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To prepare for your seminar, fill out the attached chart and record responses to the questions for your assigned focus. Cite 2 passages as well as specific moments in the play to support your responses. Be sure to come to class with responses to the questions. You will submit both the chart and your responses as part of your assessment for this seminar. See the rubric for assessment details.

Socratic Prompts

Socratic #1: Iago focus

• How does Iago manipulate Othello so that Othello is now suspicious of Cassio and Desdemona? What steps does he take to manipulate Othello?

• What is the psychology being used here? Specifically, how does Iago use “reverse psychology” and irony to manipulate Othello? Why is this so effective? Would it be today?

• How does Iago manipulate other characters as well? Explore Emilia’s role in this Act.

• Theme discussion: explore one or two of our themes and how they relate to the questions above.

o Appearance vs. reality

o The manipulation of truth and information

o Rational mind vs. primal nature/savage beast (Love vs lust; Jealousy vs. trust)

o The importance of manhood, honor and reputation

o The nature of womanhood and sexuality

Socratic #2: Othello focus

• How does Othello change over the course of this act? What phases or stages does he go through?

• Is it reasonable for Othello to be so convinced by Iago? Why is Othello so easily led? What does this tell us about Othello?

• How do Emilia, Desdemona and Cassio (unknowingly) play roles in the manipulation?

• Theme discussion: explore one or two of our themes and how they relate to the questions above.

o Appearance vs. reality

o The manipulation of truth and information

o Rational mind vs. primal nature/savage beast (Love vs lust; Jealousy vs. trust)

o The importance of manhood, honor and reputation

o The nature of womanhood and sexuality

Each circle will discuss their questions for about 20 minutes. Each circle will also have a “hot seat” which enables any member of the outer circle to join the inner circle to briefly share a salient point. Respectful discussion is of the upmost importance.

Name: ________________________________________________________

Socratic Seminar Grading Rubric

| |4 |3 |2 |1 |

|Participation: Speaking |4-5 times |3 times |1 – 2 times |Didn’t participate |

|Use of evidence |Refers directly to the |Refers to the text/gives |Inconsistent use of |Does not use evidence |

| |text to support most |examples not quoted |quotes/evidence from the |from the text |

| |points | |text | |

| | | |Content knowledge unclear| |

| | | |or incorrect | |

|Participation: |Respectfully listens to |Respectfully listens to |Listens, but is |Is distracted more than 2|

|Listening, responding to |and responds to others |others and focuses on the|distracted 1-2 times |times, talks with others,|

|others, inviting others |and is focused on the |discussion | |and/or needs to show |

|to join in |discussion. Allows | | |greater respect to others|

| |others to participate | | | |

|Notes |Pre- and post-seminar |Pre- and post-seminar |Pre- and post-seminar |Pre- and post-seminar |

| |notes are excellently |notes are adequately |notes are weakly detailed|notes and incomplete |

| |detailed and reflect |detailed and reflect some|and reflect little |and/or careless and |

| |careful consideration of |consideration of the |consideration of the |reflect no consideration |

| |the questions |questions |questions |of the questions |

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