Characteristics
of a good discussion question:
- does not have an obvious or a yes/no answer
- does not presume too much knowledge on the part of the
students
- sends students to the assigned reading
- asks students to draw connections with other readings
- asks students to make comparisons
- enquires about change over time
- asks about the contemporary significance of the material
under consideration
- asks students to engage in counter-factual exercises
- asks students to think about historiography or methodology
(for secondary sources)