Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 12 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Open the door for everyone): Strong start: define the key word, a relevant fact, a short clear question, a quick real example, the scope of the topic. Weak start: a long story, a wrong fact, shouting to be first, repeating the topic, a joke off the topic, “sorry”. Use the thinking time to note 2–3 key points; start only if you are ready.

1. 1.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Let me tell you about my holiday in great detail…” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
2. 2.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) never speak first (b) only if well prepared (c) always, at any cost
3. 3.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a calm, clear voice (b) reading from notes (c) a short, clear question (d) defining the key word
4. 4.True or false: “a calm, clear voice” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Um, I don’t know much, but I’ll start anyway.” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) setting out the scope (b) repeating the topic (c) a long story first (d) reading from notes
7. 7.True or false: “a quick real example” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Friends, before we pick a side, let’s look at both.” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
9. 9.🚀 If the topic is unclear, a good opener can… (a) complain about it (b) stay silent (c) define the key words (d) change the topic
10. 10.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: starting with “sorry”? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
11. 11.True or false: “a wrong fact” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a quick real example (b) a short, clear question (c) repeating the topic (d) a brief, sharp point
13. 13.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: reading from notes? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
14. 14.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a wrong fact (b) a calm, clear voice (c) a long story first (d) reading from notes
15. 15.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a calm, clear voice (b) setting out the scope (c) a wrong fact (d) linking to daily life
16. 16.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a short, clear question? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
17. 17.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Let’s first be clear what we mean by ‘screen time’.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
18. 18.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a joke off the topic (b) starting with “sorry” (c) repeating the topic (d) a short, clear question
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a quick real example (b) a short, clear question (c) reading from notes (d) defining the key word
20. 20.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: shouting to be first? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
21. 21.True or false: “a joke off the topic” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🚀 Before you speak in a GD, you should… (a) note 2–3 key points (b) close your eyes (c) memorise a speech (d) check your phone
23. 23.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) linking to daily life (b) a relevant fact (c) shouting to be first (d) defining the key word
24. 24.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: setting out the scope? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
25. 25.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a relevant fact (b) mumbling the start (c) shouting to be first (d) starting with “sorry”
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) reading from notes (b) mumbling the start (c) a brief, sharp point (d) repeating the topic
27. 27.True or false: “a quick real example” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.True or false: “defining the key word” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “starting with “sorry”” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “The topic is the topic, and that is what it is.” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
31. 31.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a calm, clear voice? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
32. 32.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: linking to daily life? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
33. 33.True or false: “reading from notes” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a long story first (b) a quick real example (c) a wrong fact (d) a joke off the topic
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) mumbling the start (b) a calm, clear voice (c) defining the key word (d) setting out the scope
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) defining the key word (c) starting with “sorry” (d) linking to daily life
37. 37.True or false: “mumbling the start” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) setting out the scope (b) defining the key word (c) a long story first (d) a brief, sharp point
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a calm, clear voice (b) linking to daily life (c) a wrong fact (d) a brief, sharp point
40. 40.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a relevant fact? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start

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