Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 35 · 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: shouting to be first? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
2. 2.🚀 Before you speak in a GD, you should… (a) check your phone (b) close your eyes (c) note 2–3 key points (d) memorise a speech
3. 3.🚀 If the topic is unclear, a good opener can… (a) complain about it (b) stay silent (c) change the topic (d) define the key words
4. 4.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) a wrong fact (c) setting out the scope (d) a brief, sharp point
5. 5.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a quick real example? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
6. 6.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: reading from notes? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
7. 7.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a quick real example (b) a relevant fact (c) starting with “sorry” (d) a short, clear question
8. 8.True or false: “reading from notes” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a calm, clear voice (b) a quick real example (c) linking to daily life (d) reading from notes
10. 10.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a wrong fact? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a long story first (b) linking to daily life (c) a wrong fact (d) mumbling the start
12. 12.🚀 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
13. 13.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a relevant fact (b) a short, clear question (c) repeating the topic (d) linking to daily life
14. 14.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) shouting to be first
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a joke off the topic (b) setting out the scope (c) repeating the topic (d) reading from notes
16. 16.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a relevant fact? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
17. 17.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “The topic is the topic, and that is what it is.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
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.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a joke off the topic (b) reading from notes (c) a wrong fact (d) defining the key word
20. 20.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: repeating the topic? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
21. 21.True or false: “a calm, clear voice” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🚀 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
23. 23.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a relevant fact (b) a joke off the topic (c) a quick real example (d) a short, clear question
24. 24.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a joke off the topic? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
25. 25.True or false: “a joke off the topic” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a joke off the topic (b) starting with “sorry” (c) repeating the topic (d) setting out the scope
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a relevant fact (b) defining the key word (c) starting with “sorry” (d) setting out the scope
28. 28.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a calm, clear voice (b) linking to daily life (c) setting out the scope (d) shouting to be first
29. 29.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a calm, clear voice? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a long story first (b) linking to daily life (c) a quick real example (d) a relevant fact
31. 31.True or false: “a long story first” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a brief, sharp point? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
33. 33.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a short, clear question? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
34. 34.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) shouting to be first (b) starting with “sorry” (c) mumbling the start (d) linking to daily life
35. 35.True or false: “reading from notes” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) linking to daily life (b) mumbling the start (c) a brief, sharp point (d) defining the key word
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) shouting to be first (c) a long story first (d) mumbling the start
38. 38.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) a long story first (c) setting out the scope (d) a quick real example
39. 39.True or false: “defining the key word” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Friends, before we pick a side, let’s look at both.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line

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