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