Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 43 · 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.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) mumbling the start (b) setting out the scope (c) a calm, clear voice (d) linking to daily life
2. 2.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “I’ll go first because I’m the best speaker here.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
3. 3.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) reading from notes (b) a wrong fact (c) starting with “sorry” (d) a relevant fact
4. 4.🚀 Before you speak in a GD, you should… (a) memorise a speech (b) note 2–3 key points (c) close your eyes (d) check your phone
5. 5.🚀 If the topic is unclear, a good opener can… (a) complain about it (b) define the key words (c) stay silent (d) change the topic
6. 6.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) repeating the topic (b) mumbling the start (c) a quick real example (d) shouting to be first
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) setting out the scope (b) shouting to be first (c) a joke off the topic (d) a wrong fact
8. 8.True or false: “starting with “sorry”” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: defining the key word? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) linking to daily life (b) shouting to be first (c) a brief, sharp point (d) a calm, clear voice
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) shouting to be first (c) reading from notes (d) a relevant fact
12. 12.True or false: “a short, clear question” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.True or false: “defining the key word” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🚀 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
15. 15.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) setting out the scope (b) mumbling the start (c) a long story first (d) repeating the topic
16. 16.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: reading from notes? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
17. 17.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Everyone, be quiet and listen to me!” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
18. 18.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: repeating the topic? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
19. 19.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) linking to daily life (b) a wrong fact (c) setting out the scope (d) a quick real example
20. 20.True or false: “a brief, sharp point” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🚀 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
22. 22.True or false: “setting out the scope” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: “a wrong fact” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a quick real example (b) setting out the scope (c) a long story first (d) a relevant fact
25. 25.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a quick real example? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
26. 26.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) only if well prepared (b) never speak first (c) always, at any cost
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a wrong fact (b) shouting to be first (c) a brief, sharp point (d) a joke off the topic
28. 28.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) linking to daily life (b) defining the key word (c) a joke off the topic (d) a calm, clear voice
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) setting out the scope (c) a relevant fact (d) defining the key word
30. 30.True or false: “a relevant fact” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) a joke off the topic (c) a wrong fact (d) starting with “sorry”
32. 32.🚀 You are not the first speaker. What else earns credit? (a) shouting louder (b) leaving early (c) a strong, fresh point (d) repeating the opener
33. 33.True or false: “starting with “sorry”” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.True or false: “linking to daily life” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.True or false: “a calm, clear voice” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
36. 36.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) mumbling the start (b) shouting to be first (c) a brief, sharp point (d) a long story first
37. 37.True or false: “defining the key word” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
38. 38.True or false: “shouting to be first” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a calm, clear voice (b) a joke off the topic (c) reading from notes (d) a wrong fact
40. 40.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) reading from notes (b) defining the key word (c) a long story first (d) shouting to be first

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