A TALE OF TWO CITIES SOCRATIC SEMINAR
A TALE OF TWO CITIES SOCRATIC SEMINAR
Summative Grade – English I Pre-AP | |
A Socratic Seminar is a type of higher-level dialogue based on the theory of the Greek philosopher, Socrates. The idea behind the Socratic Method is that it is more important to enable students to think for themselves than to merely fill their heads with the “right” answers. Therefore, he regularly engaged his pupils in dialogues by responding to their questions with open-ended questions instead of answers.
Open-ended questions allow students to think critically, analyze multiple meanings in a text, and express ideas with clarity and confidence. Students are required not to memorize bits of plot information, but to seek deeper understanding of the complex ideas in a text and the application of those ideas to the larger themes of the text and to the students’ own daily lives. This dialogue is exploratory and involves the suspension of biases and prejudices. Discussion and debate are transfers of information designed to win an argument and bring closure by seeking a “correct” answer. Americans are great at this. We do not, however, dialogue well. However, once teachers and students learn to dialogue, they find that the ability to ask meaningful questions that stimulate thoughtful interchanges of ideas is more important that “the answer.”
It is important to remember, though, that a Socratic Seminar is a dialogue and not a debate. In other words, we are not looking for a winner. In a Socratic Seminar, every person in the room not speaking is expected to listen respectfully. Discuss ideas rather than each other’s opinions and feelings.
GROUND RULES FOR A SOCRATIC SEMINAR
|All participants are expected to… |
|Participate actively: Speak, listen, and draw others into the discussion. |
|Come prepared with questions and possible answers. |
|Ask one or two pre-written questions during the seminar. |
|Answer three or four questions during the seminar. These may be questions asked originally or follow-up questions. |
|Refrain from interrupting. |
|Support their ideas with evidence. |
|Cooperate in a friendly discussion. ( |
|During dialogue, participants may… |No one may… |
|Ask for clarification if a person’s comment confuses them. |Criticize anyone’s opinions, comments, or beliefs. |
|Add to a comment made by another person. |Interrupt when someone is speaking. |
|Respectfully voice an opposing viewpoint. |Respond in a manner that is in any way contemptuous or derogatory. |
RESPONSIBILITIES OF SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS
Before the Seminar:
1. Create four (4) questions for use during the Socratic Seminar. Explanations of the four question categories are attached. Questions must be typed and in MLA format.
2. Submit the four questions to by 11:59 PM ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13. If questions are not submitted to , you will not be eligible to participate in the seminar. All questions must be original and a result of your own work and thinking. Plagiarized questions, from an outside source or another student, will result in automatic failure of the entire assignment.
3. Bring two (2) copies of your pre-written questions to class on the first day of the seminar: one to use during discussion and one to hand in for grading.
During the Seminar:
1. Listen to the questions posed by your classmates and consider potential responses and issues.
2. Discuss the questions posed, keeping to the subject and nature of the question, attempting to analyze, criticize, and connect. Stick to the point currently under discussion; make notes about ideas you want to come back to.
3. Make good use of the text! Responses must be supported by textual and experiential evidence in order to receive credit. At times, be sure to call attention to specific passages relevant to the issue at hand. When working with such a passage, cite the page number and allow time for others in the class to locate it. Then, read it aloud.
4. Pretend the teacher, who will not speak, is not in the room. Direct your attention only to your classmates and regard the teacher as a recording secretary on hand to take down information.
5. Take brief notes of points and examples that deepen your understanding, opinions that differ from your own, and arguments that you find helpful, convincing, or worth trying to refute. Do not, however, allow note-taking to cause you to lose the thread of the discussion.
6. Do not stay confused! Ask for clarification. (
QUESTION CATEGORIES
You are responsible for devising one of each of the following types of questions. Remember: These questions must be original!
1. Open-Ended Question: Write an insightful question about the text that will require proof and group discussion and “construction of logic” to discover or explore the answer to the question (give your opinion with textual support to prove the argument!).
Example #1: Why does Randy hesitate to take control of the governing of the town from the start? (from the Alas, Babylon)
Example #2: Why does Lucie Manette’s mother opt not to tell her about her father in prison?
2. World Connection Question: Write a question connecting the text to the real world.
Example #1: If you were given a short time to pack only your few most precious belongings to spend months with in hiding, what would you pack and why? (after reading Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl).
Example #2: Write about the “best of times, the worst of times” in your life/your world right now and why it fits this description. (Isn’t it obvious where that comes from!?!)
