The Scarlet Letter, the Crucible, and Life Today: Bringing It All Together Through Socratic

The Scarlet Letter, The Crucible, and Life Today: Bringing it all Together Through Socratic Seminar

PRE-SOCRATIC SEMINAR:

After you have finished reading and annotating the supplementary articles, you will prepare four total questions to guide Thursday’s Socratic Seminar. For each of the categories below, create two questions. NOTE: The stronger the question, the higher your overall grade will be for this assignment.

Category 1: Character Comparisons

Create two questions that compare, contrast, examine, or analyze a character from The Scarlet Letter with a character from The Crucible. Possible character match-ups include but are not limited to the following:

·  Dimmesdale/Proctor

·  Chillingworth/Abigail

·  Hester/Abigail

·  Hester/Elizabeth

Category 2: Motifs and Themes

Create two questions that examine how a topic below is significant to The Scarlet Letter, The Crucible, and an article from the supplementary reading.

·  Identity

·  Women’s rights/Women’s role in society

·  Duality (appearance vs. reality)

·  Individual vs. society

·  Your own motif/theme

DURING THE SEMINAR:

1.  Each student needs to speak (so that everyone can hear you and without raising your hand). Asking questions and building upon responses are both great ways to get involved in the conversation.

·  Use the following starters to involve or respond to others:

o  “______, what do you think about ______?”

o  “______, do you agree with that? Why or why not?”

o  “Interesting point, _____. Do you have some textual examples that can support your thoughts?”

o  “From what I understand, you are saying ______.”

o  “Thank you, ______. I am going to build on that.”

o  “I have a different perspective on ______.” (In lieu of “I disagree”)

2.  When you speak, refer to the text(s) and use evidence whenever you can.

3.  Each student needs to be an active listener and take notes during the discussion.

POST-SEMINAR REFLECTION:

1.  Pick one peer’s point that was made during the seminar, and support, refute, or qualify that point.

2.  Find two pieces of evidence to support your claim.

3.  Write a paragraph that includes your claim, two pieces of evidence, and explanations of the evidence. Wrap up the paragraph with a sentence that applies your argument to the realm of the universal.

UPLOAD YOUR REFLECTION TO THE TURNITIN.COM DISCUSSION BOARD BY 11:00 AM ON MON., SEPT. 28