Tips for Writing Discussion Questions
- Compare, contrast, and look for connections between articles assigned on a given day with each other or with past articles assigned for class.
- Look for “gaps” in authors’ reasoning or statements that you find problematic.
- Think about the broader issues that the author’s arguments point to.
How do you come up with a good discussion question?
Below you’ll find four tips to help you write questions that accomplish these goals:
- Ask Open-Ended Questions. Strong open-ended questions guide our thoughts without expecting specific answers.
- Think about Community.
- More Questions = More Participation.
- Offer Incentive (Grade the Discussion)
What are some good discussion questions?
Thought-provoking questions = better discussions
- Moral/ethical dilemmas. Provide students with a problem or situation, and ask them to explore one or more of the moral and ethical concerns.
- Assess → Diagnose → Act.
- Compare and Contrast.
- Interpretive → Evaluative.
- Conceptual Changes.
- Personal Exploration.
What is the purpose of a discussion question?
Identify the purpose of your question and plan to ask it at an appropriate time. For example, introductory questions may ask students to recall factual material or comprehend difficult ideas in the reading while higher-order questions may ask students to apply, analyze, synthesize, or evaluate the material.
What are good discussion questions for a book?
13 General Book Club Questions For Any Kind Of Discussion
- “What was your initial reaction to the book?
- “Do you think the story was plot-based or character driven?”
- “What was your favorite quote/passage?”
- “What made the setting unique or important?
- “Did you pick out any themes throughout the book?”
- Any “If/then” Questions.