Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 42 · 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 quick real example? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
2. 2.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) only if well prepared (b) never speak first (c) always, at any cost
3. 3.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: repeating the topic? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
4. 4.True or false: “starting with “sorry”” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
5. 5.🚀 Before you speak in a GD, you should… (a) close your eyes (b) memorise a speech (c) note 2–3 key points (d) check your phone
6. 6.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) a wrong fact (c) mumbling the start (d) repeating the topic
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) reading from notes (b) repeating the topic (c) setting out the scope (d) mumbling the start
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a short, clear question (b) a calm, clear voice (c) setting out the scope (d) shouting to be first
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a long story first (b) a wrong fact (c) repeating the topic (d) a brief, sharp point
10. 10.True or false: “a calm, clear voice” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) shouting to be first (c) setting out the scope (d) defining the key word
12. 12.True or false: “mumbling the start” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) shouting to be first (b) a calm, clear voice (c) mumbling the start (d) a long story first
14. 14.🚀 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
15. 15.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) linking to daily life (b) defining the key word (c) reading from notes (d) a relevant fact
16. 16.🚀 If the topic is unclear, a good opener can… (a) change the topic (b) stay silent (c) complain about it (d) define the key words
17. 17.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: linking to daily life? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
18. 18.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Um, I don’t know much, but I’ll start anyway.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
19. 19.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) defining the key word (b) a calm, clear voice (c) a quick real example (d) starting with “sorry”
20. 20.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) setting out the scope (b) a brief, sharp point (c) reading from notes (d) linking to daily life
21. 21.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a brief, sharp point? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
22. 22.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a short, clear question? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
23. 23.True or false: “a relevant fact” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a wrong fact (b) linking to daily life (c) a short, clear question (d) a relevant fact
25. 25.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: defining the key word? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) linking to daily life (b) defining the key word (c) mumbling the start (d) a calm, clear voice
27. 27.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) setting out the scope (b) repeating the topic (c) a relevant fact (d) defining the key word
28. 28.🚀 You are not the first speaker. What else earns credit? (a) leaving early (b) repeating the opener (c) a strong, fresh point (d) shouting louder
29. 29.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a joke off the topic (b) a short, clear question (c) a relevant fact (d) a calm, clear voice
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defining the key word (b) a long story first (c) a quick real example (d) linking to daily life
31. 31.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a joke off the topic? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
32. 32.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: reading from notes? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
33. 33.True or false: “setting out the scope” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “linking to daily life” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: setting out the scope? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
36. 36.True or false: “a short, clear question” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) shouting to be first (c) a long story first (d) repeating the topic
38. 38.True or false: “a long story first” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.True or false: “setting out the scope” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) a quick real example (c) linking to daily life (d) defining the key word

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