Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 85 · 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.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) only if well prepared (b) never speak first (c) always, at any cost
2. 2.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: reading from notes? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
3. 3.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a calm, clear voice (b) a short, clear question (c) repeating the topic (d) a quick real example
4. 4.🚀 Strong or weak opening line for a GD? “Um, I don’t know much, but I’ll start anyway.” (a) a strong opening line (b) a weak opening line
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a long story first (b) a short, clear question (c) a calm, clear voice (d) defining the key word
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) repeating the topic (b) reading from notes (c) a joke off the topic (d) defining the key word
7. 7.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a calm, clear voice (b) reading from notes (c) linking to daily life (d) a brief, sharp point
8. 8.🚀 Before you speak in a GD, you should… (a) close your eyes (b) memorise a speech (c) note 2–3 key points (d) check your phone
9. 9.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) defining the key word (c) shouting to be first (d) a quick real example
10. 10.🚀 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
11. 11.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a wrong fact (b) a short, clear question (c) repeating the topic (d) shouting to be first
12. 12.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a short, clear question (b) reading from notes (c) setting out the scope (d) a quick real example
13. 13.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: mumbling the start? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
14. 14.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a wrong fact? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
15. 15.True or false: “a calm, clear voice” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
16. 16.🚀 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
17. 17.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) reading from notes (b) a brief, sharp point (c) a long story first (d) repeating the topic
18. 18.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a relevant fact (b) a long story first (c) a short, clear question (d) a brief, sharp point
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) mumbling the start (b) linking to daily life (c) starting with “sorry” (d) a joke off the topic
20. 20.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) a brief, sharp point (c) a wrong fact (d) repeating the topic
21. 21.🚀 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
22. 22.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: shouting to be first? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
23. 23.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) linking to daily life (b) a calm, clear voice (c) setting out the scope (d) a wrong fact
24. 24.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) linking to daily life (b) reading from notes (c) mumbling the start (d) a joke off the topic
25. 25.🚀 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
26. 26.True or false: “shouting to be first” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🚀 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
28. 28.True or false: “reading from notes” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a long story first? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
30. 30.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: defining the key word? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
31. 31.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a relevant fact (b) a short, clear question (c) defining the key word (d) mumbling the start
32. 32.True or false: “starting with “sorry”” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.🚀 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
34. 34.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a long story first (b) repeating the topic (c) a short, clear question (d) shouting to be first
35. 35.True or false: “a joke off the topic” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a calm, clear voice? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
37. 37.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a short, clear question (b) a calm, clear voice (c) a wrong fact (d) a quick real example
38. 38.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: setting out the scope? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
39. 39.🚀 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
40. 40.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) shouting to be first (c) reading from notes (d) a calm, clear voice

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