Group Socratic Seminar Preparation

1. As a group, decide how you will work through the text. This might include- rereading the whole text independently, taking a few minutes to review the text
individually, or looking at the questions and going back into the text to find the
answers.
The following are the questions for the 3 discussions of the Socratic seminar. . You
will see the same topics on Monday. You need to keep your notes and your annotated
copy of the text for Mondays Socratic seminar. Today is your opportunity to try out
your ideas against your classmates and jot down their ideas.
For each of these questions, you should have:
-a discussion with your group members where you hear their ideas and use those
ideas to shape your personal answer.
-a personal answer that you can explain and defend.
-three examples from the text to support your answer and
-One example of the text that could be used to counter your answer and a plan to
address this counter evidence.

DISCUSSION 1
How does Angelous use the comparison between herself and the white girl she
imagines she might become to give meaning to the introduction vignette?

Questions to consider in your preparation:

*What is the main message of the introduction?
*Why does Angelou imagine she will become a white girl?
*How does Angelous imagination of herself as white help you understand
something bigger about this vignette?

Group Socratic Seminar Preparation

1. As a group, decide how you will work through the text. This might include- rereading the whole text independently, taking a few minutes to review the text
individually, or looking at the questions and going back into the text to find the
answers.
The following are the questions for the 3 discussions of the Socratic seminar. . You
will see the same topics on Monday. You need to keep your notes and your annotated
copy of the text for Mondays Socratic seminar. Today is your opportunity to try out
your ideas against your classmates and jot down their ideas.
For each of these questions, you should have:
-a discussion with your group members where you hear their ideas and use those
ideas to shape your personal answer.
-a personal answer that you can explain and defend.
-three examples from the text to support your answer and
-One example of the text that could be used to counter your answer and a plan to
address this counter evidence.

DISCUSSION 2
Compare the use of the extended metaphor of the bad check in I Have a Dream and
the metaphor of the black sheep and white wolves in The Black Revolution
Questions to consider in your preparation:
*What object and reality for the African American people does MLK compare in I
Have a Dream
*What is the similarity between the object and the reality MLK is trying to point
out?
*What idea and reality for the African American people does Malcolm X compare in
The Black Revolution?
*What is the similarity between the idea and the reality Malcolm X is trying to point
out?

* Compare and contrast the idea each man points out with their extended
metaphor.

*Compare and contrast how each man uses the metaphor as a tool to create
meaning in the larger text.

Group Socratic Seminar Preparation

1. As a group, decide how you will work through the text. This might include- rereading the whole text independently, taking a few minutes to review the text
individually, or looking at the questions and going back into the text to find the
answers.
The following are the questions for the 3 discussions of the Socratic seminar. . You
will see the same topics on Monday. You need to keep your notes and your annotated
copy of the text for Mondays Socratic seminar. Today is your opportunity to try out
your ideas against your classmates and jot down their ideas.
For each of these questions, you should have:
-a discussion with your group members where you hear their ideas and use those
ideas to shape your personal answer.
-a personal answer that you can explain and defend.
-three examples from the text to support your answer and
-One example of the text that could be used to counter your answer and a plan to
address this counter evidence.
DISCUSSION 3
Compare and contrast how Angelou and Malcolm X use diction and sentence structure to
achieve their purposes for writing the text.
Questions to consider in your preparation:
*How does Angelou use diction and sentence structure in I Know Why the Caged Bird
Sings?
*What is Angelous overall purpose for writing the text?
*What purpose does Angelou achieve through her diction? What purpose does
Angelou achieve through her sentence structure?

*How does Malcolm X use diction and sentence structure to in The Black
Revolution?
*What is Malcolm Xs overall purpose for speaking?
*What purpose does Malcolm X achieve through his diction? What purpose does
Malcolm X achieve through his sentence structure?

*How are Angelou and Malcolm Xs diction and sentence structure similar and
different?
*How are Angelou and Malcolm Xs purposes similar and different?

Socratic Seminar basics

PROCEDURE
Question will appear on the wall
Group moderator gets the conversation going
Students drive the conversation (i.e. who talks next)
Teacher takes notes, but rarely contributes or call on students

RULES
1 pt. for a simple comment (thought without support)
2 pts for building on someone elses argument
2 pts for referencing the text (directly or indirectly) provide support for your
answer
3 pts for building on someones thought using a textual citation
1-2 pts will be deducted for any disrespectful comments or the interruption of
another student
Dont talk over people!
GOAL
This is your first Socratic discussion of the year. Dont stress. Your goal for this first circle
will be to accrue 10 points. Later in the year, this point requirement will go up.