Asking questions

Socratic questions are open-ended, probing questions designed to promote critical evaluation of ideas, as well as encourage the creation of new ideas. Below are some examples of such questions:

Questions of Clarification

• What do you mean by ____?
• What is your main point?
• How does _____ relate to _____?
• Could you put that another way?
• Is your basic point _____ or _____?
• What do you think is the main issue here?
• Let me see if I understand you; do you mean _____ or _____?
• How does this relate to our problem/discussion/issue?
• What do you, Mike, mean by this remark? What do you take Mike to mean by his remark?
• Jane, can you summarize in your own words what Richard said? . . . Richard, is this what you meant?
• Could you give me an example?
• Would this be an example, . . .?
• Could you explain this further?
• Would you say more about that?
• Why do you say that?

Questions that probe assumptions

• What are you assuming?
• What is Jenny assuming?
• What could we assume instead?
• You seem to be assuming _____. Do I understand you correctly?
• All of your reasoning depends on the idea that _____. Why have you based your reasoning on _____ instead of _____?
• You seem to be assuming _____. How do you justify taking that for granted?
• Is that always the case? Why do you think the assumption holds here?
• Why would someone make that assumption?

Questions that probe reasons and evidence

• What would be an example?
• How do you know?
• Why do you think that is true?
• Do you have any evidence for that?
• What difference does that make?
• What are your reasons for saying that?
• What other information do you need?
• Could you explain your reasons to us?
• Are these reasons adequate?
• Why do you say that?
• What led you to that belief?
• How does that apply to this case?
• What would change your mind?
• But, is that good evidence for that belief?
• Is there a reason to doubt that evidence?
• Who is in a position to know that is true?
• What would you say to someone who said that ____?
• Can someone else give evidence to support that view?
• By what reasoning did you come to that conclusion?
• How could we find out if that is true?

Questions about Viewpoints or Perspectives

• The term "imply" will require clarification when used with younger students.
• What are you implying by that?
• When you say _____, are you implying _____?
• But, if that happened, what else would happen as a result? Why?
• What effect would that have?
• Would that necessarily happen or only possibly/probably happen?
• What is an alternative?
• If _____ and _____ are the case, then what might also be true?
• If we say that ____ is ethical, how about _____?

Questions that Probe Implications and Consequences

• How can we find out?
• What does this question assume?
• Would _____ ask this question differently?
• How could someone settle this question?
• Can we break this question down at all?
• Is this question clear? Do we understand it?
• Is this question easy or hard to answer? Why?
• Does this question ask us to evaluate something? What?
• Do we all agree that this is the question?
• To answer this question, what other questions must we answer first?
• I'm not sure I understand how you are interpreting this question. Is this the same as _____?
• How would _____ state the issue?
• Why is this issue important?
• Is this the most important question, or is there an underlying question that is really the issue?