SOCRATIC SEMINAR PAGE
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"I like hanging out with dead people. They always agree with you and you're the coolest person there. My name is Navene. Sometimes my Nanna calls me "Bean." I'm 12 years old and I have a headstone cleaning business. I've cleaned at about 14 cemeteries. I've cleaned close to 100 headstones. I use towels, a water sprayer, D2, and some soft bristle brushes. I charge $20 for a normal- sized headstone, but I clean veteran headstones for free. I want my legacy to be good deeds. I donate money to the Purple Week Community Cancer Research because my great grandma died of cancer. Cleaning headstones is taking care of something someone cared about. I see ones that are dirty or broken and I feel sort of sad. People just let it rot and get dirty. No one should have that dirty of a headstone."
-- 60 Second Docs |
Anytime you may be speaking on a particular subject, you have to assume the audience is unaware of the details. It is up to you to explain those details in an unique and personal way. When you do that, then people remember and learn from you. Below are some good steps to follow in the development of your statement.
An Example and Model of the Work Expected
in Preparation for the Socratic Seminar
We will use the Graphic Organizer below and read these two articles to form one argument that supports Tom Brady taking responsibility for deflating the footballs and another OpEd article that tries to show that we are not interested in punishing Brady because we are most interested in supporting and upholding a double standard. I will be using this article for my Devil's Argument.
After I had finished both sides of the Graphic Organizer, I would spend time talking with other people about the topic and practice the delivery of my argument with respect to gestures and voice modulation for the greatest impact.
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Almost every week our students will be debating various topics in socratic circles in hopes of gaining a deeper knowledge on the importance of communication. The Socratic Seminar is directly correlated to the English Language Arts Standards under Speaking and Listening as well as Reading and Writing as outlined in the Common Core State Standards.
The students will be notified usually a week ahead of time on the topic. They should attempt the study of the topic early and utilize the Graphic Organizer for the Socratic Seminar. A completed and turned-in graphic organizer is expected before each seminar is to be discussed.
Those students who practice beforehand and talk about the topics with family members have shown great success in delivering their arguments, and students who have delivered the best argument for the day will be awarded with the title, Socratic Seminar Champ of the Week, and the trophy. The trophy will need to be returned on Thursday the following week. |
socratic seminar topics for 2021-2022
(August 20, 2021) What is a better meal: Tamales vs. Bacon Fries Cheeseburger?
(August 27, 2021) Which of Michael Jordan's "Top 10 Rules for Success" is the most important?
(September 10, 2021) Which Marvel Superhero is the best?
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(October 01,2021) The United States Marine Corps believes that the overall neutrality of their dress code helps save lives and therefore has denied an exception to uniform regulations to First Lt. Sukbhir Toor, a Sikh, on the subject of his religious freedom and wearing a turban while in combat. Agree or Disagree...
Gurjiwan Singh Chahal Graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at Westpoint |
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(October 22, 2021) Should children 10 years old have a social media account? This was by far our best Socratic Seminar yet and several students could have taken the trophy home. The one individual who won today brought up the idea that some social media platforms could be linked to terrorism. When I asked him why he chose that point to argue, he told me that he tried to go in a unique and different way from his peers.
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(October 29, 2021) What is the strongest character trait that makes up Navene Town? And how can Navene be an example for other children?
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Socratic Seminars from Previous School Years
socratic seminar topics for 2019-2020
(September) What characteristic or character trait do you think coaches including Geno Auriemma is most looking for in his student athletes?
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(October) Which is better, Chocolate Milk or White Milk?
(October) Should 5th graders have social media accounts?
(October) Which is the scariest monster from this list of classic movie monsters: Frankenstein, the Wolfman, the Invisible Man, Dracula, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Mummy, the Bride of Frankenstein, King Kong, the Phantom of the Opera, or the Hunchback of Notre Dame
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FRANKENSTEIN |
THE
WOLF MAN |
THE
INVISIBLE MAN |
DRACULA |
THE CRAETURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON
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THE MUMMY
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THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN
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KING KONG
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THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
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THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME
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(November) As we approach Play Monopoly Day on November 05, what is the best board game to play with family and friends? For this seminar, you will have to give a brief description of the game, tell us why it is your favorite, but most importantly PERSUADE US to go out and find the game to share with our own families this Thanksgiving break.
