Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 15 · 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 start to a GD: a long story first? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
2. 2.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: setting out the scope? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
3. 3.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a joke off the topic (b) defining the key word (c) a brief, sharp point (d) setting out the scope
4. 4.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Let me tell you about my holiday in great detail…” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
5. 5.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) repeating the topic (b) starting with “sorry” (c) shouting to be first (d) setting out the scope
6. 6.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) repeating the topic (b) defining the key word (c) a joke off the topic (d) a wrong fact
7. 7.🚀 Before you speak in a GD, you should… (a) close your eyes (b) memorise a speech (c) check your phone (d) note 2–3 key points
8. 8.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: defining the key word? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) setting out the scope (b) linking to daily life (c) a quick real example (d) a wrong fact
10. 10.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Could we start by asking what a good school canteen looks like?” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
11. 11.🚀 You are not the first speaker. What else earns credit? (a) leaving early (b) shouting louder (c) a strong, fresh point (d) repeating the opener
12. 12.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) linking to daily life (b) a short, clear question (c) a joke off the topic (d) a relevant fact
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a long story first (b) a brief, sharp point (c) a calm, clear voice (d) a short, clear question
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) repeating the topic (b) setting out the scope (c) a calm, clear voice (d) defining the key word
15. 15.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: starting with “sorry”? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
16. 16.True or false: “a relevant fact” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a long story first (b) mumbling the start (c) shouting to be first (d) defining the key word
18. 18.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) never speak first (b) only if well prepared (c) always, at any cost
19. 19.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a wrong fact? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
20. 20.True or false: “starting with “sorry”” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a quick real example (b) a brief, sharp point (c) setting out the scope (d) a long story first
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) mumbling the start (b) a quick real example (c) a long story first (d) a wrong fact
23. 23.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a long story first (b) a quick real example (c) shouting to be first (d) reading from notes
24. 24.True or false: “a long story first” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defining the key word (b) a quick real example (c) a short, clear question (d) reading from notes
26. 26.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a quick real example? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
27. 27.True or false: “a long story first” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
28. 28.🚀 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
29. 29.🚀 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
30. 30.🚀 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
31. 31.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a relevant fact? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
32. 32.True or false: “a quick real example” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a joke off the topic? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a joke off the topic (b) shouting to be first (c) repeating the topic (d) a relevant fact
35. 35.True or false: “mumbling the start” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a long story first (b) a calm, clear voice (c) reading from notes (d) a joke off the topic
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) shouting to be first (b) setting out the scope (c) repeating the topic (d) a wrong fact
38. 38.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) setting out the scope (b) defining the key word (c) reading from notes (d) a short, clear question
39. 39.True or false: “reading from notes” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a wrong fact (b) a brief, sharp point (c) repeating the topic (d) a long story first

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