Question

pre-seminar preparation homework
the reformation socratic seminar
name:
class:
date:

what is a socratic seminar?
a socratic seminar is a student - led discussion where we talk about ideas, not argue. instead of raising hands, students listen carefully, respond to each other, and use evidence from the text to support their thinking.

the goal is not to be right. the goal is to think deeply, ask questions, and build understanding together.

how a socratic seminar works
if the homework and guided reading responses for lesson 1 and 2 are not completed by the seminar, the student will not be able to participate and be required to finish the work and will have an additional assignment that will take the seminar’s place.

what you should do:

• listen respectfully
• refer to the reading
• build on others’ ideas
• speak clearly and calmly

what you should not do:

• interrupt
• talk over others
• put others down
• only talk to the teacher

sentence starters
“i agree with __ because the text says...”
“i disagree because in the reading it explains...”
“i want to add on to what __ said...”
“one example from the reformation is...”

part a: understanding the reformation

1. what was an indulgence, and why did it upset many christians?

Explanation:

An indulgence was a document sold by the Catholic Church during the Reformation, which was said to reduce the time a soul would spend in purgatory. It upset many Christians because it seemed to suggest that salvation could be bought with money, rather than being achieved through faith and good works, and it also highlighted the Church's corruption and greed as it was a major source of revenue for the Church.

Answer:

An indulgence was a document sold by the Catholic Church, promising to reduce a soul’s time in purgatory. It upset Christians as it implied salvation could be bought (contradicting faith - based salvation), revealed Church corruption/greed, and undermined the idea of penance.