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(November) Famous movie directors, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese, state that the Marvel Universe of movies has nothing to offer movie-goers and likens them to a theme-park.
Coppola said of movies, "We expect to gain something, some enlightenment, some knowledge, some inspiration," and Scorsese stated that the Marvel movies were, "not cinema." For this argument I want you to use the Marvel movies to argue in agreement with the directors or establish an argument that indeed the Marvel movies are "cinema" using Coppola's own definition underlined above. |
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(November) What are you most thankful for? Create an argument explaining why you are thankful for this one thing in your life. Most students will say Mother or Father, and I don't want to take away from that by any means, so maybe outside of Mom and Dad what are you most thankful for?
(December) Should consumers this holiday season purchase a "live" or freshly cut tree or an artificial tree?
(February) Which Super Bowl advertisement or commercial was the most effective and why? Go beyond the opinion and use the argumentative model for this Socratic Seminar.
Should ancient artifacts, like the Elgin Marbles or a sculpture of King Tutankhamun's head, be returned to their home countries?
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Which is the proper installation for a roll of toilet paper? Over vs. Under?
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Is the hot dog a sandwich?
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POSSIBLE OTHER SOCRATIC SEMINAR TOPICS
1) chips vs. cake
2) Should Major League Baseball put up netting to shield sports fans from foul balls and falling fans from different levels?
3) Which is the scariest movie monster?
4) Should all beaches use drones to safeguard swimmers and surfers from sharks?
5) Should all collegiate and professional organizations stop using Indigenous Peoples imagery?
6) Are cartoons more entertaining than reality TV shows?
7) Are conspiracy theories damaging to the truth or reality of certain events?
1) chips vs. cake
2) Should Major League Baseball put up netting to shield sports fans from foul balls and falling fans from different levels?
3) Which is the scariest movie monster?
4) Should all beaches use drones to safeguard swimmers and surfers from sharks?
5) Should all collegiate and professional organizations stop using Indigenous Peoples imagery?
6) Are cartoons more entertaining than reality TV shows?
7) Are conspiracy theories damaging to the truth or reality of certain events?
top ten socratic seminar topics for 2019
1. Is Pluto a planet? You decide...
2. Are audio and video recordings better than reading books?
3. Which is the proper installation for a roll of toilet paper? Over vs. Under?
4. Does separating boys and girls help students perform better in school?
5. Do we react too quickly in passing judgment when it comes to social media? Especially when it comes to just a portion of the whole story?
6. Should hats come back into fashion for both men and women, and if so which particular "hat" should become the new fashion trend?
7. Should organized social dancing come back into fashion?
8. Are name brand goods a better decision than the generic? Think about food, clothing, shoes, stores, pharmaceuticals, and accessories like purses, phones, glasses for your argument
9. In the world of Marvel comics, is it a good idea for superheroes to adopt the United Nations legislation termed, "The Sokovia Accords?"
10. Is Shazam a copy of Superman?
2. Are audio and video recordings better than reading books?
3. Which is the proper installation for a roll of toilet paper? Over vs. Under?
4. Does separating boys and girls help students perform better in school?
5. Do we react too quickly in passing judgment when it comes to social media? Especially when it comes to just a portion of the whole story?
6. Should hats come back into fashion for both men and women, and if so which particular "hat" should become the new fashion trend?
7. Should organized social dancing come back into fashion?
8. Are name brand goods a better decision than the generic? Think about food, clothing, shoes, stores, pharmaceuticals, and accessories like purses, phones, glasses for your argument
9. In the world of Marvel comics, is it a good idea for superheroes to adopt the United Nations legislation termed, "The Sokovia Accords?"
10. Is Shazam a copy of Superman?
Top Ten Socratic Seminar Topics for 2018
1. According to NewsELA, football is linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). For this argument you can be a player (active or retired), a concerned parent, a fan, a coach, or even the NFL Commissioner with an argument to change the game or not.
2. Which is more important: Talent or Hard Work?
3. Should noisy dogs in the neighborhood be debarked?
4. How can school districts, elementary through high schools, colleges and universities, and teachers help improve the advancement of females and minorities in the field of mathematics and engineering?
5. Would you encourage your fellow classmates in picking and eating their own snot in the classroom given the recent study on the benefits to one's immune system?
