Socratic Seminar Discussion Preparation

 Focus question: Why is it important for audiences and consumers of media to know how to evaluate the
information they are consuming?
My response (Claim)
Media audiences and consumers need to understand how to evaluate the information they consume because, in today's age of information
explosion, false, misleading, or biased content is abundant. Without critical thinking and information literacy, people may be influenced by
misinformation, which can lead to poor decisions or the formation of erroneous opinions.
Evaluate other students’ evidence
Analysis of evidence Is the evidence specific and does it
Specific Evidence Why did I pick this evidence? support the claim? (Follow up) questions
What does the evidence show? What other evidence can support
the speaker’s claim? (Prepared)
What new connections can I make?
Suppose there is a post about some new I can apply the CRAAP test to assess
health supplement that is widely the credibility of this information.
circulating on social media. The post First, I can check the background and
contains catchy statements such as "This credibility of this account to see if it
supplement cures all diseases!" and has been verified or recommended
"Scientific studies have proven its by other users. Second, I can try to
effectiveness!". However, when you find more information about this
clicked to find out more information, you supplement, such as looking for
discovered that the post was made by an relevant academic studies, news
unverified personal account and did not reports, or statements from official
provide any links or details of scientific organizations through search
studies. engines. Finally, I can use critical
thinking to analyze the content of
this post and identify the unrealistic
and misleading statements.

Different types of information

sources may have an impact on the
value of CRAAP features. For
example:
1. Academic journals and
professional websites usually have
high authority and accuracy but may
be less current; whereas news
websites and social media are more
current but may have lower
authority and accuracy.
2. Information from official
institutions and authoritative
organizations usually has a high
degree of authority and accuracy but
may carry the risk of being
propagandistic and misleading;
whereas personal blogs and forums
provide a diversity of views and
information, but authority and
accuracy may be difficult to ensure.
3. Empirical studies and statistics
usually have a high degree of
accuracy and credibility, but may be
subject to differences in
interpretation and readings; while
commentaries and opinion pieces
provide a wealth of views and
insights, but may be subject to the
risk of bias and misinformation
  Focus question: What type of real-world “issues” deserve the most attention and why?
My response (Claim)
The issues of greatest concern in the real world are often those that have far-reaching implications for the survival, well-being and future
development of humankind. For example, climate change, global poverty, large-scale epidemics, wars and conflicts, resource depletion, loss
of biodiversity, etc., are issues that not only affect the current generation, but may also have serious consequences for future generations.
Analysis of evidence Evaluate other students’ evidence
Specific Evidence Why did I pick this evidence? Is the evidence specific and does it (Follow up) questions
What does the evidence show? support the claim?
What other evidence can support
the speaker’s claim? (Prepared)
What new connections can I make?
Climate change is primarily a man-made Measuring the significance or level of
problem, and although natural factors consequence of an issue usually
have a role to play, human activities, requires consideration of its impact
particularly large-scale greenhouse gas on human survival, well-being,
emissions since the Industrial Revolution, economy, society, and the
are the main cause of the current environment. Decision makers are
accelerated rate of global warming. At the usually government officials,
same time, it is a global problem because international organizations, non-
the impacts of climate change are global governmental organizations, experts,
and are not confined to a particular academics, and civil society, among
region or country. It affects different others. They decide which is the
regions and groups of people to varying priority based on the urgency and
degrees, but in general, poses a great severity of the problem, the extent
threat to the survival and development of of its impact, and the feasibility of a
all mankind. solution.

Climate change has far-reaching There are many ways to categorize

implications for human societies, problems, for example, natural
economies, environments, and disasters are natural problems, while
ecosystems. It has led to a series of economic crises are man-made;
serious consequences, such as an increase climate change affects the globe,
in extreme weather events, rising sea while regional conflicts affect a
levels, melting glaciers, and loss of specific region; global poverty affects
biodiversity. These consequences not only the whole of humanity, while
threaten the survival and well-being of security problems in a specific
current generations but may also have community affect the inhabitants of
irreversible effects on future generations. that community.
  Focus question: How can a writer effectively persuade a reader to respond to a call to action so that people act on
an issue?
My response (Claim)
To effectively persuade readers to respond to a call to action, authors need to use a combination of strategies. First, understanding the
audience is key, which helps to customize targeted messages and calls to action. Second, building trust and credibility is the basis for
persuasion; readers are more inclined to accept the views of authors they find credible.
Analysis of evidence Evaluate other students’ evidence
Specific Evidence Why did I pick this evidence? Is the evidence specific and does it (Follow up) questions
What does the evidence show? support the claim?
What other evidence can support
the speaker’s claim? (Prepared)
What new connections can I make?
Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers his "I Have By using vivid language and Clear and strong argument: The writer
a Dream" speech. figurative metaphors, such as "I first needs to make a clear and strong
dream of the day when this nation argument about why the issue is of
will rise up and realize the true concern and why action is needed now.
meaning of its founding creed: we
hold these truths to be self-evident - Provide sufficient evidence: In order to
that all men are created equal," support the argument, the writer needs
Martin Luther King, Jr. succeeded in to provide sufficient evidence, including
galvanized the emotional resonance facts, data, expert opinions, case
of his audience. studies, etc. The evidence should be
He invoked principles from the U.S. authoritative and credible, and should
Declaration of Independence to link enhance the reader's understanding of
racial equality to America's core the issue. This evidence should be
values, thus enhancing the moral authoritative and credible and will
legitimacy of his position. enhance the reader's agreement with
His detailed description of a future the argument.
society free of racial discrimination
allowed listeners to concretely Use Effective Rhetorical Devices:
imagine and anticipate that better Writers can use various rhetorical
world, thus strengthening their devices to enhance the persuasiveness
resolve to work towards realizing of their arguments, such as metaphors,
that dream. similes, similes, proverbs, rhetorical
questions, and so on. These rhetorical
devices can make the language more
vivid and graphic, thus making it easier
Emotional appeals can touch to impress the reader.
readers' hearts and inspire empathy.
Through stories, metaphors, and Call to action: In the concluding part of
other literary devices, authors can the essay, the writer needs to make a
combine emotions with arguments clear call to action by telling the reader
so that readers feel the need to act what they should do, how they should
on an emotional level do it and why they should do it. This
can inspire readers to take action and
motivate them to turn their ideas into
practical actions.