CONTENTS
PART I
The Socratic Method
1. Two Models of Teaching and Learning
2. What is the Socratic Method of Teaching and Learning
3. Active and Close Reading Lesson Plan 1
o Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken”
o John Cheever, “Reunion” (unabridged)
4. Three Kinds of Questions Lesson Plan 2
5. Qualities of Good Discussion Questions: Lesson Plan 3
6. Basic Interpretive Questions: Lesson Plan 4
7. Spontaneous Follow Up Questions. Lesson Plan 5
8. Preparing Students for Discussion: Lesson Plan 6
10
15
18
27
31
34
40
49
PART II
Socratic Seminars
9. An Overview: Great Book Seminars and Films
58
10. Has the American Dream become an illusion?
78
Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun and DVD. Lesson Plan 7
Nonfiction: D. Rice, “Racial Covenants” President Obama “AME Eulogy”
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby and DVD Lesson Plan 8
Nonfiction: “What is the American Dream?”
11. When do you need family most?
101
John Updike, “Separating” Lesson Plan 9
Nonfiction: Margaret Burr, “Does Love Change?”
Carson McCullers, “Sucker” Lesson Plan 10
Nonfiction: Lori-Ann, “The Futility of High School Romance.”
William Faulkner, “Two Soldiers” (unabridged) DVD Lesson Plan 11
Nonfiction: “What is Patriotism?” and “Bumper sticker Patriots.”
William Saroyan, “Gaston,” (unabridged) Lesson Plan. 12
Nonfiction: Kahil Gibran, “On Children.”
12. When does romantic love grow into mature love?
132
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice and DVD Lesson Plan 13
Edmund Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac and (DVD) Lesson Plan 14
Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s House and (DVD) Lesson Plan 15
Nonfiction: Jose Ferrer (1950) and Gerard Depardieu (1990) and Cyrano
de Bergerac vs. Roxanne (1987).
13. Who are your real friends?
165
Jay Neugeboren, “Luther” Lesson Plan 16
Jean Stafford,”Bad Characters” Lesson Plan 17
Nonfiction: Daniel Pipes, “Black Muslims inside the U.S.” and
“Why do people shoplift?”
4
PART III
14. Can we forget that we are human?
Aldous Huxley, The Brave New World and (DVD) Lesson Plan 18
George Orwell, 1984 and (DVD) Lesson 19
Nonfiction: Orwell, “Totalitarianism” and Neil Postman, Amusing
Ourselves to Death. (unabridged)
15. Is modern technology as much a curse as a blessing?
Ray Bradbury, “The Veldt” Lesson Plan 20
Isaac Asimov, I Robot: “Robbie” Lesson Plan 21
Nonfiction: “What our homes will look like in 2115” and “Three
Views of Sputnik: Then (1957) and Now (2000).”
180
223
PART IV
16. How important is God in your life?
240
Flannery O’Connor, “Parkers Back” (unabridged) Lesson Plan 22
John Updike, “Pigeon Feathers” (unabridged) DVD Lesson Plan 23
George Bernard Shaw, Major Barbara DVD Lesson Plan 24
Nonfiction: Bertrand Russell, “Why I am not a Christian.” and
Hans Kung, “Why I am Still a Christian.”
17. Why do bad things happen to good people?
287
Robert Frost, “A Masque of Reason” (unabridged) & JOB Lesson Plan 25
Nonfiction: Thornton Wilder, “Bridge of San Luis Rey” 2004 DVD Film
Reviews. Maureen Dowd, “Why, God?”
18. How does a parent cope with the death of a child?
321
Anton Chekhov, “Heartache” (unabridged) Lesson Plan 26
Catherine Mansfield, “Life of Ma Parker” (unabridged) Lesson Plan 27
Nonfiction: President Obama, “Unconscionable Evil” (unabridged)
Michelle Dremmer, “Licensed to Kill.”
19. Why does law sometimes fail to achieve justice?
338
Herman Melville, Billy Budd and (DVD) Lesson Plan 28
Franz Kafka, The Trial and (DVD) Lesson Plan 29
Nonfiction: “O. J. Simpson’s Trial of the Century.”
20. Do we all have the same unconditional right to life? Lesson Plan 30
367
Anton Chekhov, “The Bet” (unabridged) “Dead Man Walking” (1995 DVD)
Krzysztof Kieslowski, “A Short Film About Killing” (1988 DVD)
Meyer Levin, “Compulsion” (1959 DVD).
Nonfiction: Letter to Italian President Napolitano (Purgatorio) Scenario
of a Dilemma, and Death Penalty Information Center Quiz
Why do we read and study Great Books? (Afterword)
386
References
5