Socratic Seminar: Participant Rubric

A Level Participant


Participant offers enough solid analysis, without prompting, to move the conversation forward
Participant, through her comments, demonstrates a deep knowledge of the text and the question
Participant has come to the seminar prepared, with notes and

a marked/annotated text
Participant, through her comments, shows that she is actively

listening to other participants
Participant offers clarification and/or follow-up that extends

the conversation
Participant’s remarks often refer back to specific parts of the text.


B Level Participant

Participant offers solid analysis without prompting
Through comments, participant demonstrates a good knowledge of the text and the question
Participant has come to the seminar prepared, with notes and

a marked/annotated text
Participant shows that he/she is actively listening to others

and offers clarification and/or follow-up


C Level Participant


Participant offers some analysis, but needs prompting from the

seminar leader
Through comments, participant demonstrates a general

knowledge of the text and question
Participant is less prepared, with few notes and no

marked/annotated text
Participant is actively listening to others, but does not offer

clarification and/or follow-up to others’ comments
Participant relies more upon his or her opinion, and less on the text to drive her comments


D or F Level Participant


Participant offers little commentary
Participant comes to the seminar ill-prepared with little

understanding of the text and question
Participant does not listen to others, offers no commentary to

further the discussion
Participant distracts the group by interrupting other speakers or

by offering off topic questions and comments.
Participant ignores the discussion and its participants