Notes, notes, and more notes!

Socratic Seminars are structured conversations in a large group.

I. Socrates, Greek philosopher

   A. Born 469 B.C.

   B. His father was a sculptor/mason.

      1. did not follow his father’s profession (unusual)

      2. instead went to a school of logic

   C. At school, asked a lot of questions

   D. Taught young people to ask questions

      1. first, community leaders appreciate this

      2. later, charged for corrupting the youth

II. Seminar

   A. Name Plate

      1. first name only, big and bold

      2. respond to speakers by name

      3. refer to question list on the back

   B. Students are participants. Teacher facilitates.

   C. Goals

      1. Participants choose one participation goal.

      2. Facilitator decides group goal

   D. Evaluation

      1. take turns speaking

      2. listen carefully

      3. always respond to speakers by name

      4. on topic

      5. refer to notes and text

You will write these on the back of the name plate.

Leveled Questions

I. Factual (1)

   A. One correct answer can be easily found.

   B. Key verbs: define, identify, name, recite, complete, list, recall, who, what, when, where

   C. Example: List the ingredients of peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

II. Interpretive (2)

   A. Processing skill/concept

   B. Key verbs: contrast, group, compare, paraphrase, interpret, organize

   C. Example: Write an organized recipe for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

III. Evaluative (2)

   A. Strategic thinking beyond the text

   B. Key verbs: evaluate, judge, predict, hypothesize, revise, invent, critique, design

   C. Example: Design a plan to feed everyone in your class peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Notes: Quotation Marks

Use quotation marks to enclose a person’s exact words.

Rule #1 A comma or a period should always be placed inside the closing quotation marks.

Example: While he was in prison, Richard Lovelace wrote a poem containing the well-known line “Stone walls do not a prison make.”

Example: “Stone wall do not a prison make,” a well-known line by Richard Lovelace, describes how our thoughts are a powerful trap.

Rule #2 A question mark or an exclamation point should be placed inside the closing quotation marks when the direct quotation is a question or exclamation. Otherwise, it should be placed outside.

Example: Who said, “Give me liberty or give me death”?

Example: “Give me liberty or give me death!” said Patrick Henry during the American Revolution.