Food Inc. Discussion - TakePart

A S S E S S I N G S O C R AT I C D I S C U S S I O N S
You may assess student participation and understanding in several ways:
SELF-EVALUATION Have students evaluate their participation by responding
to questions such as: How did you help move the discussion forward? What is an
example of when you actively listened and built on others’ ideas? If your opinion
changed during the discussion, what changed it? What would you change about
your participation next time?
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC Use a rubric for assessing student participation based
on observable criteria. Examples include how well the student participates in
the discussion without prompting, makes relevant comments that expand on
the previous speaker’s ideas, makes connections between the film and the ideas
generated in the discussion, or pays attention when others speak.
REFLECTION Use student work from the “Reflection” sections to assess each
individual’s grasp of the discussion topics.
R E S O U R C E S O N S O C R AT I C
D I S C U S S I O N S
Copeland, Matt (2005). Socratic Circles: Fostering Critical and Creative Thinking
in Middle and High School. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers.
National Paideia Center (2009). The Paideia Seminar: Active Thinking Through
Dialogue for the Secondary Grades. Chapel Hill, NC: National Paideia Center.
Phillips, Christopher (2001). Socrates Café: A Fresh Taste of Philosophy. New
York: W. W. Norton.
Polite, Vernon, Adams, Arlin (1996). Improving Critical Thinking through Socratic
Seminars. Available online at www.temple.edu/lss/pdf/publications/pubs96-3.pdf.
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