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Socratic Seminar NotesShort Story Selection 2Socratic Seminar General Rules:Speak so that everyone can hear you.Speak without raising your hand.Listen closely (take notes).Refer to the text.Talk to each other, not just the leader.Invite and allow others to speak.Consider all viewpoints and ideas.Ask for clarification; don’t stay confused.Know that you are responsible for the quality of the seminar.Directions: Use the graphic organizer below to collect material for use in the Socratic SeminarCore Question: “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” pages 660-666Simon Wheeler makes liberal use of hyperbole in describing Jim Smiley.Some of what he says is totally improbable, and some is simply a bit of a stretch. List five examples of this hyperbole and rate each on a scale of one to five, with five being the most outrageous.At any point, did your skepticism prevent you from enjoying the story? Explain.Core Question: “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” pages 660-666Twain sets this story in a frame in which the first-person narrator asks about a man named Leonidas Smiley but gets a story about Jim Smiley instead. In the end, the narrator makes a show of going away disappointed. How does this device contribute to the impact of the tall tale? Explain how the story would be different if the first-person narrator had simply told the story in his own voice, or if Wheeler himself were the first-person narrator. Do you think this is an effective technique? Why or why not?Core Question: “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” pages 660-666What can you infer about Jim Smiley based on each of the following examples?Smiley betting on the health of the parson’s wifeSmiley spending three months teaching a frog to jumpSmiley studying why the frog couldn’t jumpCore Question: “Adam,” pages 1124-1130Explain whether you agree with Heinz’s conclusion that people in this country are “too busy,” “too many,” and “too far apart” to care about one another. Give reasons for your response.Core Question: “Adam,” pages 1124-1130Vonnegut did not experience the Holocaust firsthand, yet this event in history inspired the creation of this story. In your opinion, what was Vonnegut’s purpose in writing the story? Do you think that his purpose might have been better achieved in a historical essay, or was there an advantage in depicting historical events through a fictional lens? Support your opinions.Core Question: “Adam,” pages 1124-1130Which of the characterization techniques below did Vonnegut depend on most heavily in his development of Heinz Knechtmann? Cite textual examples.Description of the character’s physical appearancePresentation of the character’s own speech, thoughts, or feelingsThe speech, thoughts, or feelings of other characters in response to the characterThe narrator’s own comments about the characterCore Question: “The Life You Save May Be Your Own,” pages 1034-1043Explain why you think Mr. Shiftlet is able to get what he wants from Mrs. Crater. What traits make him a good con artist? What makes Mrs. Crater the perfect victim for this kind of deception? Cite evidence to support your response.Core Question: “The Life You Save May Be Your Own,” pages 1034-1043In this story, much of O’Connor’s wry humor comes from situational and dramatic irony. Review the story to find at least two examples of each kind of irony. In your opinion, what do these multiple ironies suggest about O’Connor’s view of her fellow human beings?Core Question: “The Life You Save May Be Your Own,” pages 1034-1043Because both Mr. Shiftlet and Mrs. Crater are both hiding something, readers must mine the details given about each character for clues to their true selves. Since Mr. Shiftlet’s words and thoughts can’t be trusted, what can you learn about him from the descriptions of his physical appearance? What details reveal the flaws in Mrs. Crater’s character and give her motives away? Support your analysis with evidence from the text.Core Question: All storiesThese stories are complex and at times ambiguous. They demand much of readers, who must pay attention to details of character, setting, plot, dialogue, and language in order to decipher meaning. With your partner, choose or create an image that you feel captures the theme of one of the stories. You may look for an image from a magazine, website, or book, or you may just create your own. Share your image in the Google Slides document on the Google Classroom wall and explain why you feel it represents the story’s essential theme. ................
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