BASICS OF A SOCRATIC SEMINAR seminar?

• A formal STUDENT-LED discussion based on texts/sources.

• EVERYONE reaches a deeper understanding of the complex topic.

• Think deep, ask high-level questions.

• Respects different perspectives without interrupting

• There are two circles

  • ○ The inner circle has an academic conversation

    ○ The outer circle tracks the conversation and gives feedback

TO SUCCEED,

• Respond to your peers: agree, disagree, add on, ask a question.

• Refer back to the text when talking—provide source and evidence.

• Make connections: text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world

• Track the conversation and provide feedback.

BEFORE:

• ​Avoid questions with yes/no answers

• Ask questions that make people think and probe their brain

• There is no one clear, correct, or simple answer.

• Higher than memorizing facts or repeating details and information.

• It’s about what you do with the information—making connections, analyzing, predicting, inferring, judging, imagining

​How to ask higher-level questions

​We need prepare some questions

Here's what higher-level questions usually begin with!

The goals of
the outer circle

This is where you track the whole conversation.

This is the rubric to grade your player.

​THIS IS WHAT THE INNER CIRCLE DOES

These are the talk moves you can use!

​THIS IS WHAT THE FACILITATOR DOES

​THE LAST STEP OF THE SOCRATIC SEMINAR