Socratic Circle: Brave New World
For today's second socratic circle we will be breaking into two groups: the first will be our "fishbowl," leading a group discussion about Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
After twenty minutes, we will switch roles, and group 2 will have their own discussion on an important article on these same readings, while group 1 live comments (see instructions below).
Instructions:
Audience members: in the comments section of this post, make thoughtful observations about the conversation taking place in the "fishbowl." Good observations will do the following:
- Identify when you agree/disagree with observations and specifically state why (ASR: Apt Specific Reference).
- Observe what specific group members did that helped to
- "propel" conversation forward,
- respond to their group members,
- and provide thoughtful observations.
Fishbowl members: students who do well in the "fishbowl" will do the following:
- Come to discussion prepared, having read and researched materials beforehand.
- Work with peers to promote a civil, democratic discussion, set clear goals, and establish individual roles.
- Propel conversations forward by posing and asking questions that probe reasoning and ask for evidence.
- Respond thoughtful to diverse perspectives, synthesize (combine) comments, claims, and evidence, resolve contradictions, and investigate meaning.
Ash starts the conversation immediately with a level one question
ReplyDeleteBrings up the point that the adults treat each other as "meat" which was said in the book
ReplyDeleteAshlynne brings up that adults treat each other like meat.
ReplyDeleteKatherine keeps the conversation from dying by stating things she thinks are important from the book
ReplyDeleteRudy talks about how during the time in the book their views on sex are normal.
ReplyDeleteRudy points out that this chapter's views on sex are surprising to us only because our world's values on the subject are so different from theirs.
ReplyDeleteKatherine brings up her own interpretation of the chapter. In doing this, she ties many parts together and discusses the meanings of figurative language.
ReplyDeleteThomasina brings up the society's motto in the book and how it correlates with what was happening in the chapter.
ReplyDeleteThomasina brings up the motto of the society, stability, and bringing it into the discussion about letting out emotions. This allows her to discuss the society, Not just what we learned in this chapter
ReplyDeleteKatherine brings Sam into the discussion by mentioning a point she made earlier
ReplyDeleteSam brings up level 3 thinking by comparing our own society to the one in the book.
ReplyDeleteSam brings up the society's views on family, how they see it as a negative thing, and compares it to our society's views on family.
ReplyDeleteRudy ties the issue of child sex into the world state's axioms of stability, community, and identity.
ReplyDeleteLeif uses an ASR to point out that the World State does not have a population problem.
ReplyDeleteLif references the exact page in the book when answering Rudy's question.
ReplyDeleteThey use context clues to figure out how the society controls the population
ReplyDeleteRudy wonders how population is not an issue. Lif brings up a part of the chapter talking about how many people inhabit the earth.
ReplyDeleteAsh and Rudy connect the theme of maximum efficiency from chapters 1-2 to chapter 3.
ReplyDeleteKatherine brings up the point that to the citizens in this book, it doesn't feel to them like they are being so controlled and oppressed—the reader only sees it this way because they haven't been conditioned to love the book's world.
ReplyDeleteKatherine and Rudy have a calm debate where Katherine choses to use facts from the book and Rudy uses the ideas of how humans work
ReplyDeleteSam again connects the previous chapter to this one
ReplyDeleteSam discusses the goal of the society, which she says is to keep everyone both happy and productive.
ReplyDeleteSam talks about her view on the purpose of the society in the book. She believes that the society's priority is to have everyone be happy.
ReplyDeleteSam uses examples from the books to show how the society is looking to make people happy, but dependent on the society
ReplyDeleteRudy propels the conversation in the direction of the economy in Brave New World.
ReplyDeleteAsh talks about the problem of how their humanity and choices are taken away by the society
ReplyDeleteHannah starts off by talking about the societal differences in the book
ReplyDeleteMari believes sex is considered casual so that the emotional responsibility and complications are taken out of it.
ReplyDeleteThe group begins by talking about the views on society and sex in the book.
ReplyDeleteMari builds off of Annie's comment, keeping the flow of the conversation
ReplyDeleteAnnie brings up Lenina's relationship with Henry and Mari adds on about Bernard Marx.
