{"id":1905,"date":"2017-05-24T17:55:20","date_gmt":"2017-05-24T21:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/?p=1905"},"modified":"2021-06-07T13:41:34","modified_gmt":"2021-06-07T17:41:34","slug":"designing-effective-discussion-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/2017\/05\/24\/designing-effective-discussion-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing Effective Discussion Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1908\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2018\/06\/Question-Image.jpg?resize=940%2C379&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"940\" height=\"379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2018\/06\/Question-Image.jpg?w=940&amp;ssl=1 940w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2018\/06\/Question-Image.jpg?resize=300%2C121&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2018\/06\/Question-Image.jpg?resize=768%2C310&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2>ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS OVERVIEW<\/h2>\n<p>A good question is both answerable and challenging. It will inspire analysis, synthesis, interpretation, and critical thinking. Below are several types of questions and suggestions about when to use which kind.<\/p>\n<h2>WHERE TO BEGIN?<\/h2>\n<p>Begin with material students are familiar with or feel comfortable with. This might be a question that can be answered with information from general experience or from basic data in the subject area. Learn to prepare a mix of questions\u2014those that are easily answered, slightly challenging, or highly complex\u2014that they can draw on as the discussion develops.<\/p>\n<h2>TYPES OF EFFECTIVE QUESTIONS<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Analysis<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Questions beginning with \u201cWhy\u2026\u201d \u201cHow would you\u2026\u201d \u201cWhat is \u2026\u201d<br \/>\n\u2022 Example: What is the meaning of Madame X\u2019s comment about Jacque\u2019s activities\u2026?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Compare and Contrast<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cCompare\u2026\u201d \u201cContrast\u2026\u201d \u201cWhat is the difference between\u2026\u201d \u201cWhat is the<br \/>\nsimilarity between\u2026\u201d<br \/>\n\u2022 Example: What is the difference between the mother and the father\u2019s attitudes toward\u2026?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cause and Effect<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cWhat are the causes\/results of\u2026\u201d \u201cWhat connection is there between\u2026\u201d<br \/>\n\u2022 Example: What is the cause of Lea\u2019s distress when she looks at herself in the mirror?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Clarification<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cWhat is meant by\u2026\u201d \u201cExplain how\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>TYPES OF INEFFECTIVE QUESTIONS<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Simple Yes-No<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Produces little discussion and encourages guessing.<br \/>\n\u2022 Example: \u201cIs the Aunt expressing a desire for Gigi to marry?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Elliptical<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Too vague; it is not clear what is being asked.<br \/>\n\u2022 Examples: \u201cWell, what do you think about the Don Juan\u2019s values?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Leading<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Conveys the expected answer.<br \/>\n\u2022 Example: \u201cDon\u2019t you think that Colette is condemning the\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Slanted<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Closes down student who may not agree with the implied assumption.<br \/>\n\u2022 Example: \u201cWhy are Colette\u2019s young women so corrupt?\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>MANAGING GROUP DYNAMICS<\/h2>\n<p>\u2022Decide whether to ask questions of a particular individual or the whole group. Sometimes calling on an individual may help to get a slow class going, but it can release the other students from the responsibility of formulating answers for themselves.<br \/>\n\u2022 Leave sufficient wait time after asking a question before answering it yourself, repeating it, rephrasing it, or adding further information. Wait at least ten to fifteen seconds before making any change in your question.<br \/>\n\u2022 Avoid rapid reward for responding. Rapid reward means calling immediately on the first person who indicates an answer or approving immediately of a correct response that a student has given.<\/p>\n<p>For more information about this topic, please contact the Coulter Faculty Commons Educational Development Team at 227-7196.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS OVERVIEW A good question is both answerable and challenging. It will inspire analysis, synthesis, interpretation, and critical thinking. Below are several types of questions and suggestions about [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":1908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[57,698,111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-discussions","category-eddev"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2018\/06\/Question-Image.jpg?fit=940%2C379&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":20318,"url":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/2021\/10\/25\/classroom-discussion-planning-tips-for-online-on-ground-and-new-faculty\/","url_meta":{"origin":1905,"position":0},"title":"Classroom Discussion &#8211; Planning Tips for Online, On-Ground, and New Faculty","author":"John Hawes","date":"October 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Looking for some new ideas for classroom discussion? Seeking an idea for an online discussion? What about a guide for setting norms\/expectations related to discussion practices? We have identified some resources to help you think through these questions. \u00a0 Tips for the new teacher Are you unsure of the role\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Active Learning&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Active Learning","link":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/category\/active-learning\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"group of college students gathered about a table talking to each other","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2021\/10\/Facilitating-Classroom-Discussion-1024x683-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2021\/10\/Facilitating-Classroom-Discussion-1024x683-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2021\/10\/Facilitating-Classroom-Discussion-1024x683-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2021\/10\/Facilitating-Classroom-Discussion-1024x683-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1893,"url":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/2017\/05\/24\/how-to-lead-a-discussion\/","url_meta":{"origin":1905,"position":1},"title":"How to Lead a Discussion","author":"","date":"May 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"BE PREPARED \u2022 Carefully consider your objectives for a discussion. Do you want students to apply newly learned skills, mull over new subject matter, learn to analyze arguments critically, practice synthesizing conflicting views, or relate material to their own lives? These goals are not mutually exclusive, but they require different\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"illustration of thought clouds over group of people","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2018\/06\/discussion-image.jpg?fit=400%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18607,"url":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/2021\/03\/17\/quizzes-and-assignments-in-canvas\/","url_meta":{"origin":1905,"position":2},"title":"Quizzes and Assignments in Canvas","author":"","date":"March 17, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Assignments Even in a fully face to face class you may find it more convenient\u00a0t\u00a0have your students submit their work online to save class time and facilitate grading and record keeping.\u00a0\u00a0Assignments in Canvas, like their\u00a0Blackboard\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Canvas add quiz icon","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/87\/2021\/03\/Add-quiz-icon.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":20424,"url":"https:\/\/affiliate.wcu.edu\/cfc\/blog\/2021\/11\/16\/to-flip-or-not-to-flip-that-is-the-question\/","url_meta":{"origin":1905,"position":3},"title":"To Flip or Not to Flip? That is the Question.","author":"John Hawes","date":"November 16, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":" Whether you call it inverted instruction, classroom flipping, or some other term, the concept behind this kind of instruction is basic. 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