Socratic Discussion Analytic Rubric 

 
  5 - Excellent  4 - Good  3 - Fair  2 -Unsatisfactory 
Conduct  Demonstrates respect for  Generally shows  Participates and expresses a  Displays little 
the learning process; has  composure but may  belief that his/her ideas are  respect for the 
patience with different  display impatience  important in understanding  learning process; 
opinions and complexity;  with contradictory or  the text; may make insightful  argumentative; takes 
shows initiative by asking  confusing ideas;  comments but is either too  advantage of minor 
others for clarification:  comments, but does  forceful or too shy and does  distractions; uses 
brings others into the  not necessarily  not contribute to the progress  inappropriate or 
conversation, moves the  encourage others to  of the conversation; tends to  disrespectful 
conversation forward;  participate; may tend  debate, not dialogue.  language or tone; 
speaks to all of the  to address only the  speaks to individuals 
participants; avoids  teacher or may tend  rather than ideas; 
dominating the talking  to debate, not  arrives unprepared 
space.  dialogue.  without notes, 
pencil/pen or 
perhaps even 
without the text. 
  Understands question  Responds to  Responds to questions but  Extremely reluctant 
  before answering; cites  questions voluntarily;  may have to be called upon  to participate even 
evidence from text;  comments show an  by others; has read the text  when called upon; 
  expresses thoughts in  appreciation for the  but not put much effort into  comments are 
Speaking  complete sentences; moves  text but not an  preparing questions and ideas  illogical and 
&  conversation forward;  appreciation for the  for the seminar; comments  meaningless; may 
Reasoning  makes connections  subtler points within  take details into account but  mumble or express 
between ideas; resolves  it; comments are  may not flow logically in  incomplete ideas; 
apparent contradictory  logical but not  conversation.  little or no account 
ideas; considers others’  connected to other  taken of previous 
viewpoints, not only  speakers; ideas  comments or 
his/her own; avoids bad  interesting enough  important ideas in 
logic.  that others respond to  the text. 
them. 
Listening  Pays attention to details;  Generally pays  Appears to find some ideas  Appears uninvolved 
writes down questions;  attention and  unimportant while  in the seminar; 
responses take into account  responds thoughtfully  responding to others; may  comments display 
all participants;  to ideas and questions  have to have questions or  complete 
demonstrates that he/she  of other participants  confusions repeated due to  misinterpretation of 
has kept up; points out  and the leader;  inattention; takes few notes  questions or 
faulty logic respectfully;  absorption in own  during the seminar in  comments of other 
overcomes distractions.  ideas may distract the  response to ideas and  participants. 
participant from the  comments. 
ideas of others. 
Reading  Thoroughly familiar with  Has read the text and  Appears to have read or  Student is 
the text; has notations and  comes with some  skimmed the text but has not  unprepared for the 
questions in the margins;  ideas from it but these  marked the text or made  seminar; important 
key words, phrases, and  may not be written  meaningful notes or  words, phrases, 
ideas are highlighted;  out in advance; good  questions; shows difficulty  ideas in the text are 
possible contradictions  understanding of the  with vocabulary;  unfamiliar; no notes 
identified; pronounces  vocabulary but may  mispronounces important  or questions marked 
words correctly.  mispronounce some  words; key concepts  in the text; no 
new or foreign words.  misunderstood; little  attempt made to get 
evidence of serious reflection  help with difficult 
prior to the seminar.  material. 
(Adapted with permission from Paul Raider)