ReplyDeleteEthan includes information about the time in which the book was written to give context about his opinion
ReplyDeleteNoah and Ethan make a connection with the USSR.
ReplyDeleteAnnie notices that Lenina might be important later in the book to try to have a conversation about that.
ReplyDeleteSex is for amusement.
ReplyDeleteLots of communist names. Noah makes a prediction. That would be really cool.
Noah notices that Lenina sounds like Lenin. He makes a prediction that Lenina might start a revolution. Ethan connects, by saying that Marx is another important name.
ReplyDeleteQuick pace of the second half made Annie want to read it faster
ReplyDeleteThe group keeps a good flow of casual conversation through building off of each other's comments.
ReplyDeleteThe structure makes sense and would be near in a movie.
ReplyDeleteI agree with it because it made an interesting pacing
DeleteBen points out how the structure shows the differences between characters
ReplyDeleteHannah comments on how difficult it was to figure out who was talking in the sections of the book where it jumps to different people.
ReplyDeleteBen clarifies a point which allows the other group members tell him what they think about it
ReplyDeleteMari connects the controller to the Giver which helps explain her view
ReplyDeleteMari makes a connection to another book, "The Giver," and then contrasts the differences between them.
ReplyDeleteThe group develops the conversation by voicing their opinions clearly
ReplyDeleteThe controller reminds Mari of the Giver because they are the only ones allowed to know about the past in their worlds
ReplyDeleteMari makes a connection to the Giver
ReplyDeleteBen asks the group a question about what they thought about the Controller showing up on the playground.
ReplyDeleteHannah refers back to a topic when the conversation becomes side tracked
ReplyDeleteBen questions the book, which also lets his group members to state their opinions
ReplyDeleteEveryone besides controller is treated like meat
ReplyDeleteBen goes back to the question whether it is better to be happy or to be free.
ReplyDeleteBen asks a really good question about what the world controllers do all day. Hannah mentions that everyone else is treated like dirt. And makes a good point about humanity. Annie makes another connection to the Giver.
ReplyDeleteAnnie connects to "The Giver."
ReplyDeleteAnnie brings in a book that some people have also read to bring up conversation
ReplyDeleteMari and Annie connect this book to "The Giver," helping to explain their opinions.
ReplyDeleteNoah comments that if the Controllers are being bred to be Controllers, then they are just following their conditioning.
ReplyDeleteNoah poses the idea that the controllers are not actually in complete control
ReplyDeleteThe group establishes connections to previous works that they have read, making it easier to analyze and connect to the book
ReplyDeleteMari asks Taylor what she believes the Controllers' job is.
ReplyDeleteAre the controllers just a cog in the machine? I think so. This society has been going on for so long that if they were born and bred for it they would probably just keep doing things.
ReplyDeleteBen asks Taylor about Bernard in order
ReplyDeleteto incorporate her opinions into the conversation
Mari brings Taylor to the conversation with a question, then Ben follows up with another when Taylor's opinions were already said
ReplyDeleteBernard may be the only one who really understands the mental conditioning, as he has a knowledge of psychology?
ReplyDeleteMari and Ben ask Taylor about her opinion to help propel the conversation and bring her into it.
ReplyDeleteTaylor notes that Bernard seems to understand basic psychology so he can think for himself. Much of the group predicts that Lenina and Bernard are going to start a rebellion.
ReplyDeleteHannah asks Ethan his opinion in order to bring him into the circle
ReplyDeleteLenina and Bernard may revolt against the society?
ReplyDeleteBen asks what the group thinks of the cover illustration.
ReplyDeleteSomeone brought up Bernard. Mari makes a really good prediction about Fanny choosing society.
ReplyDeleteBen asks another question to promote conversation
ReplyDeleteHannah asks Ethan a question on his own opinion to bring him into the discussion.
ReplyDeleteThey wrap up the conversation by attempting to draw conclusions as how the book will develop and how the story will unfold
ReplyDeleteBen asks a question to bring more conversation.
ReplyDeleteAnnie says the figures look like mannequins, which can be put into any shape.
ReplyDelete