6. Is Santa Claus real?
7. What characteristic or character trait do you think coach Geno Auriemma is most looking for in his student athletes?
8. Do you think American drivers will give up their autonomy for self-driving cars?
9. On February 06, 2018, Space X and Elon Musk launched Falcon Heavy into space, where they deposited the payload, Starman driving Musk's $100,000 Tesla Roadster, to orbit space forever, was this harmless "silly fun" or one of the side effects of exploration? You decide:
10. Is the hot dog a sandwich?
2. Which is more important: Talent or Hard Work?
3. Should noisy dogs in the neighborhood be debarked?
4. How can school districts, elementary through high schools, colleges and universities, and teachers help improve the advancement of females and minorities in the field of mathematics and engineering?
5. Would you encourage your fellow classmates in picking and eating their own snot in the classroom given the recent study on the benefits to one's immune system?
6. Is Santa Claus real?
7. What characteristic or character trait do you think coach Geno Auriemma is most looking for in his student athletes?
8. Do you think American drivers will give up their autonomy for self-driving cars?
9. On February 06, 2018, Space X and Elon Musk launched Falcon Heavy into space, where they deposited the payload, Starman driving Musk's $100,000 Tesla Roadster, to orbit space forever, was this harmless "silly fun" or one of the side effects of exploration? You decide:
10. Is the hot dog a sandwich?
Top Ten Socratic Seminar Topics from 2017
1. Should the state of California make available for students at school to have more options for mental health while attending school?
2. Do "public service announcements" really work with special attention to the recent John Cena video on what it means to be an American and patriotic? He says, "To love America is to love all Americans."
3. Should Sea World ban the use of killer whale performances and put a ban on their breeding for captivity program?
4. Should circuses like Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey stop using animals like, elephants, bears, and tigers, as part of the entertainment at shows?
5. Should zoos and aquariums start phasing out some of the larger predatory animals like, gorillas, polar bears, elephants, and lions, that require much larger habitats?
6. Should high schools adopt POP protocol, so that the incidents between the public, especially drivers and people in general, and law enforcement can begin to be reduced dramatically?
7. Should children under 14 years old, freshman in high school, be banned from social media, like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc...? Facebook does have a policy of no children under the age of thirteen. We will read an article from Redbook Magazine in class before discussing.
8. Should prisoners receive better wages in prison for work completed as well as benefits?
9. Could the "Betsy Ross Flag" be interpreted as a symbol of oppression for some, and as it seems to be newly adopted by some racist organizations, could it therefore be interpreted as a symbol of white supremacy?
10. Should scientists in Russia or anywhere else experiment with cross breeding species? What are your thoughts on the subject?
2. Do "public service announcements" really work with special attention to the recent John Cena video on what it means to be an American and patriotic? He says, "To love America is to love all Americans."
3. Should Sea World ban the use of killer whale performances and put a ban on their breeding for captivity program?
4. Should circuses like Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey stop using animals like, elephants, bears, and tigers, as part of the entertainment at shows?
5. Should zoos and aquariums start phasing out some of the larger predatory animals like, gorillas, polar bears, elephants, and lions, that require much larger habitats?
6. Should high schools adopt POP protocol, so that the incidents between the public, especially drivers and people in general, and law enforcement can begin to be reduced dramatically?
7. Should children under 14 years old, freshman in high school, be banned from social media, like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc...? Facebook does have a policy of no children under the age of thirteen. We will read an article from Redbook Magazine in class before discussing.
8. Should prisoners receive better wages in prison for work completed as well as benefits?
9. Could the "Betsy Ross Flag" be interpreted as a symbol of oppression for some, and as it seems to be newly adopted by some racist organizations, could it therefore be interpreted as a symbol of white supremacy?
10. Should scientists in Russia or anywhere else experiment with cross breeding species? What are your thoughts on the subject?
Top Ten Socratic Seminar Topics from 2016
1. Should "amazon" and other delivery services offer drone deliveries?
2. On March 09, 2016, the city of Los Angeles began sweeping up the "popular" tiny house solution that was masterminded by former homeless man turned problem solver, Elvis Summers. Should the city of Los Angeles remove the houses from these individuals before having another viable option available to help end homelessness in the city?
3. Should the state of California place a tax on junk foods?
4. Should drivers have access to their smartphones while driving?
5. Do you think the new "hoverboard" is a better ride or experience than the original skateboard?
6. Should the sons of Dr. Martin Luther King sell their father's Nobel Peace Prize and Bible?
7. Do you believe that the science involved in cryptozoology is a valid field of study?
8. Should Female Ranger graduates be allowed to take their expertise into combat?
9. Should the owners of professional sports programs and fans stop using Native American imagery?
10. You are the Athletic Director of a major university and a coach on staff has embarrassed the university dramatically. Do you fire the coach?
2. On March 09, 2016, the city of Los Angeles began sweeping up the "popular" tiny house solution that was masterminded by former homeless man turned problem solver, Elvis Summers. Should the city of Los Angeles remove the houses from these individuals before having another viable option available to help end homelessness in the city?
3. Should the state of California place a tax on junk foods?
4. Should drivers have access to their smartphones while driving?
5. Do you think the new "hoverboard" is a better ride or experience than the original skateboard?
6. Should the sons of Dr. Martin Luther King sell their father's Nobel Peace Prize and Bible?
7. Do you believe that the science involved in cryptozoology is a valid field of study?
8. Should Female Ranger graduates be allowed to take their expertise into combat?
9. Should the owners of professional sports programs and fans stop using Native American imagery?
10. You are the Athletic Director of a major university and a coach on staff has embarrassed the university dramatically. Do you fire the coach?
Top Ten Socratic Seminar Topics from 2015
1. Do violent or inappropriate video games, movies, or TV shows trigger violent or inappropriate behavior in children?
2. Underage children are required by the state of California to attend school, but there are some who believe school attendance should be voluntary. What are your thoughts?
3. Should companies advertise and market goods to children? Take into account the article: "Bestseller in MidEast: Barbie with a Prayer Mat," when developing your statement. Also consider the profits made by Disney in marketing the movie, Frozen, as well as merchandise which has generated over two billion dollars for the company.
4. Our first amendment right protects us as people from Congress possibly passing a law that might infringe on my freedom of speech or of the press, so should their be a limitation on freedom of speech, or should I have total freedom to say what I feel?
5. Is television better than reading books?
6. Define what it means to be an American?
7. The New England Patriots were accused of deflating the football in the AFC Championship Game win against the Indianapolis Colts, and supposedly an attendant or ball boy may have had some impact on the deflation. Should Tom Brady, as having had the final say on his choice of game balls, have taken responsibility for the deflated balls?
8. There is a lot of research out there on the benefits of animals and their caregivers. Some individuals suggest that schools would benefit from opening their doors to having more pets at school. Should schools have therapy dogs and pets at school?
9. Should citizens of the United States of America be fined for not exercising their right to vote?
10. Should high school students be expected to pass a citizenship exam, a battery of basic test questions covering topics on the Constitution, ones rights as an individual, symbology of the country, and basic historical facts about the founders and contributors of the United States of America, in order to graduate from high school?
2. Underage children are required by the state of California to attend school, but there are some who believe school attendance should be voluntary. What are your thoughts?
3. Should companies advertise and market goods to children? Take into account the article: "Bestseller in MidEast: Barbie with a Prayer Mat," when developing your statement. Also consider the profits made by Disney in marketing the movie, Frozen, as well as merchandise which has generated over two billion dollars for the company.
4. Our first amendment right protects us as people from Congress possibly passing a law that might infringe on my freedom of speech or of the press, so should their be a limitation on freedom of speech, or should I have total freedom to say what I feel?
5. Is television better than reading books?
6. Define what it means to be an American?
7. The New England Patriots were accused of deflating the football in the AFC Championship Game win against the Indianapolis Colts, and supposedly an attendant or ball boy may have had some impact on the deflation. Should Tom Brady, as having had the final say on his choice of game balls, have taken responsibility for the deflated balls?
8. There is a lot of research out there on the benefits of animals and their caregivers. Some individuals suggest that schools would benefit from opening their doors to having more pets at school. Should schools have therapy dogs and pets at school?
9. Should citizens of the United States of America be fined for not exercising their right to vote?
10. Should high school students be expected to pass a citizenship exam, a battery of basic test questions covering topics on the Constitution, ones rights as an individual, symbology of the country, and basic historical facts about the founders and contributors of the United States of America, in order to graduate from high school?