Step 1: Choose an article
For Socratic Seminar, we will debate 2 current event articles in class for 15 minutes each. You will have to compose 2 thought-provoking discussion questions (using the question stems below) per article and bring those in with you the day of the seminar. You will not create questions until the whole class has selected their two topics.
Follow these guidelines when choosing an article:
1. Choose a current event article that has been published online in the last month; if it is earlier than that, it is no longer current. However, I understand that sometimes a particularly debatable event will have happened earlier than a month ago -- use your best judgement when selecting a topic.
2. Stay away from articles about marijuana or abortion; those two topics have been debated for so long that there isn't much left to talk about. No one is going to change anyone's mind on either topic in fifteen minutes.
3. Choose an article that the vast majority of your class will be able to discuss; if it is something that only appeals to you, the debate will crash & burn.
4. Choose an article that has many different discussion points and can be discussed from multiple points of view; if there is only one overwhelming majority opinion, it is not a good article. (i.e. Boston Marathon Bombing--nobody would argue that was a good thing to happen.)
5. Find articles on websites of reliable news outlets. Do NOT go to any website like www.debate.org; it must be an article with facts, not simply people's opinions. You WILL NOT receive credit if your article comes from a website about debates/debate topics.
Below are some sample websites that come recommended by me:
Step 2: Summarizing the debatability
Article Summary:
When you have found and read a debatable article, you will write a short summary of the article. In order to ensure that your article is debatable, you should also include a short summary that highlights WHAT IS DEBATABLE about your topic. Include evidence from your article to support your ideas.
***** These summaries are turned in to be assessed, and they will factor into your grade.
***** Please type your responses. MLA format is expected.
For Socratic Seminar, we will debate 2 current event articles in class for 15 minutes each. You will have to compose 2 thought-provoking discussion questions (using the question stems below) per article and bring those in with you the day of the seminar. You will not create questions until the whole class has selected their two topics.
Follow these guidelines when choosing an article:
1. Choose a current event article that has been published online in the last month; if it is earlier than that, it is no longer current. However, I understand that sometimes a particularly debatable event will have happened earlier than a month ago -- use your best judgement when selecting a topic.
2. Stay away from articles about marijuana or abortion; those two topics have been debated for so long that there isn't much left to talk about. No one is going to change anyone's mind on either topic in fifteen minutes.
3. Choose an article that the vast majority of your class will be able to discuss; if it is something that only appeals to you, the debate will crash & burn.
4. Choose an article that has many different discussion points and can be discussed from multiple points of view; if there is only one overwhelming majority opinion, it is not a good article. (i.e. Boston Marathon Bombing--nobody would argue that was a good thing to happen.)
5. Find articles on websites of reliable news outlets. Do NOT go to any website like www.debate.org; it must be an article with facts, not simply people's opinions. You WILL NOT receive credit if your article comes from a website about debates/debate topics.
Below are some sample websites that come recommended by me:
- New York Times
- PBS
- NBC News
- National Public Radio
- CNN
- The BBC
- Fox News
- Washington Post
- Huffington Post
- Reuters
- The Associated Press
Step 2: Summarizing the debatability
Article Summary:
When you have found and read a debatable article, you will write a short summary of the article. In order to ensure that your article is debatable, you should also include a short summary that highlights WHAT IS DEBATABLE about your topic. Include evidence from your article to support your ideas.
***** These summaries are turned in to be assessed, and they will factor into your grade.
***** Please type your responses. MLA format is expected.
Step 3: Generating questions for debate
Below you will find a variety of sentence starters for your Socratic styled questions; use them at you see fit.
Socratic Seminar Question Stems:
As you prepare your questions for the Socratic Seminar, consider using these question stems to help you develop critical thinking questions instead of just comprehension questions.
You will need to come up with two questions per article topic (all posted on google classroom). Once you create your questions, you need to answer each question in 4 - 5 sentences. Doing so will provide you with questions to ask your classmates, as well as potential responses should someone else ask a question similar to one of yours.
***** Please type your work and have it printed for class time -- if you do not have a computer or a printer, be sure to use one in the library before class meets. This is the rule!
Good luck!
Reminder: If you do not come prepared for the seminar with your questions and responses, you will NOT be permitted to participate and will receive a zero on the assignment.
Clarification Questions:
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Reason and Evidence Probes
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