Debating Socratic Wisdom

This debate-focused worksheet is designed for students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 to strengthen argumentative writing, philosophical reasoning, and academic discussion skills through close engagement with Plato’s Apology. Learners examine whether Socrates demonstrates true wisdom or arrogant self-assurance, responding to guided prompts and crafting a 6-8 sentence debate statement that uses key vocabulary such as virtue and truth while supporting claims with logical reasoning and evidence.

Learning Goals

• Argumentative & Persuasive Writing (Grades 6-8)
  Students develop clear, well-reasoned arguments supported by evidence and explanation.
• Philosophical Inquiry & Wisdom Analysis
  Learners evaluate Socrates’ actions and beliefs through multiple philosophical perspectives.
• Vocabulary in Context
  Activities reinforce accurate use of academic and philosophical terms in writing and discussion.
• Evaluating Multiple Viewpoints
  Students consider opposing interpretations to strengthen critical thinking and debate skills.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with middle school ELA, philosophy, and social studies standards.
• Debate-Ready Structure
  Prompts support both written arguments and oral discussion or Socratic seminars.
• Builds Reasoning & Clarity
  Emphasizes logical structure, precise language, and coherent explanation.
• Encourages Ethical Reflection
  Questions promote thoughtful discussion about humility, knowledge, and moral character.
• Printable & No-Prep
  Easy to implement in classrooms or homeschool settings.

This Debating Socratic Wisdom worksheet helps students sharpen persuasive writing, philosophical analysis, and respectful debate skills. By arguing different interpretations of Socrates’ wisdom, learners strengthen reasoning, vocabulary use, and confidence expressing complex ideas. Whether used in an ELA, social studies, or philosophy classroom, this printable resource supports meaningful civic and ethical discussion grounded in classical texts.

This worksheet is part of our Apology collection.