Guidelines for Socratic Dialogue
What is a Socratic Dialogue?
A Socratic Dialogue is based on the questioning techniques of Socrates, a Classical Greek philosopher, who was convinced that the surest way to attain reliable knowledge was through the practice of disciplined conversation. This Socratic method of teaching is based on Socrates’ theory that it is more important to enable students to think for themselves than to merely fill their heads with “right” answers. Participants will seek deeper understanding of complex ideas in the text through rigorously thoughtful dialogue. Dialogue assumes that many people have pieces of answers and that cooperation can lead to a greater understanding.
What is the Socratic Seminar?
The Socratic Seminar enables students to work collaboratively to understand, make meaning and find common ground. Students are given opportunities to examine a common piece of text. After the student reads the common text carefully, several questions are posed, primarily open-ended, universal theme, and literary analysis questions. Dialogue is exploratory, and participants will respond to one another with respect by carefully listening instead of interrupting. Students are encouraged to paraphrase essential elements of another’s ideas before responding, either in support of or in disagreement. Members of the dialogue look each other in the eyes and use each other’s names.
How is the seminar conducted?
Every student prepares three questions. Students are divided into two divisions: the outer circle and the inner circle. Within the outer circle is a “hot seat.”
Outer Circle
- Asks questions, observes, critiques the process and takes notes.
- When a student has a question to ask the inner circle, then the student goes to the “hot seat” and waits to ask the question. After asking the question, the student returns to the outer circle.
Inner Circle
- Addresses the question using evidence from the text. Cites examples, passages from the text to support answers.
- Makes relevant comments during the seminar which show response to the previous speaker’s ideas. Helps to enlarge understanding of the text and ideas generated by the seminar.
- Shows attentiveness through body language: sitting up straight, looking at the speaker.
- Realizes this is not a debate, so support others’ comments and does not belittle or criticize.
Socratic Seminar Participant Preparations
What do we all do before we come to a Socratic Seminar?
- Read the text thoroughly, annotating (marking or using sticky notes to highlight key ideas)
- Brainstorm themes relevant to the text.
- Create questions.
Pre-Socratic Seminar Question Writing:
(All examples are based on Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry)
OPEN-ENDED QUESTION:
Write an insightful question about the text that will require proof, insights, and group discussion to discover or explore the answer to the question.
Example: Why does Jeremy still stay friends with the Logans even though kids laugh at him and the Logans aren’t very friendly?
UNIVERSAL THEME QUESTION:
Write a question dealing with a theme of the text that will encourage group discussion about the universality of the text.
Example: The book Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry explores the theme of “overcoming the odds.” Give examples where someone in the book had to “overcome the odds” and make a connection to another literary work.
LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTION:
Write a question dealing with a literary concept like mood, foreshadowing, characterization, internal conflict, point-of-view, symbolism, allusion, or parallel events.
Example: A car can symbolize (represent) many things, depending on the situation. Explain what Uncle Hammer’s new car symbolizes to himself, to Mary Logan, to Mr. Granger, and to Mr. Simms.
Listening and Speaking in a Seminar
Practice how to agree or disagree with a comment by using the following:
INNER CIRCLE
1. I agree with ______because ______, but I want to add another reason why I think ______.
2. I disagree with ______because ______.
3. I’m not sure why ______said ______. Could you reword your comments to help me understand?
4. I understand your point, ______, but I want to add/disagree/give another example ______.
5. This is what I think you are saying, ______, and I would like to add/or disagree by saying ______.
OUTER CIRCLE CRITIQUE
1. What was the most interesting question? ______
______
2. What was the most interesting idea to come from a participant? ______
______
3. If you could have added something to an answer or comment, what would it have been? ______
______
4. What question would you have liked to ask to the inner circle based on their discussions? ______
______
Socratic Seminar Notes
On the back side of this paper, write the Opening Question to the Socratic Seminar and record any notes about responses that are meaningful to you.