Common Core Question Stems

Common Core Question Stems Reading ELA | Common Core Question Stems Reading ELA Grade 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

CCSS Socratic Seminar Handout

Socratic seminars are a form of inquiry and discussion between students, based on asking open-ended questions and answering open ended questions to stimulate critical thinking, reading comprehension and to illuminate ideas and deepen understanding of literary concepts in texts. It is a dialectical method, often involving a focused discussion with key open-ended questions about a text read by all participants in which students ask questions to debate different points of view; one participant may lead another to discover new perspectives and ideas, thus strengthening the inquirer's own point and knowledge.

• Socratic questions to build a deeper understanding of the text and to serve as the key seminar questions to help interpret the text:

1.     What are the stages of plot in the story and do they move the story forward?

2.     How do the story elements of plot/conflict/characters/setting/theme work to make the story work?

3.     What are the key elements of the plot exposition and can they be improved?

4.     What are the key elements of the rising action/ subplots/ anecdotal stories and should they be improved?

5.     What are the key elements of the climax and can it be improved?

6.     What are the key elements of the falling action and should they be improved?

7. What are the key elements of the resolution/conclusion/obligatory scene and should they be improved?

8.     What is the main idea or underlying theme in the text?

9.     What is the author’s purpose or perspective?

10.                        What does (_____________) mean?

11.                        How does the figurative language help or detract from the text?

12.                        What might be an alternate title for the text?

13.                        What is the most important word/sentence/paragraph/idiom/ conclusion/inference/idea?

• Socratic questions to move the discussion along:

1.     Who has a different perspective on the plot/conflict/characters/  setting/theme?

2.     Who has not yet had a chance to speak?

3.     Where do you find evidence for _______that in the text?

4.     Can you clarify what you mean by ____________?

5.     How does that contrast to what _________________ said?

6.     Is there something in the text that is unclear to you?

7.     Has anyone changed their mind about the plot/conflict/characters/  setting/theme?

• Socratic questions to bring the discussion to a close:

1.     How do the themes in the text relate to our lives?

2.     What do they mean for you personally?

3.     Why is this theme/main idea important?

4.     Do you agree with the author’s theme/main idea?

• Socratic seminar wrap up (debriefing) questions:

1.     Do you understand the text at a deeper level?

2.     How was the Socratic seminar process for examining a text?

3.     What was one thing you liked or disliked about the Socratic seminar process?