Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 65 · 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 strong way to start a GD? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) a brief, sharp point (c) a long story first (d) shouting to be first
2. 2.True or false: “repeating the topic” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) always, at any cost (b) never speak first (c) only if well prepared
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a joke off the topic (b) mumbling the start (c) a short, clear question (d) starting with “sorry”
5. 5.🚀 If the topic is unclear, a good opener can… (a) change the topic (b) stay silent (c) define the key words (d) complain about it
6. 6.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a calm, clear voice (b) a long story first (c) a joke off the topic (d) starting with “sorry”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a joke off the topic (b) linking to daily life (c) mumbling the start (d) a long story first
8. 8.🚀 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
9. 9.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a relevant fact (b) defining the key word (c) setting out the scope (d) a wrong fact
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) reading from notes (c) shouting to be first (d) setting out the scope
11. 11.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “I’ll go first because I’m the best speaker here.” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
12. 12.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a calm, clear voice (b) linking to daily life (c) a relevant fact (d) a long story first
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) repeating the topic (c) a relevant fact (d) mumbling the start
14. 14.🚀 You are not the first speaker. What else earns credit? (a) leaving early (b) a strong, fresh point (c) shouting louder (d) repeating the opener
15. 15.True or false: “mumbling the start” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: linking to daily life? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
17. 17.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: mumbling the start? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
18. 18.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) setting out the scope (c) reading from notes (d) linking to daily life
19. 19.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: reading from notes? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
20. 20.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a joke off the topic? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
21. 21.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a relevant fact (b) a quick real example (c) starting with “sorry” (d) linking to daily life
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) shouting to be first (b) a long story first (c) starting with “sorry” (d) defining the key word
23. 23.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a quick real example? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) a short, clear question (c) setting out the scope (d) a long story first
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) mumbling the start (b) a brief, sharp point (c) a quick real example (d) linking to daily life
26. 26.True or false: “mumbling the start” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “The topic is the topic, and that is what it is.” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
28. 28.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a calm, clear voice? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
29. 29.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: defining the key word? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
30. 30.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a long story first? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
31. 31.🚀 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
32. 32.True or false: “defining the key word” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
33. 33.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: shouting to be first? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
34. 34.True or false: “a short, clear question” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a relevant fact? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
36. 36.🚀 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
37. 37.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a brief, sharp point? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
38. 38.True or false: “a brief, sharp point” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
39. 39.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) linking to daily life (c) defining the key word (d) mumbling the start
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) shouting to be first (b) a short, clear question (c) a brief, sharp point (d) a relevant fact

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