The Socratic Discussions: How Is Reading a Book Like Studying a Painting?
Students expand their critical thinking skills to engage in Socratic discussion sparked by Vladimir Nabokov’s essay Good Readers and Good Writers. ESL friendly, CEFR level C1, C2 (Advanced). #academic
Cindy Frank
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5.0
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What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursHomework
Students must read and annotate Nabokov's essay Good Readers and Good Writers prior to the start of class.Assessment
A short written report will be sent to families about their student's participation and experience in class.Class Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
Advanced Level
Kindly note: This is an ESL friendly class, CEFR level — C1, C2 (Advanced) Please feel free to write me via Outschool email with questions. *** In this one time course, we will engage in an energetic and spirited Socratic discussion sparked by Vladimir Nabokov’s seminal essay “Good Readers and Good Writers”. Culled from his Lectures on Literature, Nabokov offers a compelling and opinionated argument: to be a great writer, he argues, one first must be a great reader. But reading well isn’t about how many books one reads or how fast one reads them. It’s giving oneself a sense of space to be sensitive to the story beneath the story, expanding one’s sense of empathy in feeling the motivations of characters, understanding the rhythms in a sentence, knowing when to pause to revel in a perfectly chosen word or phrase that rolls off the tongue. Some would argue it’s precisely the same skill as contemplating —and being deeply moved by— a great work of art. Hence the question for our Socratic Discussion: How is Reading a Book Like Studying a Painting? A copy of the essay, Good Readers and Good Writers will be sent to students to read and consider prior to the start of class. We will also consider various works of art as counterpoint to our discussion. Works considered include Velazquez's Las Meninas, Manet's Bar at the Folies Bergere, Van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait. Guided by the teacher, this is a discussion-based class where the learners’ thoughts, opinions, and voices don’t just matter. They are essential. As in all our Socratic discussions, students will expand their critical thinking skills, hone their innate speaking abilities, question, think, communicate. It’s essential that all in the group work together to promote respectful cooperative interaction as together we explore both the nuances and connections fostered by this deeply thoughtful essay and provocative question. No prior experience in either art history or Socratic discussion is necessary for this class.
Learning Goals
Build critical thinking skills
Analyze a complex text
Enrich ongoing vocabulary with an objective of building towards the SAT and ACT word lists
Participate in lively group discussion to enhance speaking and verbal abilities
Bridge connections presented by the essay to past readings
Encourage respectful communications
Other Details
Supply List
Students should read and annotate the Good Readers and Good Writers essay that will be sent prior to class. A pen or pencil and paper is essential for class work.
1 file available upon enrollment
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Good Readers and Good Writers, essay by Vladimir Nabokov, will be sent via pdf to all learners prior to class.
Joined July, 2020
5.0
659reviews
Star Educator
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree from The University of Michigan, 1982 Honors in The History of Art, Does not Expire
As committed teacher of both high school art history and literature classes, Socratic discussion has always formed one of the core teaching methods in all my classes. Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$25
per classMeets once
55 min
Completed by 27 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-6 learners per class
