Socratic Seminar: What is it?

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Socratic Seminar What is it?

• SS on The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time
  Indian

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Who is Socratesand why did he have a seminar?

• Classic Greek Philosopher
• Founder of Western Philosophy
• Ethics
• Socratic Seminars a teaching tool that promotes
  questioning through dialogue
• No right answer, deeper exploration of thought

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4 ELEMENTS

• Text that raises important questions with no
  right or wrong answers
• Questions are provided by the leader and
  participants and always lead back to the text
• Leader that is a coach to choose the text ask
  follow-up questions to guide the discussion
  (limited)
• Participants read the text closely, listen
  actively, share ideas and questions without being
  scared, but safe

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Dialogue NOT Debate

• Dialogue

• Debate

• Goal is understanding
• Work together
• Respect participants
• Open mind

• Goal is to prove others wrong
• There is one right answer
• Defending beliefs
• Close minded

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Before Seminar

• Read mark the text carefully
• Look for where the author is stating his/her
  views or raising questions
• Think about what you read
• Make connections to your life and ask your own
  questions

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During Seminar

• Be prepared to participate
• Refer to the text (In paragraph 5 it says)
• Take turns speaking
• Discuss the text (give evidence), not just your
  opinion
• Show respect keep an open mind
• Use the academic scripts to start every sentence

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Reflection

• Students end the seminar writing a reflection
  about
• The best questions
• What they learned and if their opinions changed
• What they wished they could have said
• New questions that arose

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian