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The Socratic seminar may have ancient Greek origins, but this method of classroom discussion is as relevant as ever to today’s educational environment. It helps students organize their research, refer to textual evidence, ask clarifying questions, and work collaboratively to come to a shared conclusion. And best of all, the students run it themselves!

So what is a Socratic seminar, and how can you get one started in your classroom? Learn all about this valuable teaching tool with a set of low-prep resources, which range from high school Socratic seminar sentence starters to lessons and activities for any secondary school setting.

What Is a Socratic Seminar in High School?

A Socratic seminar is a discussion format in which students ask and answer questions amongst themselves about a given topic or text. Based on the Socratic method, which was named after the Greek philosopher Socrates, the Socratic seminar is a popular tool for inquiry-based learning where participants (known as interlocutors) follow their curiosity in a well-informed, open-ended, student-led conversation.

Letting students run the discussion is a helpful life skills activity for high schoolers, as Socratic seminars encourage active listening, study skills, and clear communication. They also address CCSS for speaking and listening, even if the discussion takes place in a class other than English language arts.

Is a Socratic Seminar Similar to a Debate?

A Socratic seminar is not a debate. It’s a dialogue and discussion where students strive to understand each other and collaborate, not to “win” an argument. After a successful Socratic seminar, each student feels heard and has a stronger comprehension of the text.

However, participants can (and should!) respectfully disagree with a point when expressing their perspective. Instead of putting down another student or picking their position apart, they should pose their response in a way that inspires the group to consider alternate viewpoints.

Rules for a Socratic Seminar

The first step in hosting a Socratic seminar is establishing clear rules. Because this teaching format encourages participation in the discussion, most Socratic seminar rules are focused on engaging with peers in the classroom.

Here are some sample Socratic seminar rules to teach students before you begin:

1. Prepare for the Socratic seminar by annotating text, bringing reading notes, and having questions ready to ask.
2. Listen to the facilitator (a teacher or student who keeps the conversation moving).
3. Refer questions and answers to your fellow seminar participants, not the teacher.
4. Instead of arguing or debating, ask follow-up questions.
5. Respond respectfully and don’t put any other speakers down.
6. Comment on the last point made before making your own point.
7. Wait for the last speaker to finish and keep your point brief.

Depending on the class setting, you may also want to have a timer to ensure students don’t monopolize the conversation, as well as a “talking stick” or item that establishes which student has the floor. 

Socratic Seminar Packet
By Using Your Smarticles
Grades: 5th-9th
Subject: English Language Arts, Reading

Everything you need for the ultimate Socratic seminar is in this packet! You’ll find instructions for both teacher and students, a prep sheet and note sheet, exit slips, assessment guide and rubric, and a poster that prompts students on good questions and stems.

Socratic Seminar Fishbowl Discussion Intro, Graphic Organizer, Rubric- Any Topic
By Jenn Liu – Engaging to Empower
Grades: 9th-12th
Subject: English Language Arts, Social Studies
Standards: CCSS.CCRA.R.1, 2, CCRA.SL.1, 2, 3, 4, 6, CCRA.L.1, 3, 6

Aligned to CCSS for speaking, listening, and language, this resource includes everything you need to get started. Use an overview of the Socratic seminar format and rules to prepare students for the upcoming discussion, sentence starters and question frames during the seminar, and a rubric to assess the activity once it’s over.

Options for Setting up a Socratic Seminar

Socratic seminars work best when all students can see each other. Based on the space and format of your classroom, you have a few options for physically setting up a Socratic seminar:

• Small Fishbowl: The class surrounds a small circle of interlocutors and observes the group participating in a Socratic seminar. They don’t speak or answer questions, but they can take notes and reflect on questions. Then, the group rotates, and a new group of students enters the “fishbowl.”
• Large Fishbowl: Half of the class participates in the Socratic seminar, and the other half surrounds them and observes. After about 20 minutes, the groups switch places and roles.
• Whole Class: Set up all the desks in one large circle so everyone can see each other, and have every student engage in the Socratic seminar. This process might take all period and works best for students who are already familiar with the Socratic seminar process.

Socratic Seminar Questions

A Socratic seminar is built on the questions students ask about the text. Generally, the facilitator opens the seminar with an opening question, and interlocutors provide thoughtful responses with evidence, which creates opportunities for follow-up questions. 

