Group Discussion Worksheet: Starting a GD

Debate lesson 18: Starting a group discussion · Set 87 · 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.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: defining the key word? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
2. 2.🚀 You are not the first speaker. What else earns credit? (a) repeating the opener (b) shouting louder (c) a strong, fresh point (d) leaving early
3. 3.🚀 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
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a short, clear question (b) a calm, clear voice (c) mumbling the start (d) defining the key word
5. 5.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) repeating the topic (b) linking to daily life (c) reading from notes (d) a long story first
6. 6.🚀 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
7. 7.True or false: “a quick real example” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) linking to daily life (b) a brief, sharp point (c) setting out the scope (d) a joke off the topic
9. 9.True or false: “starting with “sorry”” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) mumbling the start (b) a long story first (c) reading from notes (d) setting out the scope
11. 11.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) setting out the scope (b) a brief, sharp point (c) a long story first (d) a relevant fact
12. 12.Which of these is a strong way to start a GD? (a) a long story first (b) repeating the topic (c) reading from notes (d) a quick real example
13. 13.True or false: “setting out the scope” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
14. 14.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: shouting to be first? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
15. 15.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a quick real example? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
16. 16.True or false: “a quick real example” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.🚀 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
18. 18.🚀 Should you rush to speak first in every GD? (a) never speak first (b) always, at any cost (c) only if well prepared
19. 19.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a wrong fact (b) a long story first (c) a brief, sharp point (d) shouting to be first
20. 20.🚀 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
21. 21.🚀 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
22. 22.True or false: “shouting to be first” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.True or false: “mumbling the start” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) setting out the scope (b) reading from notes (c) a quick real example (d) linking to daily life
25. 25.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) mumbling the start (b) shouting to be first (c) a short, clear question (d) repeating the topic
26. 26.True or false: “a short, clear question” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.True or false: “a wrong fact” is a strong way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🚀 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
29. 29.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a long story first (b) setting out the scope (c) a quick real example (d) a short, clear question
30. 30.True or false: “defining the key word” is a weak way to start a GD. (a) False (b) True
31. 31.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: linking to daily life? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
32. 32.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) mumbling the start (b) repeating the topic (c) a quick real example (d) a joke off the topic
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) starting with “sorry” (b) shouting to be first (c) repeating the topic (d) a calm, clear voice
34. 34.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: starting with “sorry”? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
35. 35.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: reading from notes? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
36. 36.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a calm, clear voice? (a) a weak start (b) a strong start
37. 37.🚀 Strong or weak start to a GD: a relevant fact? (a) a strong start (b) a weak start
38. 38.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a quick real example (b) a relevant fact (c) a wrong fact (d) a short, clear question
39. 39.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) a brief, sharp point (b) starting with “sorry” (c) a calm, clear voice (d) defining the key word
40. 40.Which of these is a weak way to start a GD? (a) a quick real example (b) a calm, clear voice (c) linking to daily life (d) mumbling the start

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