Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 47 · 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) a relevant fact (b) a short, clear question (c) setting out the scope (d) a wrong fact
2. 2.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) reading from notes (c) mumbling the start (d) shouting to be first
3. 3.🚀 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
4. 4.🚀 You are not the first speaker. What else earns credit? (a) repeating the opener (b) leaving early (c) shouting louder (d) a strong, fresh point
5. 5.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a long story first (b) a relevant fact (c) shouting to be first (d) a wrong fact
6. 6.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) shouting to be first (b) reading from notes (c) a wrong fact (d) linking to daily life
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a joke off the topic (b) a brief, sharp point (c) a long story first (d) shouting to be first
8. 8.True or false: “repeating the topic” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) linking to daily life (b) a quick real example (c) mumbling the start (d) a calm, clear voice
10. 10.True or false: “a quick real example” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: “a relevant fact” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a long story first (b) mumbling the start (c) a wrong fact (d) a quick real example
13. 13.True or false: “setting out the scope” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a long story first? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
15. 15.True or false: “shouting to be first” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) defining the key word (b) setting out the scope (c) linking to daily life (d) repeating the topic
17. 17.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a short, clear question? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
18. 18.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) only if well prepared (b) never speak first (c) always, at any cost
19. 19.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a quick real example? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) repeating the topic (b) shouting to be first (c) linking to daily life (d) mumbling the start
21. 21.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a calm, clear voice? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
22. 22.True or false: “a wrong fact” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) setting out the scope (b) a long story first (c) a calm, clear voice (d) defining the key word
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) linking to daily life (b) setting out the scope (c) a long story first (d) defining the key word
25. 25.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Everyone, be quiet and listen to me!” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
26. 26.🚀 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
27. 27.🚀 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
28. 28.🚀 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
29. 29.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: shouting to be first? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
30. 30.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a joke off the topic (b) repeating the topic (c) a short, clear question (d) shouting to be first
31. 31.True or false: “a long story first” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.True or false: “a long story first” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a relevant fact? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
34. 34.True or false: “a quick real example” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: mumbling the start? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
36. 36.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “In our class survey, 30 of us said we use screens daily — so this topic matters.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
37. 37.True or false: “a short, clear question” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.🚀 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
39. 39.🚀 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
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) setting out the scope (b) defining the key word (c) linking to daily life (d) a wrong fact

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