Group Discussion Worksheet: How a GD Works

Debate lesson 17: How a group discussion works · Set 9 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Explore together): Debate: fixed sides, a set order, fixed time per speaker, a motion, a winner. GD: no sides, no set order, a topic to explore together. A good GD topic can be seen in different ways; a fact question (“How many legs does a spider have?”) cannot be discussed. Sharing time: minutes ÷ members; discussion time = total − thinking time − summary time.

1. 1.True or false: “a motion to argue” is a feature of a debate. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.True or false: “a fixed time per speaker” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.⭕ Debate or group discussion: judges pick a winner? (a) a debate (b) a group discussion
4. 4.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) proposition, opposition (b) a set speaking order (c) sitting in a circle (d) judges pick a winner
5. 5.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) a topic to explore (b) no fixed sides (c) members speak freely (d) fixed for and against
6. 6.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) a fixed time per speaker (b) no set order of turns (c) judges pick a winner (d) a motion to argue
7. 7.⭕ A group discussion has 8 members and lasts 16 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
8. 8.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “Which planet is closest to the Sun?” (a) a good GD topic (b) not a GD topic
9. 9.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “How can our school waste less food?” (a) a good GD topic (b) not a GD topic
10. 10.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “Should every school have a garden?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
11. 11.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) proposition, opposition (b) a fixed time per speaker (c) reaching shared ideas (d) judges pick a winner
12. 12.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) sitting in a circle (b) judges pick a winner (c) no fixed sides (d) a topic to explore
13. 13.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “What is 15 × 4?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
14. 14.⭕ How many members does a GD usually have? (a) about 6 to 10 (b) just 1 (c) about 50 (d) about 100
15. 15.⭕ Does a GD usually end with a winning team? (a) no (b) yes
16. 16.⭕ How are members usually seated in a GD? (a) in rows facing a stage (b) back to back (c) one behind another (d) in a circle or U
17. 17.True or false: “a set speaking order” is a feature of a debate. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.⭕ A group discussion lasts 20 minutes. It begins with 1 minute of thinking time and ends with 1 minute for the summary. How many minutes are left for the discussion?
19. 19.⭕ Debate or group discussion: reaching shared ideas? (a) a group discussion (b) a debate
20. 20.⭕ A group discussion has 8 members and lasts 8 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
21. 21.True or false: “a fixed time per speaker” is a feature of a debate. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) reaching shared ideas (b) members speak freely (c) a set speaking order (d) a topic to explore
23. 23.True or false: “no set order of turns” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⭕ Debate or group discussion: a motion to argue? (a) a group discussion (b) a debate
25. 25.⭕ A group discussion has 6 members and lasts 12 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
26. 26.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) judges pick a winner (b) a fixed time per speaker (c) fixed for and against (d) members speak freely
27. 27.⭕ A group discussion has 5 members and lasts 10 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
28. 28.⭕ Debate or group discussion: members speak freely? (a) a debate (b) a group discussion
29. 29.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) fixed for and against (b) judges pick a winner (c) proposition, opposition (d) a topic to explore
30. 30.True or false: “members speak freely” is a feature of a debate. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.⭕ A group discussion lasts 20 minutes. It begins with 3 minutes of thinking time and ends with 1 minute for the summary. How many minutes are left for the discussion?
32. 32.⭕ Debate or group discussion: no set order of turns? (a) a group discussion (b) a debate
33. 33.True or false: “no fixed sides” is a feature of a debate. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “members speak freely” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⭕ Debate or group discussion: a fixed time per speaker? (a) a group discussion (b) a debate
36. 36.⭕ A group discussion lasts 15 minutes. It begins with 2 minutes of thinking time and ends with 3 minutes for the summary. How many minutes are left for the discussion?
37. 37.⭕ A group discussion has 6 members and lasts 6 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
38. 38.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) no fixed sides (b) a motion to argue (c) proposition, opposition (d) a set speaking order
39. 39.⭕ A group discussion has 5 members and lasts 15 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
40. 40.True or false: “judges pick a winner” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) True (b) False

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