DTQ Packet for Socratic Seminar Discussion Name: Directions: To prepare for the Socratic Seminar on Monday/Tuesday (the 21st 22nd), you need to at least read and answer some of the questions below and find a few quotes to use in the discussion. All questions are fair game in the discussion. You may use evidence with any of the questions. Other than that, it is up to you how much you would like to prepare for the discussion but please know that you must participate to receive points. The minimum amount of participation is at least 3 times. Obviously, more participation is encouraged. Read through pages 45 48 of unit packet #2 for information on how the Socratic Seminar Discussion format works. Part I: Poems 1) What meaning did you get out of the first poem entitled Invisible by Ashley Dumas? What was the poem about? 2) In the second poem, Identity by Julio Noboa Polanco, what is meant when he says I d rather be a tall, ugly weed...than to be a pleasant smelling flower? 3) In the second poem, what are some examples from SIFT (Symbols, Imagery, Figurative Language, Theme/Tone)? 4) In the third poem entitled I am the One, what is the impact of repetition? 5) What meaning did you get out of the third poem entitled I am the One? Part II: Songs Country Girl: 1) Make a claim about how Country Girl relates to the idea of Identity. 2) Come up with a theme for Country Girl.
3) What examples of figurative language do you see in Country Girl? Try: 4) Make a claim about how Try relate to the idea of identity. 5) Come up with a theme for Try. 6) What examples of figurative language do you see in Try? Wings: 7) Make a claim about how Wings relates to the idea of identity. 8) Come up with a theme for Wings. 9) What examples of figurative language do you see in Wings? Part III: Narratives: Narrative #1: Staying in the Lines by Jerry Spinelli 1) Why does the main character feel like he has to be perfect? How does he feel about himself/others? 2) What conflict did the boy have? How did this conflict impact him? How does he look back learn from the conflict? 3) What is so bad about going outside of the lines? Why is Jerry so afraid of not being perfect? 4) What does this narrative say about the theme of identity? Create a theme for the narrative and use evidence to support the theme.
5) What role does imagination have in this story? How does it tie into everything he does? Explain using evidence from the text. 6) What figurative language is used in the text? What does the symbol of the Yo Yo represent? 7) How does the author s personality change over the text? What realization does he come to? 8) What role does word choice play in this narrative? What are some of the references (allusions) and what do they say about the setting and time period of the story? Narrative #2: Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan 1) How did the author use descriptive language to build imagery? What affect does this have on the story? Give examples. 2) What might be a reason the author was embarrassed by her ethnicity? Why didn t she realize its importance to her? How does she now look back and appreciate her mother s lesson? 3) Why was Amy trying to be someone she isn t? What does this narrative have to do with the idea of identity? Create a theme for this narrative. 4) Why does the mother make all of Amy s favorite foods? Give examples of what she made and how these food relate to Chinese culture. 5) What do you think her mother meant when she said Your only shame is to have shame? How do you think this helped Amy to change her mind about her culture?
6) How do you think Robert and his family felt about this situation? Do you believe that they learned anything about other cultures? Narrative #3: Ike: A Good Friend 1) How do you believe Ike s disappearance impacted Gary? What important idea was shown when he finally solved the mystery of who the dog was and where he came from? 2) How did Gary use hunting as an outlet? How did meeting Ike make hunting more of a valuable experience for Gary? 3) How are the two men s lives impacted by Ike? What does Ike s presence do for these two men? 4) What does this narrative say about the theme of identity? Create a theme for the narrative and use evidence to support the theme. 5) What lesson or moral does Ike represent? What larger societal idea does Ike stand for? 6) What figurative language and imagery was used throughout this narrative? Part IV: King of the Screw Ups: 1) Discuss Liam s character. Do you believe that he is really a screw up? Did your opinion on Liam change over time? 2) Describe and discuss various characters in the novel such as Pete, Liam s dad, Liam s mom, Darleen and the guys among others. How does Liam connect, interact and communicate with other characters? 3) How are other smaller characters important to the novel such as Principal Mallek, the Bus Driver and Delia?
4) How does his relationship with his mother and father differ? How do these relationships develop and change over the course of the text? 5) How does the way Liam talks, his vocabulary speak to his character? 6) What is the main conflict of the novel? How does Liam s dad impact Liam s feelings about himself? How does Liam attempt to please his father? 7) Discuss the various settings of the novel. How are they different? 8) How does Liam s point of view on Aunt Pete change over time? 9) What is the structure of the text? Discuss the importance of the memories at the start of many chapters. 10) Discuss Liam s relationship with Darleen. How does this relationship change over time? 11) What other books, movies, tv shows, etc. does this novel relate to? 12) Contrast Liam s relationship with his dad and Aunt Pete. How are they similar and/or different?
13) Discuss Liam s relationship with the guys. How does he relate and interact with Eddie? Dino? Orlando? 14) What are Liam s friends at school like? Discuss the various groups/cliques at school including the popular kids and the AV club kids. 15) Discuss the role of stereotypes in the novel. How do the characters go along with or go against stereotypes? 16) Discuss how this novel relates to issues of bullying, harassment, and social issues? 17) How does this novel portray the idea of homophobia? 18) How do Liam s feelings about himself change over time? What lesson does he learn? 19) What is the resolution to the story? Discuss the large decision that Liam makes and how it will impact his future. 20) How does this novel relate to the theme of identity? Create a lesson or moral for the novel. 21) Discuss a possible connection between this novel and growth/fixed mindset.
22) What problem does Liam s mom face? What does she learn at the end? How does it impact her relationship with Liam as well as Liam s dad? 23) Why does Liam love fashion so much? How does this go against stereotypes? 24) Make an inference about what happens in the end of the novel. What might have happened with Darleen? What do you believe will happen in Liam s future? Will he talk to his father again? 25) What did you think of the book? Would you recommend it to other people? What did you like or dislike about it?