Socrates Speaks Today

This rewriting worksheet is designed for students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 to strengthen close reading, paraphrasing, and writing with voice through Plato’s Apology. Learners translate a selected passage from formal, ancient language into modern conversational English, preserving original meaning while adapting tone, style, and vocabulary to a contemporary setting, such as a classroom discussion or café conversation.

Learning Goals

• Paraphrasing for Meaning (Grades 6-8)
  Students restate complex philosophical ideas accurately using their own words.
• Understanding Tone & Style
  Learners analyze how language choices affect voice and adjust tone without changing intent.
• Interpretation of Classical Texts
  Activities require close reading to grasp Socrates’ ideas before rewriting them.
• Writing with Voice & Clarity
  Students practice clear, engaging expression while maintaining fidelity to the source text.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with middle school ELA and philosophy standards.
• Builds Comprehension Through Rewriting
  Paraphrasing deepens understanding of abstract and challenging material.
• Engaging, Relatable Approach
  Modernizing the text helps students connect classical philosophy to present-day language.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for humanities units, close reading practice, writing workshops, or enrichment.
• Printable & No-Prep
  Easy to implement in classroom or homeschool settings.

This Socrates Speaks Today worksheet helps students bridge the gap between classical philosophy and modern communication. By rewriting Socrates’ ideas in contemporary language, learners strengthen comprehension, paraphrasing skills, and writing voice while gaining confidence working with complex texts. Whether used in an ELA, philosophy, or humanities classroom, this printable resource offers meaningful practice in interpretation and expressive clarity.

This worksheet is part of our Apology collection.