Asking the Right Questions

What makes a good discussion question? A good discussion question will spur conversation to carry on for much longer than it took to ask the question. So what are some qualities of a good discussion question? Do any particular questions from any discussions in your past come to mind?

Qualities of Good Discussion Questions Does not rely on a yes/no answer. Derives from an informed place, the question has thought/understanding behind it. Not aggressively worded. Inspires thought/answer is not immediately evident. Easy to understand. Stays on topic.

Quality Participants = Quality Discussion Engaged, informed, and curious participants will create a quality discussion. Participants should have a certain amount of knowledge on the topic beforehand. Participants should also be respectful of each other during the discussion.

Timing A good discussion is lively, and does not fall into too many lulls. However, you should give your audience/participants a decent chance to think before they respond. (If they do not immediately have an answer, do not let this worry you.) If the question is too difficult, try to reword it before moving on. Ask questions at appropriate times. Make sure they transition well.

Keep Conversation Moving If your question sparks a 20 minute conversation about just that question, awesome, but unlikely. In the event that there is a lull, fill the space with a follow-up question. Ideally, this will be a subtopic of your previous question’s topic.

Evaluate: Which is better? Does Odysseus use his wits to finally make his way home? What tactics does Odysseus use to finally make his way home?

Evaluate: Which is better? What is the form of this poem? How might the form of this poem affect the reader?

How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43) by Emily Barrett Browning How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day’s Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in] by E. E. Cummings i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true) and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)