Socratic Questioning
Goals
Types of Socratic Questions
Tips for Using Socratic Questioning
the constructive process
the destructive process
to uncover assumptions
to analyze concepts
to open up issues and problems
to distinguish what we know from what we don’t know
to get to the truth of things
to follow out logical implications of thought
to explore complex ideas
the “student” is encouraged to replace the flawed thinking with logical or justifiable thinking.
the “student” are shown to be illogical or otherwise unsound
Ask probing questions
Periodically summarize in writing key points that have been discussed
Follow up on students’ responses
Draw as many students as possible into the discussion
Use wait time: Allow at least thirty seconds for students to respond
Let students discover knowledge on their own through the probing questions the teacher
poses
Plan significant questions that provide meaning and direction to the dialogue
Reason and evidence
questions
Origin or source
questions
Assumption questions
implication and consequence questions
Questions about an
initial question or issue
viewpoint questions
Clarification questions