Example #3: Lucie Manette’s mother made the difficult decision not to tell her daughter about her father in prison. What is a difficult decision made by one of your parents, and what criteria were considered in the decision making process?
3. Universal Theme/Core Question: Write a question dealing with a theme(s) of the text that will encourage group discussion about the universality of the text. Potential thematic issues from A Tale of Two Cities include (but are not limited to) personal resurrection/renewal; revenge; injustice; redemption; renunciation; rebirth; sacrifice; renewal of society; hope; love; human capacity for violence/evil; human capacity for good; animalistic nature of humanity; social oppression; loyalty; corruption; the power of suffering and sacrifice; secrets; dualities; appearance vs. reality; death.
Example: How was the concept of a judicial system depicted in A Tale of Two Cities in the various cities, and how are judicial systems in various countries still demonstrating these violent tendencies?
4. Literary Analysis Question: Write a question dealing with HOW the author chose to compose his literary piece. How did the author manipulate point of view, characterization, diction, symbolism, figurative language (for example)? How did he manipulate the English language to get his point and his story across?
Example #1: What is the purpose of the war motif in A Separate Peace?
Example #2: How does Dickens use the metaphors of the Jackal and the Lion?
GRADING RUBRIC
Four (4) substantive questions, one (1) for each category,
prepared prior to the day of the seminar and
submitted to /25 points
Asking one of your prepared questions during the
Socratic Seminar /15 points each
Each substantive response to the discussion, particularly
to the questions posed by your classmates (textual
evidence is necessary in responses!) /15 points each
In other words…
To earn a minimum passing score of a 70 on this summative (read: TEST) grade, one must have all
four questions prepared prior to the seminar, must pose one of those questions during discussion, and must contribute to the discussion two substantive responses that include textual evidence.
PENALTIES: As this is also an assessment of the Listening and Speaking TEKS for the English I Pre-AP course, you will be penalized for breaking any of the Socratic Seminar rules. Criticism of the beliefs and views of others, interrupting a speaker, or responding in a contemptuous or derogatory manner to anyone will result in a penalty of one full response. In addition, you may not ask the teacher “Do I have to say anything else?”,”Is that enough for an A?”,”How many things have I said?”/other annoying questions that are annoying because they are entirely unrelated to the subject at hand.
IN ADDITION – Take care of all personal business (restroom, water, etc.) prior to entering class on the days of the Socratic Seminar. Students will not be allowed to leave the discussion circle except in the event of an emergency.
IN THE EVENT OF AN ABSENCE: Once again, the seminar will take place over two days (Monday, 2/14, & Tuesday, 2/15). If you are absent for one of those days, it is your responsibility to fully participate on the day you are here to ensure that you receive the grade you want. If you are absent on both days, you will be required to respond to a timed-writing prompt dealing with A Tale of Two Cities after school before the end of the six weeks.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
A Level Participant
• Participant offers enough solid analysis, without prompting, to move the conversation forward
• Participant, through comments, demonstrates a deep knowledge of the text and the question
• Participant has come to the seminar prepared, with notes and a marked/annotated text
• Participant, as shown through comments, actively listens to other participants
• Participant offers clarification and/or follow-up that extends the conversation
• Participant’s remarks often refer back to specific parts of the text.
B Level Participant
• Participant offers solid analysis without prompting
• Through comments, participant demonstrates a good knowledge of the text and the question
• Participant has come to the seminar prepared, with notes and a marked/annotated text
• Participant demonstrates active listening by clarification and/or follow-up comments
• Participant offers clarification and/or follow-up
C Level Participant
• Participant offers some analysis, but needs prompting from the seminar leader
• Through comments, participant demonstrates a general knowledge of the text and question
• Participant is less prepared, with few notes and no marked/annotated text
• Participant is actively listening to others, but does not offer clarification and/or follow-up to others’ comments
• Participant relies more upon opinion and less on the text
D or F Level Participant
• Participant offers little commentary
• Participant comes to the seminar ill-prepared with little understanding of the text and question
• Participant does not listen to others, offers no commentary to further the discussion
• Participant distracts the group by interrupting other speakers or by offering off topic questions and comments.
• Participant ignores the discussion and its participants
Self-Check List
1. Questions Submitted – TYPED, MLA FORMAT 25
2. Ask question 15
3. Respond appropriately to question with evidence 15
4. Respond appropriately to question with evidence 15
5. Respond appropriately to question with evidence 15
6. Respond appropriately to question with evidence 15
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