Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 69 · 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.🚀 Before you speak in a GD, you should… (a) memorise a speech (b) check your phone (c) note 2–3 key points (d) close your eyes
2. 2.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) reading from notes (b) defining the key word (c) linking to daily life (d) a short, clear question
3. 3.🚀 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
4. 4.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Our school throws away about 20 kg of food a day — let’s talk about why.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
5. 5.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a wrong fact (b) a brief, sharp point (c) a joke off the topic (d) a long story first
6. 6.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Could we start by asking what a good school canteen looks like?” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
7. 7.True or false: “a quick real example” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a joke off the topic (b) a calm, clear voice (c) a short, clear question (d) defining the key word
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) repeating the topic (b) a brief, sharp point (c) a calm, clear voice (d) a short, clear question
10. 10.🚀 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
11. 11.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a relevant fact (b) setting out the scope (c) linking to daily life (d) starting with “sorry”
12. 12.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: defining the key word? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
13. 13.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: shouting to be first? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
14. 14.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a quick real example (b) a relevant fact (c) defining the key word (d) a long story first
15. 15.True or false: “repeating the topic” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a long story first (b) reading from notes (c) a wrong fact (d) a short, clear question
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) setting out the scope (b) shouting to be first (c) repeating the topic (d) mumbling the start
18. 18.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) linking to daily life (b) a relevant fact (c) a calm, clear voice (d) a wrong fact
19. 19.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a relevant fact? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
20. 20.True or false: “a short, clear question” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a quick real example (b) linking to daily life (c) a joke off the topic (d) a relevant fact
22. 22.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a short, clear question? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
23. 23.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a calm, clear voice? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
24. 24.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: reading from notes? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
25. 25.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: mumbling the start? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a joke off the topic (b) shouting to be first (c) repeating the topic (d) linking to daily life
27. 27.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a wrong fact (b) repeating the topic (c) defining the key word (d) shouting to be first
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defining the key word (b) a brief, sharp point (c) a relevant fact (d) mumbling the start
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) repeating the topic (b) a long story first (c) starting with “sorry” (d) a calm, clear voice
30. 30.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: setting out the scope? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
31. 31.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) setting out the scope (c) defining the key word (d) shouting to be first
32. 32.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) a brief, sharp point (c) mumbling the start (d) setting out the scope
33. 33.True or false: “linking to daily life” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
34. 34.True or false: “defining the key word” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
35. 35.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a joke off the topic? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
36. 36.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) repeating the topic (c) reading from notes (d) shouting to be first
37. 37.🚀 If the topic is unclear, a good opener can… (a) define the key words (b) change the topic (c) stay silent (d) complain about it
38. 38.True or false: “a short, clear question” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) always, at any cost (b) never speak first (c) only if well prepared
40. 40.🚀 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 weak opening line (b) a strong opening line

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