Name:______________________

Government

Socratic Discussion Expectations and Scoring

Purpose: To deepen your understanding and thinking through questioning, discussion, and the use of evidence to support
your own ideas based on ideas we read or watched in class.
Students Role: You will be actively engaged in a discussion with your peers. For part of the class period you will be in
the inner circle, and for part you will be in the outer circle. Here is what you will be responsible for:
Inner Circle: You are IN the discussion
Asking open questions to seek the thoughts and analysis of others
Responding to others questions and statements
Supporting your responses with specific evidence from the text
Modeling the guidelines of this activity
Outer Circle: You OBSERVE the discussion
Listen silently
Take careful notes on your partners participation
Teachers Role: As the teacher, I will be listening and recording your participation, but I will only engage in the discussion
to monitor guidelines.
Guidelines:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Listen carefully and respectfully to all participants

Take turns speaking: please do not dominate the conversation.
Speak loud and clear so all can hear you.
Help make sure everyone participates. Pull a classmate into the conversation who has not spoken.
Speak respectfully, positively, and professionally

TOPIC: GUN VIOLENCE AND LEGISLATION IN AMERICA

Socratic Discussion Checklist. To get a 4 you must:
_______ Share what you think supported by evidence from the text twice. (According to.)
______ Ask at least one question to the group
______ Respond to other questions and statements. Support your peers by offering evidence to support their
arguments.
______ Stay Positive, On-Task, and Supportive!
USE THE NEXT FEW PAGES TO BRAINSTORM THOUGHTS FOR DISCUSSION

Question:

Answer:

Evidence:

Question:

Answer:

Question:

Evidence:

Answer:

Evidence:

Question:

Answer:

Question:

Evidence:

Answer:

Evidence:

QUESTIONS I WILL ASK DURING THE DISCUSSION:

1.

2.

3.

Recorders Name ______________________

Date

Outer Circle
Discussion Notes

I am recording observations about

__________________________________________________(partners name).
Write down what your partner says, as accurately as possible.
My Partner Said:

What kind of
communication was
this?
o Question
o Response
o Evidence
from text
o Other
o Question
o Response
o Evidence
from text
o Other
o Question
o Response
o Evidence
from text
o Other
o Question
o Response
o Evidence
from text
o Other
o Question
o Response
o Evidence
from text
o Other
o Question
o Response
o Evidence
from text
o Other

How well did your partner follow the guidelines? Comment on what you saw in terms
Guidelines
o

Listen thoughtfully to all

participants.
o Take turns speaking: dont
raise your hand.
o Speak loud and clear so all
can hear you.
o Help make sure everyone

Observations/Comments

participates.
o Speak respectfully and
professionally.