prompts

1. ENGL102 SP18 – C.J. Hill
UNIT 1 SOCRATIC FRIDAY QUESTION PROMPTS
These questions should be complex enough to elicit a classroom discussion. In other words,
phrase your questions in a way that the response required to answer the question won’t simply be a
yes or no. This will often require the question to be more than one sentence. Type up your
questions (make sure to write your name on it) and bring a hardcopy to class to hand in at the end
of the period.
If you’re struggling with this activity, put yourself in the shoes of your instructor. What are some
questions I would ask to prompt class discussion/learning? Think of it in terms of stating a wonder,
rather than asking a direct question. Do your best—there are no stupid questions, only incomplete
questions.
1. TOPIC QUESTION
a. Write a question that addresses the week’s topic in some fashion, i.e. how a
particular narrative component works, how a place plays into identity, etc.
2. MAJOR ASSIGNMENT QUESTION
a. Write a question that makes a connection between the week’s topic and the
upcoming major assignment. For example, how can you balance narrative and
analysis in the upcoming essay?
3. OUTCOMES QUESTION
a. Write a question that addresses how the week’s topic works with one or more of
the English 102 learning outcomes (located on the first page of the class syllabus).
You should refer to these outcomes directly in your question.
4. WORLDVIEW QUESTION
a. Write a question that makes a connection between the week’s topic and the world
today/the world you will enter into as a young professional. In other words, wonder
about how the work will benefit you in your life outside of English class.
5. ASSIGNED READING QUESTION
a. Write a question addressing one or more of the assigned readings for the week.
This can be topic based (what is happening within the reading) or craft based (how
the writing is working toward something).
6. LOGISTICS QUESTION
a. Write a question in regard to somethings you are confused about with the
Unit/class/week. This is the only question that can defer from the “make sure the
answer isn’t a yes or no” rule. Use this space as an opportunity to ask a burning
question that your classmates probably are wondering about as well.