Guidelines for Socratic Dialogue



Guidelines for Socratic Dialogue

The Paideia Seminar

What is a Socratic Dialogue?

A Socratic Dialogue is based on the questioning techniques of Socrates, a Classical Greek philosopher, who was convinced that the surest way to attain reliable knowledge was through the practice of disciplined conversation. This Socratic method of teaching is based on Socrates’ theory that it is more important to enable students to think for themselves than to merely fill their heads with “right” answers. Participants will seek deeper understanding of complex ideas in the text through rigorously thoughtful dialogue. Dialogue assumes that many people have pieces of answers and that cooperation can lead to a greater understanding.

What is the Paideia Seminar?

The Paideia Seminar enables students to work collaboratively to understand, make meaning and find common ground. Students are given opportunities to examine a common piece of text. After the student reads the common text carefully, several questions are posed, primarily open-ended, world connection, universal theme, and literary analysis questions. Dialogue is exploratory, and participants will respond to one another with respect by carefully listening instead of interrupting. Students are encouraged to paraphrase essential elements of another’s ideas before responding, either in support of or in disagreement. Members of the dialogue look each other in the eyes and use each other’s names.

How is the seminar conducted?

Every student prepares three questions. Students are divided into two divisions: the outer circle and the inner circle. Within the outer circle is a “hot seat.”

Outer Circle

• Asks questions, observes, critiques the process and takes notes.

• When a student has a question to ask the inner circle, then the student goes to the “hot seat” and waits to ask the question. After asking the question, the student returns to the outer circle.

Inner Circle

• Addresses the question using evidence from the text. Cites examples, passages from the text to support answers.

• Makes relevant comments during the seminar which show response to the previous speaker’s ideas. Helps to enlarge understanding of the text and ideas generated by the seminar.

• Shows attentiveness through body language: sitting up straight, looking at the speaker.

• Realizes this is not a debate, so support others’ comments and does not belittle or criticize.

Paideia Participant Preparations

What do we all do before we come to a Paideia Seminar?

1. Read the text thoroughly, annotating (marking or using sticky notes to highlight passages)

2. Become familiar with unique vocabulary.

3. Prepare a chart or data sheet that indicates you have explored various features of the text.

4. Brainstorm themes relevant to the text.

5. Create questions.

Pre-Socratic Seminar Question Writing:

(All examples are based on The Giver)

OPEN ENDED QUESTION:

Write an insightful question about the text that will require proof, insights, and group discussion to discover or explore the answer to the question.

Example: What was the importance of the things the community gave up in order to have Sameness?

WORLD CONNECTION QUESTION:

Write a question connecting the text to the real world.

Example: Would it ever be possible for a true Utopia to exist?

UNIVERSAL THEME QUESTION:

Write a question dealing with a theme of the text that will encourage group discussion about the universality of the text.

Example: One of the themes from The Giver was that it is important to remain an individual. Describe how this theme is portrayed throughout the story, and how the theme could apply to other literary works.

LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTION:

Write a question dealing with the author’s style. Your question may focus on how the author manipulates point of view, characterization, and language.

Example: From whose perspective do we learn about the setting? How does the setting develop throughout the story?

Listening and Speaking in a Seminar

Practice how to agree or disagree with a comment by using the following:

INNER CIRCLE

When responding to another student:

“I want to build on what ________ said by adding…”

“I agree with ________ because…”

“I disagree with ________ because…”

“I agree with ________, but would like to add…”

“This is what I think you are saying, ________, and I would like to add/disagree by saying…”

“________, I did not quite understand what you were saying. Could you please reword to help me understand?”

“I’ve changed my mind about… based on what ________ said (or what was stated in the text)…”

“I understand your point ________, but want to add/give another example…”

“________, have you ever thought about it this way…?”

Bring another student into the conversation:

“________, what do you think about ________’s point…?”

“________, we have been talking about ________. Is there anything you would like to add?”

“________, I’ve noticed you have been trying to speak.”

“________, it looks like you disagree with what has been said. Would you like to share?”

End the discussion and move on to another question:

“I think we have all come to the consensus that…”

“It seems as though we are unable to come to a consensus on…”

“I think we have exhausted all discussion on the topic of…”

OUTER CIRCLE CRITIQUE

1. What was the most interesting question? ______________________________

__________________________________________________________________

2. What was the most interesting idea to come from a participant? ____________

__________________________________________________________________

3. If you could have added something to an answer or comment, what would it have been? _____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

4. What question would you have liked to ask to the inner circle based on their discussions? ____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Paideia Notes

EVERONE WILL BE TAKING NOTES FOR EACH QUESTION!!

1. Question: ____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answer: _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

2. Question: ____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answer: _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

3. Question: ____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answer: _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

4. Question: ____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answer: _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

5. Question: ____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answer: _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

6. Question: ____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answer: _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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