Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 78 · 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) check your phone (b) memorise a speech (c) close your eyes (d) note 2–3 key points
2. 2.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) a short, clear question (c) a calm, clear voice (d) a brief, sharp point
3. 3.True or false: “a calm, clear voice” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a joke off the topic? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
5. 5.🚀 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
6. 6.True or false: “linking to daily life” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a short, clear question? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
8. 8.🚀 You are not the first speaker. What else earns credit? (a) shouting louder (b) leaving early (c) a strong, fresh point (d) repeating the opener
9. 9.True or false: “mumbling the start” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) a calm, clear voice (c) a quick real example (d) mumbling the start
11. 11.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) always, at any cost (b) only if well prepared (c) never speak first
12. 12.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: defining the key word? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
13. 13.True or false: “a wrong fact” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a quick real example (b) linking to daily life (c) a calm, clear voice (d) a wrong fact
15. 15.True or false: “repeating the topic” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
16. 16.True or false: “repeating the topic” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.True or false: “a brief, sharp point” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a calm, clear voice? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
19. 19.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) reading from notes (b) a joke off the topic (c) a quick real example (d) starting with “sorry”
20. 20.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a quick real example (b) repeating the topic (c) a brief, sharp point (d) setting out the scope
21. 21.True or false: “setting out the scope” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🚀 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
23. 23.True or false: “defining the key word” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
24. 24.True or false: “a joke off the topic” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a wrong fact (b) mumbling the start (c) starting with “sorry” (d) a short, clear question
26. 26.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a long story first (b) a short, clear question (c) a calm, clear voice (d) a relevant fact
27. 27.True or false: “reading from notes” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) mumbling the start (b) a brief, sharp point (c) repeating the topic (d) shouting to be first
29. 29.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a wrong fact (b) linking to daily life (c) setting out the scope (d) a calm, clear voice
30. 30.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Um, I don’t know much, but I’ll start anyway.” (a) a weak opening line (b) a strong opening line
31. 31.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) shouting to be first (b) linking to daily life (c) setting out the scope (d) a short, clear question
32. 32.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: setting out the scope? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) repeating the topic (b) a wrong fact (c) defining the key word (d) a joke off the topic
34. 34.🚀 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
35. 35.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) shouting to be first (b) linking to daily life (c) repeating the topic (d) starting with “sorry”
36. 36.True or false: “a joke off the topic” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
37. 37.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a joke off the topic (b) a quick real example (c) linking to daily life (d) a calm, clear voice
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) linking to daily life (b) a quick real example (c) a joke off the topic (d) a short, clear question
39. 39.True or false: “setting out the scope” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🚀 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

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