Socratic Seminar-Preparation

I. Part One: Preparing Your Answers

Directions: Below you will find the two anchor questions for your discussions. Prepare
arguments and evidence to use to support your position and discredit counter-arguments.

1. Should Greg Ousley have been tried as an adult?

Argument Evidence Counter-Argument Rebuttal

- I believe that Greg -Carried out a plan I believe that Greg Although many will
Ousley should have to kill his own Ousley should not say that he should
been tried as an parents. have been tried as not be tried as an
adult because he It was an an adult because he adult, he should.
planned to kill his unthinkable crime, was pretty young Many may say that
parents and that most wouldn't and his brain was his brain was not
followed through even think about not fully developed fully developed at
with it and committing. so his thought the time but if it
successfully -I had been thinking process was not wasn't developed
committed the about killing them good even though then why did he
crime. It was no every time I get he planned the plan to kill his
ordinary crime mad, they dont crime. 14, the age parents for awhile.
where someone seem to understand he committed his Since he planned it
accidently gets shot me. crime is a time he most likely
while playing with a where teens act on thought about what
handgun that At the moment of impulse and the the consequences
doesn't have its the crime Greg heat of the moment, would be.
safety on. Ousley knew what they do not think
he was doing and about what they are
showed no emotion doing nor the
for killing his own outcomes of things.
parents. Nothing, it
was pretty cold
hearted.

During the crime

Greg probably heard
his parents telling
him to stop and to
put down the gun
but he didn't and
killed his parents
2. How should the judicial system handle juveniles who commit crimes? What about violent
crimes?
Argument Evidence Counter-Argument Rebuttal

Depending on how Depending on the Juveniles should Many will say that
bad the crime is, person, once they never be tried as juveniles should not
then it should be kill they may come adults because they be tried as adults
determined whether back and kill for are too young and because they do not
or not the juvenile more because they their brains are fully what they are doing
should be tried as are bloodthirsty. developed and they but they should
an adult or a Another person may do not think things depending on the
juvenile. kill once and through half of the severity of the crime
I believe thst the completely change time. they commit.
judicial system and never kill again.
should not change.

II. Part Two: Furthering Questions

Directions: Using the sentences frames given, come up with at least five furthering questions
that you can ask during the Socratic seminar.

What puzzles me is

Id like to discuss

Im confused about
 Dont you think this is similar to

Do you agree that

I wonder if

While I see what you are saying, have you considered

Do you think

Do you agree/disagree that

III. Part Three: Notes

Directions: During the seminar, use this section to take notes on what others say and jot down
ideas. These can be used in your discussion or later in your paper.

Separate Notes for me:]