Socratic Seminar for Summer Reading
The Socratic seminar is based on a 2,400-year-old philosophy that teaches students to raise probing questions, to think critically about their own ideas and the ideas of others, to support ideas with textual evidence, and to take greater responsibility for their own learning.
The heart of the Socratic seminar lies in three categories of questions:
- Opening question (usually only one per seminar)
- Introduces a broad generalization that looks into the text for an answer
- Introduces and explores topics, ideas, and themes
- Core questions (usually four to eight per seminar)
- Require content-specific information
- Seek an examination and/or clarification of central points
- Explore cause-effect relationships
- Call for interpretation and exploration
- Closing question (usually one per seminar)
- Establishes relevance
- Asks for a connection with the real world
- Directs an application to self
Sample Questions: “Middle-Class Pastoral” from Hunger of Memory
Opening question
- What is the problem with assimilation?
Core questions
- Why does Rodriguez refer to his book as a pastoral? (6)
- What is the purpose of the Caliban allusion? (3, 5)
- What is Rodriguez’s attitude toward education? (6–7)
- What is the purpose of the word “anoint”? (5)
- What is ironic about the last line of the prologue? (7)
- What evidence is there to support a(n) (indignant, disdainful, scornful, sorrowful, reflective, resentful, didactic) tone? • What is the purpose in today’s society in distinguishing among lower, middle, and upper class?
Closing question
- What is the purpose in today’s society in distinguishing among lower, middle, and upper class?
AP English Summer Reading: Outliers and Nothing to Envy
We will be conducting two Socratic seminars based on assigned readings from the AP Summer Reading. You will prepare for each seminar in the following manner:
- Carefully read the text for both facts and ideas.
- Underline or highlight ideas that are especially intriguing or meaningful.
- Make notes in the margin for easy reference.
- Prepare a set of five typed seminar questions and answers. You will need to have one opening question, three core questions, and one closing question. Each answer to each question should be approximately 150 words.
- Mark any passages in the text that you did not understand when you read the selection.
- Note connections between this selection and other pieces you have read on your own. You many want to note those connections in the margins.
- Reflect critically on what you have read.
- Be prepared to support your ideas with textual evidence. On each seminar day you will need to bring your text, your questions, and any preparatory notes you have made. By the end of the two seminars, you should have made four significant contributions to the discussion. Remember that part of your grade will depend on how well you listen and contribute to your seminar group’s dynamic. In addition, you will be expected to take notes and formulate a general conclusion about the intent and purpose of each seminar for which you are a listener rather than a discussant. Each set of notes/conclusion will be worth 5 points for a total of 10 points separate from the seminar grade. Important note: Any student absent on any Socratic seminar day will make it up by having a one-on- one discussion session with yours truly!
Grading Criteria per Socratic Seminar
- One opening question and answer (2 points)
- Three core questions and answers (6 points)
- One closing question and answer (2 points)
Each Contribution (5 points)—Remember that you are expected to contribute 4 times during a seminar
- Contributed significantly to the conversation through extension or elaboration
- Provided new insight or perspective on the text being discussed
- Referenced specific lines or words from the text as a source for the contribution
- Directed comments and responses to the seminar group
- Spoke clearly and eloquently when providing responses
Notes and conclusion of a seminar in which you are a listener (10 points)
TOTAL: 40 points