Socratic Seminar Questions
Socratic Seminar on The Upstairs Room (April 3rd, 2014)
Rules in order to get full credit:
- make at least three thoughtful comments that use evidence from the book
- stay focused and engaged
- use appropriate language and manners; rude comments/interruption will result in loss of points
The Upstairs Room Socratic Seminar Questions Group A
1. What do you think causes segregation to happen in our societies? What does The Upstairs Room suggest about this question? Do you agree or disagree?
2. How has World War II changed Annie as a person? Do you think all people go through similar experiences growing up, or is it just specific to Annie and her situation?
3. Why do you think that the author wrote this novel for young adults? What might have been her purpose in recreating such a painful memory of her own?
Socratic Seminar on The Upstairs (April 3rd, 2014)
Rules in order to get full credit:
- make at least three thoughtful comments that use evidence from the book
- stay focused and engaged
- use appropriate language and manners; rude comments/interruption will result in loss of points
The Upstairs Room Socratic Seminar Questions Group B:
1. Do you think segregation can be eliminated (gotten rid of) in our society today? Why or why not?
2. Describe the Oostervelds. Analyze their motive for keeping Annie and her sister in their house. Would you have done the same as them?
3. How is studying non-fictional accounts of the Holocaust beneficial (good) for anybody? Why do you think we study such a period in time?
4. How can tragedies bring out the strength in the people experiencing them? Find quotes from the book and be specific in your answer.
Socratic Seminar on The Upstairs Room (April 3rd, 2014)
Rules in order to get full credit:
- come prepared (6 points to have all answers filled out with evidence; at least one quote per question)
- make at least three thoughtful comments that use evidence from the book
- stay focused and engaged
- use appropriate language and manners; rude comments/interruption will result in loss of points
- provide insightful comments
- try to help other students speak
- you may not bring your computer - this is the only paper you are allowed to bring
The Upstairs Room Socratic Seminar Questions Group A
1. What do you think causes segregation to happen in our societies? What does The Upstairs Room suggest about this question? Do you agree or disagree?
2. How has World War II changed Annie as a person? Do you think all people go through similar experiences growing up, or is it just specific to Annie and her situation?
3. Why do you think that the author wrote this novel for young adults? What might have been her purpose in recreating such a painful memory of her own?
- What is one of the themes (overall ideas) of this book (in a full sentence)? Why do you think so? Write down the page numbers and quotes that show this.
Socratic Seminar on The Upstairs (April 3rd, 2014)
Rules in order to get full credit:
- come prepared (6 points to have all answers filled out with evidence; at least one quote per question)
- make at least three thoughtful comments that use evidence from the book
- stay focused and engaged
- use appropriate language and manners; rude comments/interruption will result in loss of points
- provide insightful comments
- try to help other students speak
- you may not bring your computer - this is the only paper you are allowed to bring
The Upstairs Room Socratic Seminar Questions Group B:
1. Do you think segregation can be eliminated (gotten rid of) in our society today? Why or why not?
2. Describe the Oostervelds. Analyze their motive for keeping Annie and her sister in their house. Would you have done the same as them?
3. How is studying non-fictional accounts of the Holocaust beneficial (good) for anybody? Why do you think we study such a period in time?
4. How can tragedies bring out the strength in the people experiencing them? Find quotes from the book and be specific in your answer.
The Upstairs Room Study Guide
Study Guide for Unit 4: The Upstairs Room
Part I:
Grammar Section
Part II:
Literary Terms Section
Novel Section
Writing Section
Study Guide for Unit 4: The Upstairs Room
Part I:
Grammar Section
- Know what nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and conjunctions are.
- Write down the definition of an adverb and what it modifies.
- Write down the definition of adverbs of time, and give an example.
- Write down the definition of adverbs of place, and give an example.
- Write down the definition of adverbs of manner, and give an example.
- Write down the definition of adverbs of degree, and give an example.
