2. Learning to Ask Great Questions Because we think that learning to ask great questions is so important, we want to provide you with an opportunity to practice this art and skill. For each of the situations and snippets of conversation that follow, generate follow-up questions that would deepen and extend the conversation.

We’ve provided an example to get you started.

Sample Situation and Conversation: The situation is a first conversation between two classmates who have never met before. They are seated in a classroom before class begins.

Bob: Hi. My name’s Bob. What’s yours?

Carmen: Hi. I’m Carmen.

Bob: I’ve never taken a philosophy course before, have you? What do you think this course will be like?

Carmen: Well, I’ve never taken one either, but I expect lots of reading. And I’ve heard the professor’s tests are tough.

Bob: Oh, great! Is it too late to drop? When you say the tests are tough, tough in what way? Do you mean they cover lots of material, the professor’s a hard grader, or what?

a. Practice Situation: At a fraternity/sorority mixer, a woman and a man are introduced to each other for the first time by other members of their organizations.

b. Practice Situation: After a staff meeting, two new coworkers who will be working on the same important project introduce themselves to each other.