Good Socratic seminar questions don’t have one straightforward answer. They also don’t open up debates or cause students to take sides on an issue. Instead, these questions inspire curiosity from the group as the discussion evolves.

Examples of good opening questions and Socratic seminar sentence starters for high school students (also known as discussion stems) include:

• What does the author mean when they say (example from text)?
• Why does the main character have this belief?
• What could be an alternative title to the text?
• What is the theme of the text?
• What does the author most want us to understand?
• How does the text relate to another text or topic we’ve discussed?
• I wondered why the main character ____.
• I’d like to understand more about _____.

Students can then ask follow-up questions or pose discussion responses, such as:

• What makes you say that?
• How would someone else see that differently?
• What is the strongest evidence for that assumption?
• What did you think was going to happen next?
• What would need to be different for your inference to be untrue?
• How would a different character consider this issue?
• What you said reminded me of ____.
• I agree that _____, but I disagree that ____.

Remind students to keep questions open-ended and based on “I wonder” concepts. Recall questions like “What happened next?” or “How old is the main character?” with concrete answers don’t lead to interesting conversations and dialogue. You can also use these stems as questions of the day for high school students to encourage Socratic thinking all year long!

SOCRATIC SEMINAR EDITABLE ACCOUNTABLE TALK POSTERS, BULLETIN BOARD
By Shannah Ellender
Grades: 3rd-12th
Standards: CCSS.CCRA.SL.1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Ideal for ELA or any other subject, these editable posters are a great way to get students engaged in a Socratic seminar. Each poster includes a stem question that agrees, disagrees, adds a response, or poses another question, reminding students how they can respond if they get stuck.

Socratic Seminar Student Discussion Guide for Any Text
By Jenna Copper
Grades: 7th-12th
Subject: English Language Arts

Keep students both accountable and structured in their Socratic seminar with a discussion guide. Designed for ELA but suitable for any subject, this resource provides question stems and prompts to help students vary their responses and keep track of their participation.

Socratic Seminar Question Stems and Sentence Starters
By Exceptional ELA
Grades: 6th-10th
Subject: Close Reading, English Language Arts, Reading Strategies
Standards: CCSS CCRA.SL.1, SL.6

High school students generate their own open-ended questions with an editable resource that includes question stems and Socratic seminar sentence starters. Applicable to any text and engaging for all learners, these discussion stems both assist students in preparing for a Socratic seminar and inspire them to move in different directions.

Tips for Designing a Socratic Seminar Lesson Plan

Socratic seminars are an excellent way to get every student involved in a discussion, whether they’re eager readers or reluctant learners. Use these tips to prepare for a Socratic seminar that’s organized and applicable to everyone in your class.

• Scaffold the Socratic seminar: Use graphic organizers, pre-planned questions, and a simplified text to demonstrate a Socratic seminar. (You may also want to facilitate the first one or two!)
• Select the right text. Save complex texts for later in the year when high schoolers are experts at Socratic seminars. In the beginning, opt for texts that don’t involve advanced literary analysis, but are still interesting enough to discuss.
• Keep it open-ended. Model the difference between closed and open-ended questions, and feel free to step in if students are veering away from the open-ended format.
• Use the buddy system. Assign one or two observers to a Socratic seminar interlocutor, and have them take notes and observations on just that person. This helps the observers focus and encourages interlocutors to participate more. 
• Balance the conversation. If one student is taking over the discussion or not participating enough, shift the conversation in a more balanced way by asking questions to other interlocutors (or encouraging the facilitator to do so).
• Emphasize quality over quantity. Discourage students from asking simple questions just to get credit. Instead, award more points for questions that garner the most follow-up questions.
• Encourage self-reflection (and self-assessment). Immediately after a Socratic seminar, have students reflect on their own experience and participation. If you host Socratic seminars regularly, these reflections may work as complete assessments in your gradebook.

Keep high schoolers engaged during every class

Introducing Socratic seminars to your classroom allows high schoolers to remain curious, converse respectfully, and engage with text like never before. Find more Socratic seminar resources to meet student needs and get teens talking about their reading!

Once students have mastered the Socratic seminar format, contrast collaborative questions with debate topics that inspire argumentative discussion. You can also use a collection of “Would You Rather” questions for high school students to engage students with issues that really matter to them (such as pizza and Crocs!).