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Lesson 5

We will participate in a Socratic Seminar in which we discuss the question, “What message does Toni Morrison want readers of Beloved to learn, understand, and remember?”

Lesson Goals

Reading and Knowledge

  • Gather and Organize Evidence: How well do I gather and organize relevant and sufficient evidence to demonstrate an understanding of the thematic ideas in Beloved?
  • Determine Meaning and Purpose: How well do I use connections among point of view and thematic ideas in Beloved to make logical deductions about Morrison’s purpose and meaning in texts?

Speaking and Listening

  • Form Claims: How well do I develop and clearly communicate meaningful and defensible claims that represent valid, evidence-based analysis of thematic ideas in Beloved?
  • Question: How well do I formulate and use questions to establish and deepen my understanding of thematic ideas in Beloved during a Socratic Seminar?
  • Listen: How well do I pay attention to and acknowledge others while thoughtfully considering their ideas during a Socratic Seminar?
  • Communicate Effectively: How well do I use language and strategies to accomplish my intended purpose in communicating during a Socratic Seminar?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • Beloved, Toni Morrison, Vintage Books, 2004

Materials

Tools

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Discuss – Write

We will utilize our completed Forming Evidence-Based Claims Tools to complete a Discussion Tool in preparation for the Socratic Seminar. We will also draft several open-ended questions that we might use during the discussion.

Step 1

Transfer information from your Forming Evidence-Based Claims Tools to your Discussion Tool.

Note: You will be working with Sections 1 and 2 (the "My Claims" portion of Section 2) for this activity. You will complete Section 3 of the tool at a later time.

Our discussion question for the Socratic Seminar will be, “What message does Toni Morrison want readers of Beloved to learn, understand, and remember?”

Step 2

Consider the novel Beloved, as well as the supplemental texts you read or listened to in this unit. Write three open-ended, thought-provoking questions. Reference the following examples of strong question frames:

  1. What do you think about _____? What evidence from the text supports your belief?

  2. What is the relationship between _____ and _____?

  3. What do the texts say about _____?

  4. What about this perspective do you agree or disagree with?

  5. What significance is this to _____? If _____ is true, then _____?

Below are questions to avoid:

  • questions that are too vague (these invoke uncertainty in other group members)

  • questions that are too general (these do not ensure understanding)

  • yes-or-no questions (these do not elicit discussion)

Write down your questions in your Learning Log.

Activity 2: Discuss

We will use our Discussion Tool to participate in the Section Diagnostic Socratic Seminar.

Consider the populated sections (1 and 2) of your Discussion Tool and utilize evidence from Beloved and any other texts you have listened to or read during the unit, as well as the following question, to guide the Socratic Seminar:

  1. What message does Toni Morrison want readers of Beloved to learn, understand, and remember?

Anyone can respond and start a discussion. Remember, this is a discussion, not a question-and-answer session, so utilizing open-ended questions to encourage more information from your peers is beneficial.

Activity 3: Write – Discuss

We will evaluate our participation in the Socratic Seminar by answering debriefing questions.

Step 1

As a class, discuss the following questions:

  1. What questions most challenged you to think deeper or differently about the text? How did you think deeper or differently about specific details from the text?

  2. What evidence from the text did you also use to support your thoughts?

  3. What evidence was new to you? Which details or insights surprised you?

  4. What did you think of the Socratic Seminar format? How did you feel during the discussion?

  5. Did we adhere to our norms? Did you achieve your personal goals?

Step 2

Complete Section 3 of your Discussion Tool.

Step 3

Respond to the following questions in your Learning Log:

  1. How did the seminar deepen my understanding of the topic?

  2. What new questions emerged for me during the seminar?

  3. What else do I need to investigate or research to be successful on the Culminating Task?

Activity 4: Write – Discuss

We will reflect on our work on the Section Diagnostic and assess how prepared we are for the Culminating Task.

Step 1

Choose at least three of the questions below regarding the Section Diagnostic and respond to them in your Learning Log:

  1. How well did you take necessary action to prepare for the task?

  2. What went well for you during the completion of this task?

  3. What did you struggle with during the completion of this task? How did you push through these struggles?

  4. How well did you actively focus your attention during this independent task?

  5. How well did you develop and use an effective and efficient process to maintain workflow during this task?

  6. What would you do differently during the next Section Diagnostic?

Step 2

Now, find your Culminating Task Progress Tracker. Think about the knowledge you have gained and the skills you have practiced in the unit. Use the Culminating Task Progress Tracker to do the following:

  • Add or refine any skills and content knowledge required for the Culminating Task.

  • Evaluate how well you are mastering the skills and knowledge required for the Culminating Task.

Step 3

Review the Central Question of the unit:

In what ways does a person’s past have power over their present?

Use the following questions to guide a discussion with a partner or small group:

  1. What have you learned that relates to the Central Question?

  2. What are you still curious about that relates to the Central Question?

  3. What is the relationship between the Central Question and the texts you have read? How do the texts shed light on the question? How does the question help you understand the texts?

  4. How has your response to the question evolved, deepened, or changed?

In your Learning Log, write your response to Question 4. You will return to this response in later lessons to examine how your understanding of the Central Question has evolved.