CHARACTERIZATION.
 TALK WITH YOUR TABLE GROUP

❖ What do you think makes for a good discussion?

❖ What kind of rules would you like to make for
class discussions?
❖ How often would you like me to intervene?
❖ How can we make everyone feel welcome to
talk and make sure the conversation is not
dominated by one person?
RULES:
BUILD on what others say, don’t change the topic out of nowhere.

QUESTION to probe deeper, clarify, paraphrase and add

SYNTHESIZE a variety of different views in your own summary.

CLARIFY “I think what Stephanie is trying to say is ___” or “I’m not sure I
understand what you are saying, are you saying___?”

PARAPHRASE & ADD “Lily said that…. I agree with her and also think___”

SYNTHESIZE “Based on the ideas from Tim, and Maya, it seems like we all think
that the author is___”
RULES:
Don’t raise hands.

Listen carefully to others.

Address one another respectfully.

Base any opinions on the text.

Talk to each other, not to me.

Outside Circle— be prepared to take a “halfway” break to game plan and help
your teammates to communicate. Be paying attention to what you’re noticing
from your team mates.
1— CHOOSE TWO PEOPLE TO GO FIRST, AND TWO
PEOPLE TO GO SECOND.
2— COME UP WITH A GAME PLAN— WHO IS GOING
TO ASK WHICH QUESTIONS.
3— THOSE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE SHOULD
BE USING THE “GROUP SOCRATIC SEMINAR” TO
LISTEN.