ABSTRACT
The power of discourse to change understanding has been recognised at least since Socrates. Discourse is language consisting of more than one simple sentence connected in the form of a text or conversation. Participating in dialogue is thought to be a powerful tool for learning. In particular, forms of inquiry-based dialogue such as Socratic dialogue are thought to develop critical thinking by providing a bridge between more formal written discourses, such as the essay, and informal, spoken argument. Andrews (2003) captures the essence of how the Socratic form works in discussing a dialogue between Socrates and Lysis:
