Questioning tools For ECS, Academic Skills development and Current Events English.

1. Questioning.

Question type	Example of uses
Who? identifies human agency	Who is responsible for the forest fires in Kalimantan?
What? identifies phenomena	What are the direct effects of Global warming?
Which? identifies non-human agency and selects from various choices.	Which greenhouse gases are most potent?
When? identifies the time	When did the industrial revolution begin?
Where? identifies place	Where is most threatened by climate change?
How? identifies methods and quantities	How do greenhouse gases warm the earth? How will commercial transport change?
Why? identifies reasons and motives	Why are energy companies researching alternative sources of energy to conventional fossil fuels?

Verb-based questioning.

Using the negative form encourages mental involvement and a 'yes' answer from your audience (but doesn't guarantee either).

Eg. Q: Aren't you worried about climate change?

A: Yes, of course.

B: No, I never think about such things.

Type	Example
Are Is / Aren't Isn't	Are people doing enough to reduce CO2 emissions? Is there enough time to save the Maldives?
Have / Haven't	Have we enough alternative fuel sources to stop using dirty fossil fuels?
Can / Can't	Can we use hydrogen instead of petroleum for car engines?
Do / Don't	Do we need to plant more trees?
Will / Won't	Will we see airships come back into use for passenger transport?

Common questions for social topics.

You can usefully apply the following questions (or simple adaptations of them) in the study of most social topics:

• Why do things work the way they do? Why are things as they are?

• What are the advantages / disadvantages / impacts / costs / opportunities?

• Who is benefitting / suffering?

• How might a situation be improved / deteriorate?

2. For Teachers. A brainstorming technique for examination of issues.

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