- Write down the definition of adverb of frequency, and give an example.
- Write down the definition of preposition and what they always have at the end of it.
- Write down the definition of preposition of time, and give an example.
- Write down the definition of preposition of place, and give an example.
- Write down the definition of preposition of direction, and give an example.
- Write down the definition of prepositional phrases, and give an example.
Part II:
Literary Terms Section
- Define allusion. List down the types of allusions.
- Write down the difference between fiction and non-fiction.
- Describe what a plot twist is.
Novel Section
- Be able to describe characters and their role in The Upstairs Room.
- Know the general background of World War II: time, problem, sides of the war, etc.
- Know the plot chart of the story: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.
- Write down the main conflict of the story.
- Know in general what happened in each chapter.
- If given a quote, be able to identify which part of the story it came from and its significance.
Writing Section
- Know the basics of a regular essay: thesis, concrete details, paragraph format, commentaries, topic sentences, etc.
- Describe what an argumentative essay/paragraph is.
Short article on the Holocaust
Chapter 1 Questions of The Upstairs Room (classwork; may be done with partner)
Chapter 1 Questions of The Upstairs Room
1. What point of view is this story told from? Why do you think it is told from this point of view?
2. What is the setting so far?
3. Who are the characters we meet?
4. What is the major conflict so far? Find a quote that shows this conflict.
Chapter 2 Questions of The Upstairs Room
Chapter 2 Questions of The Upstairs Room (up to end of page 24)
1. At the end of chapter 1, how is Annie treated by her peers?
2. Where did Annie’s family move?
3. What happened in Annie’s old town? Find a quote that shows what the German soldiers started doing.
4. What is father planning to do with the family?
5. How does Annie feel about wearing the Jewish star? How do her emotions reveal how young she is?
Chapter 4 Questions of The Upstairs Room
Chapter 4 Questions of The Upstairs Room
1. Where does Annie go with her sister, Sini?
2. Who are Annie and Sini staying with?
3. What happened to mother?
4. Where did Annie and Sini have to hide when they were suspected?
Chapter 6 Questions of The Upstairs Room
1. What do Annie and Sini ask for, and why do they want it?
2. What occasion are they celebrating?
3. How do these people try to live a normal life in the middle of a war?
4. Find one quote that shows what life is like in hiding.
Chapter 8 Questions of The Upstairs Room
1. What is Sini concerned about?
2. What is wrong with Annie's body?
3. What news do they get about the war?
4. Who ends up visiting the girls?
Chapter 1 Questions of The Upstairs Room (classwork; may be done with partner)
Chapter 1 Questions of The Upstairs Room
1. What point of view is this story told from? Why do you think it is told from this point of view?
2. What is the setting so far?
3. Who are the characters we meet?
4. What is the major conflict so far? Find a quote that shows this conflict.
Chapter 2 Questions of The Upstairs Room
Chapter 2 Questions of The Upstairs Room (up to end of page 24)
1. At the end of chapter 1, how is Annie treated by her peers?
2. Where did Annie’s family move?
3. What happened in Annie’s old town? Find a quote that shows what the German soldiers started doing.
4. What is father planning to do with the family?
5. How does Annie feel about wearing the Jewish star? How do her emotions reveal how young she is?
Chapter 4 Questions of The Upstairs Room
Chapter 4 Questions of The Upstairs Room
1. Where does Annie go with her sister, Sini?
2. Who are Annie and Sini staying with?
3. What happened to mother?
4. Where did Annie and Sini have to hide when they were suspected?
Chapter 6 Questions of The Upstairs Room
1. What do Annie and Sini ask for, and why do they want it?
2. What occasion are they celebrating?
3. How do these people try to live a normal life in the middle of a war?
4. Find one quote that shows what life is like in hiding.
Chapter 8 Questions of The Upstairs Room
1. What is Sini concerned about?
2. What is wrong with Annie's body?
3. What news do they get about the war?
4. Who ends up visiting the girls?