Questions of Clarification
• What do you mean when you say ____?
• What is your main point?
• How does ____ relate to ____?
• Could you put that another way?
• Let me see if I understand you; do you mean ______ or ______?
• How does this relate to our problem/discussion/issue?
• Jane, can you summarize in your own words what Richard said? Richard, is that what you meant?
• Could you give me an example?
• Would ______ be a good example of that?
Questions that probe assumptions
• What are you assuming here?
• What is Jenny assuming?
• What could we assume instead?
• You seem to be assuming ______. Do I understand you correctly?
• All of your reasoning depends on the idea that ______. Why have you based your reasoning on ______ instead of ______?
• You seem to be assuming ______. How do you justify taking that for granted?
• Is that always the case? Why do you think the assumption holds here?
• Why would someone make that assumption?
Questions that probe reasons and evidence
• Could you explain your reasons to us?
• How does that apply to this case?
• Is there a reason to doubt that evidence?
• Who is in a position to know that is true?
• What would you say to someone who said that ______?
• Can someone else give evidence to support that conclusion?
• How could we find out if that is true?