Group Discussion Worksheet: How a GD Works

Debate lesson 17: How a group discussion works · Set 962 · 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 topic to explore” is a feature of a debate. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.⭕ Does a GD usually end with a winning team? (a) no (b) yes
3. 3.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “Which planet is closest to the Sun?” (a) a good GD topic (b) not a GD topic
4. 4.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “How can our school waste less food?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
5. 5.⭕ Debate or group discussion: a fixed time per speaker? (a) a debate (b) a group discussion
6. 6.⭕ Is there a fixed speaking order in a GD? (a) yes, by roll number (b) no, anyone may speak (c) yes, by height
7. 7.⭕ Debate or group discussion: no set order of turns? (a) a group discussion (b) a debate
8. 8.⭕ Where are GDs often used? (a) music exams (b) cricket matches (c) cooking shows (d) interviews and classes
9. 9.⭕ In a group discussion, Saanvi speaks 3 times for about 20 seconds each time. How many seconds does Saanvi speak in all?
10. 10.True or false: “a fixed time per speaker” is a feature of a debate. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: “a motion to argue” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.⭕ Debate or group discussion: a set speaking order? (a) a debate (b) a group discussion
13. 13.⭕ How are members usually seated in a GD? (a) back to back (b) in a circle or U (c) one behind another (d) in rows facing a stage
14. 14.⭕ How many members does a GD usually have? (a) about 100 (b) just 1 (c) about 50 (d) about 6 to 10
15. 15.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) members speak freely (b) no set order of turns (c) sitting in a circle (d) a motion to argue
16. 16.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) a set speaking order (b) no fixed sides (c) a motion to argue (d) a fixed time per speaker
17. 17.True or false: “a topic to explore” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “How can we make our city cleaner?” (a) a good GD topic (b) not a GD topic
19. 19.⭕ 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?
20. 20.⭕ Debate or group discussion: members speak freely? (a) a debate (b) a group discussion
21. 21.⭕ Debate or group discussion: sitting in a circle? (a) a group discussion (b) a debate
22. 22.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) no fixed sides (b) fixed for and against (c) no set order of turns (d) members speak freely
23. 23.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) a set speaking order (b) members speak freely (c) proposition, opposition (d) judges pick a winner
24. 24.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “What is 15 × 4?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
25. 25.True or false: “members speak freely” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.⭕ Debate or group discussion: a topic to explore? (a) a group discussion (b) a debate
27. 27.⭕ Debate or group discussion: judges pick a winner? (a) a debate (b) a group discussion
28. 28.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) members speak freely (b) no fixed sides (c) a topic to explore (d) proposition, opposition
29. 29.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “Are board games better than screen games?” (a) a good GD topic (b) not a GD topic
30. 30.⭕ A group discussion lasts 20 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?
31. 31.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) fixed for and against (b) no set order of turns (c) proposition, opposition (d) a motion to argue
32. 32.⭕ A group discussion has 8 members and lasts 16 minutes. If the time is shared equally, how many minutes does each member get?
33. 33.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) sitting in a circle (b) a set speaking order (c) fixed for and against (d) a motion to argue
34. 34.Which of these is a feature of a debate? (a) no fixed sides (b) no set order of turns (c) a topic to explore (d) a set speaking order
35. 35.True or false: “reaching shared ideas” is a feature of a debate. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.⭕ Is this a good GD topic? “Should every school have a garden?” (a) not a GD topic (b) a good GD topic
37. 37.Which of these is a feature of a group discussion? (a) fixed for and against (b) judges pick a winner (c) proposition, opposition (d) reaching shared ideas
38. 38.True or false: “sitting in a circle” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “judges pick a winner” is a feature of a group discussion. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.⭕ What is the main aim of a GD? (a) stay silent (b) talk the longest (c) explore a topic together (d) defeat the others

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