Prompt library
Write discussion questions that start arguments
The two-defensible-answers test is what separates discussion from recitation, and supplying the concrete case inside application questions keeps the debate anchored instead of hypothetical. Facilitator follow-ups make the set usable by someone leading a discussion for the first time.
Last reviewed July 17, 2026
The prompt
Write discussion questions for the material below.
Material: {{material}}
Group: {{group}}
Produce 10 questions in four kinds, labeled:
- 2 interpretation: what does the material actually claim where it is least clear?
- 3 evaluation: is the claim right? Each must have at least two defensible answers; if reasonable people cannot disagree, it is a quiz question, not a discussion question.
- 3 application: the material's idea pressed against a concrete case it did not consider (supply the case in the question).
- 2 stakes: who wins and who loses if the material is right?
For each question add the facilitator line: the follow-up to ask when the room goes quiet, and the misreading to watch for.
Ban questions answerable by quoting the material back.Run in idaptOpens a new chat with the prompt prefilled. Nothing sends until you press send.
Fill in the variables
| Variable | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| {{material}} | The reading, video, or case | [paste the article or chapter] |
| {{group}} | Who is discussing | a university seminar of 15 second-years |