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Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 80 · 40 questions
TalentJR

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

Answer key

  1. a weak start
  2. reading from notes
  3. a weak start
  4. a strong opening line
  5. a strong, fresh point
  6. a brief, sharp point
  7. a strong start
  8. define the key words
  9. a quick real example
  10. False
  11. shouting to be first
  12. False
  13. a strong opening line
  14. a weak opening line
  15. linking to daily life
  16. a strong start
  17. a weak start
  18. a joke off the topic
  19. True
  20. only if well prepared
  21. reading from notes
  22. shouting to be first
  23. a strong start
  24. False
  25. mumbling the start
  26. False
  27. True
  28. False
  29. True
  30. a strong start
  31. mumbling the start
  32. a strong start
  33. a long story first
  34. linking to daily life
  35. a strong start
  36. a wrong fact
  37. a calm, clear voice
  38. a wrong fact
  39. a strong opening line
  40. False

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