Interpretive-Level Questions

What they are… What they are not…

• Can be debated and • Right or wrong,
require somebody to answered by facts
give their opinion given in the book.
supported by • Answered in one
examples in the text. word answers.
• Require explanation.
 Socratic Seminar Fish Bowl
• Inner circle- discusses and facilitates a
“Socratic Seminar”.
• Outer circle- observes and takes notes on the
discussion, what is going well, what do you
notice could be better?
– Can also serve as a “wing man” to the person in
front of them and help them come up with
evidence or support an answer to a question.
• After 15 minutes, we will switch.
 Socratic Seminar Rules
 Talk to each other, not just to the discussion leader or teacher.
 Refer to evidence from the text to support your ideas.
 Ask questions if you do not understand what someone has
said, or you can paraphrase what another student has said for
clarification (“I think you said this; is that right?”).
 You do not need to raise your hand to speak, but please pay
attention to your “airtime”—how much you have spoken in
relation to other students.
 Don’t interrupt.
 Don’t “put down” the ideas of another student. Without
judging the student you disagree with, state your alternate
interpretation or ask a follow-up question to help probe or
clarify an idea.
 Socratic Seminar
Response Sentence Stems:
• 50 Test Points  I agree with ______
– Inner Circle (30 points) because….
• 10 points each interpretive
comment/question (three  I respectfully disagree
required) with _______ because…
– Outer Circle (10 points)
• Taking notes/ being a “wing
 I would like to add to
man” what _____ said…
– Exit Ticket (10 points)  I have a question about
what ______ said…
Points will be deducted for
off task or disruptive
behavior.
 Reflections
1. How did you feel about the seminar?
2. What was the best part of the
seminar? The worst part?
3. How did you do in today’s seminar?
4. What will you do better next time?
5. What did you learn today either
about the book, the topics discussed,
yourself, the class, etc.?