Socratic Interview

Socratic Interview   Socratic Interview Final Project – Assessment #6 Challenging an Editorial Basic Idea of the Project: This is an individual project in which a student uses our familiar list of Socratic questions to cross-examine a recent, published news editorial in written, dialogue format. Scoring: This is your final project and should be a grand culmination of all your work this semester. It is weighted at 30% of the entire course mark. You will be assessed on: • Evidence of how carefully you have followed the given instructions • Successfully and cogently completing the Editorial Analysis Form (30% of project grade) • Explanation, analysis, and logical interaction with selected editorial • Knowledge and expression of key principles, tools, and concepts of critical thinking • Showing skills in questioning and counterargument • Organization style   Steps for the Socratic Interview Project:  Read all the following steps before starting anything.  Find one editorial, with at least three supporting arguments, that you can understand and explain from one of the following news sources: • The National (UAE): http://www.thenational.ae/opinion/editorial • Gulf News (UAE): http://gulfnews.com/opinion/editorials • Arab News (KSA): http://www.arabnews.com/category/main-category/opinion/editorial • Any of the Doha Debates: http://www.thedohadebates.com/ • Or others with approval  Find and read two news stories on the same topic as your editorial in order to gain more background understanding of your topic. Save the location of these two articles for the Editorial Analysis Form (attached).  Review “The Socratic Question List” we’ve used through the semester (attached).  Review the “Editorial Analysis Form” and the filled-in examples of it to make sure you understand it.  When you have studied your editorial, the two background articles you found, and the Socratic Question List, type-in the answers to Editorial Analysis Form using the online Microsoft Word file on BB9 (not hand written).  Write out the dialogue for your project in which there are two characters, one the interviewer and the other the author of the selected editorial. Be sure to include at least the following elements, though A grades will add more: • Minimum 1100 words for entire dialogue • Give an introduction to the editorial by asking several explanation and background questions of the author and have him/her answer (this section can be no longer than 1 minute) • Have the interviewer ask a minimum of 12 Socratic questions (two from each category) and have the editorial author give good answers. • At various points in the dialogue, have the interviewer offer at least three counterarguments to arguments given by the editorial author (and have the editorial author reply). • You can have your dialogue either “side” with the interviewer or the editorial author as the “winner.” • Be sure not to have your dialogue run less than five minutes. Five minutes is the minimum length of actual dialogue (not including any musical or other “filler”). You can go over this time but not under. • If you find yourself short of five minutes, then ask additional Socratic questions.  Make sure your dialogue has a minimum of 1100 words. If you are short of words, ask more questions. There is no maximum limit of words.                 LSH-2203 Critical Thinking Socratic Interview Final Project Editorial Analysis Form -- Student Name: Student Number: 2. What is the title of the editorial you selected? 3. What is the name of the author of the editorial? 4. What is the working news source weblink for this editorial? 5. What is the main conclusion of the editorial?   6. How many distinct sub arguments does the author use to justify this conclusion? 7. Give one-line summaries of each of the sub arguments (your editorial must have at least three subarguments; if it doesn’t, you need to find a new editorial). 1.   2.   3.   4.   5.   8. Combine the main conclusion (#5) and the one-line sub-argument summaries (#7) into one of our Four Logical Patterns that best fits each. Pattern A: 1. If X then Y. 2. X is the case. 3. Hence, Y is the case Pattern B: 1. If X then Y. 2. If Y then Z. 3. Thus, if X then Z. Pattern C: 1. If X then Y. 2. Not Y. 3. Therefore, Not X. Pattern D: 1. Either X or Y. 2. Not X. 3. Therefore, Y is the case. 1.   2.   3.   4.   5.   9. Think of and list counterarguments (criticisms from an opponent) for each of the arguments in #8. 1.   2.   3.   4.   5.   10. List two, online articles you used to understand more about this topic.   Title/Author: Web link:   Title/Author: Web link:   11. From “The Socratic Question List,” select twelve questions (two distinct questions from each of the six type categories), you think would be most relevant to ask of your selected editorial.   Have each make reference to specifics of your editorial. 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. 4. 4. 5. 5. 6. 6.   Approved as is. Proceed with writing the dialogue. Needs some revision as per my comments above. Fix those and proceed with writing the dialogue (you need not turn it in again). Needs significant revision. Revise in line with my comments above and resubmit it to me before you start writing your dialogue. The Socratic Question List Socratic Question Type Examples 1. Clarification Questions a. What do you mean by____? b. How does this word differ from ____? c. Could you put that another way? d. What do you think is the main issue? e. How does this relate/connect to our discussion of ____? f. Could you give us an example? 2. Assumption Questions a. Are you assuming that ______? b. Why would someone make this assumption? c. What is _______ assuming here? d. What could we assume instead? e. How can you verify or disprove that assumption? 3. Reason and Evidence Questions a. What do you think causes this to happen? b. Why do you think this is true? c. What other information do we need? d. Could you explain your reason to us? e. Is there reason to doubt that evidence? f. What else is this example similar to? 4. Viewpoint and Perspective Questions a. What led you to this viewpoint? b. What is another way to look at it? c. