Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 70 · 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.🚀 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
2. 2.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: mumbling the start? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
3. 3.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: setting out the scope? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
4. 4.🚀 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
5. 5.True or false: “linking to daily life” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) a relevant fact (c) a short, clear question (d) a wrong fact
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) a long story first (c) shouting to be first (d) mumbling the start
8. 8.🚀 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
9. 9.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) never speak first (b) only if well prepared (c) always, at any cost
10. 10.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Let’s first be clear what we mean by ‘screen time’.” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) a relevant fact (c) setting out the scope (d) mumbling the start
12. 12.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) a calm, clear voice (c) setting out the scope (d) a brief, sharp point
13. 13.True or false: “reading from notes” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: defining the key word? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
15. 15.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) reading from notes (b) linking to daily life (c) a wrong fact (d) repeating the topic
16. 16.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a relevant fact? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
17. 17.True or false: “a wrong fact” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🚀 If the topic is unclear, a good opener can… (a) stay silent (b) define the key words (c) change the topic (d) complain about it
19. 19.🚀 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
20. 20.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) repeating the topic (b) starting with “sorry” (c) shouting to be first (d) a relevant fact
21. 21.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a short, clear question (b) a brief, sharp point (c) a long story first (d) a calm, clear voice
22. 22.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: starting with “sorry”? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
23. 23.🚀 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 weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a short, clear question (b) a calm, clear voice (c) a joke off the topic (d) a relevant fact
25. 25.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a long story first? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
26. 26.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a joke off the topic? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
27. 27.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a quick real example (b) repeating the topic (c) defining the key word (d) a relevant fact
28. 28.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) defining the key word (b) repeating the topic (c) starting with “sorry” (d) a joke off the topic
29. 29.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Let me tell you about my holiday in great detail…” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
30. 30.True or false: “a quick real example” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: repeating the topic? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
32. 32.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a short, clear question? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
33. 33.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) shouting to be first (b) a quick real example (c) setting out the scope (d) a short, clear question
34. 34.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a wrong fact? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
35. 35.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: linking to daily life? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
36. 36.True or false: “a long story first” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.True or false: “a quick real example” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
38. 38.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) setting out the scope (b) reading from notes (c) linking to daily life (d) defining the key word
39. 39.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a quick real example? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
40. 40.True or false: “starting with “sorry”” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False

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