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