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your view? d. What is a counterargument to your view? e. How could you answer the objection that an opponent _______would make? 5. Implication and Consequence Questions a. What effect would it have if ____ happened? b. Will your predictions certainly or probably happen? c. What is an alternative consequence to your prediction that ________? d. What are you implying by that? e. What is a counterexample to this principle? f. What generalizations can you make from this? 6. Questions About the Initial Question a. Why is this topic or question important? b. Is this question easy or difficult to answer? c. Where does this fit with our other questions? d. How does _____ apply to everyday life? e. Does this question lead to other important issues and questions? LSH-2203: Socratic Interview Final Project Marking Rubric Name: ______________________________ ID: ___________________ Topic: __________________________________________ GRADING/MARKING CRITERIA ACHIEVEMENT INDICATORS F D C B A Achievement that does not meet requirements Achievement that minimally meets the course requirements Achievement that satisfactorily meets the course requirements Achievement that is significantly above the course requirements Achievement that is outstanding relative to the course requirements Significantly below course requirements Below course requirements 1. Pre-Presentation Work: Editorial Analysis Form Attention to detail, identification of issues, summaries Little or no evidence of examination of source material Constituent elements may be incorrectly identified; analysis may be attempted but unjustified Some key elements are identified, but may lack accurate interpretation, analysis or explanation Generally, key elements are identified. Generally accurate interpretation, analysis or explanation Key elements are identified. Accurate interpretation and evaluation show clear understanding with only occasional lapses Key elements are identified. Accurate interpretation and complete evaluation show clear understanding Grading/Marking Comments: _____ / 20 pts 2. Professional presentation materials Organization, structure, formatting and style The whole text is unclear. Errors are numerous and cause significant misunderstanding. There is no evidence of style, structure or organization. Mostly unclear with patches of break down. Requires numerous corrections. Significant inconsistencies. Sometimes clear, with patches of confusion. Accuracy is inconsistent. Errors cause misunderstanding. Correction required. Some inconsistencies in style and structure. Organization not fully logical. Generally clear and accurate. Errors can cause confusion in places. Still some correction required. Structure and style generally appropriate. Mostly logical organization. Clearly expressed, with only occasional errors that do not cause misunderstanding. Requiring a minimal amount of correction. Only occasional lapses in structure and style conventions. Main points are clear and logically organized. Clearly expressed throughout. Consistently accurate. Requiring a minimal amount of correction. Smooth flowing and logically structured and organized. Appropriate style throughout. Grading/Marking Comments: Written ______________ _____ / 20 pts 3. Explanation, description, and/or justification Logical reasoning, supported back up and critical thinking: compare and contrast Explanation and reasoning is wholly lacking. May demonstrate a total misunderstanding of the task. Explanation and reasoning is not easily discernible, complete or logical. Main points lack support. Some explanation and reasoning is discernible, though not always complete and/or logical in places. Key points may be significantly lacking in support. Explanation and reasoning is generally well-formed and logical. Most main points are backed-up, though not always with sufficient supporting evidence and examples, as required. All explanation reasoning is fully-formed, complete and wholly logical. Most main points are backed-up with sufficient supporting evidence and examples, as required. All explanation and reasoning is fully-formed, complete and wholly logical. All main points are backed-up with sufficient supporting evidence and examples, as required. Grading/Marking Comments: _____ / 20 pts 4. Subject knowledge Understanding and application of subject knowledge and underlying principles Unable to evidence or articulate basic principles and knowledge related to the subject. Information may be irrelevant, incomplete and/or inaccurate. Limited knowledge of subject. Information may be significantly irrelevant, incomplete and/or inaccurate making information hard to follow logically. Some evidence of understanding key aspects of the subject, but details are lacking. Some irrelevancies and inaccuracies Generally accurate understanding of key aspects of the subject. Some irrelevancies and inaccuracies Accurate extensive understanding of subject. Minor irrelevancies and inaccuracies Complete and full understanding of subject. Extensive evidence of appreciation of the relative significance of all relevant aspects of the subject. Grading/Marking Comments: _____ / 20 pts 5. Delivery/Performance of Written Dialogue Unable to complete talk or incomplete video project. Unable to complete talk or has memorized script without engaging audience. Major problems, some speech unheard or unintelligible. Able to complete talk. Contains many mistakes. Voice and enunciation are ineffective. Little engagement with audience. Seldom attempts repair and recovery strategies. Delivers adequately paced and rehearsed talk. Clear enunciation and use of voice is inconsistent. Engages and maintains audience some of the time. Attempts repair and recovery strategies. Delivers well-paced and rehearsed talk. Contains a few mistakes. Clear enunciation and effectively uses voice most of the time. Engages and maintains audience. Occasional lapses in repair and recovery strategies. Confidently delivers well-paced and extensively rehearsed talk. Contains few mistakes. Consistently uses clear enunciation and effectively uses voice. Engages and maintains audience throughout. Grading/Marking Comments: _____ / 20 pts Notes: