Asking Open-Ended Questions

We received these wise words from a faculty friend of ESN. If you would like to contribute to the Emerging Scholars Blog, anonymously or otherwise, please contact  me. Thank-you! ~ Tom

Asking  open-ended questions is often the best way to begin a conversation with a new friend or stranger, “What is your religious background? How did that affect you?”

In my  teaching, I introduce each new topic with questions. In advising students in required speech class, I usually recommend that each new section of their talk could well start with a provocative question that gets the audience starting to think along with them before they share further. In class, I always mention that I’d rather answer their questions than continue with my prepared lecture: “Interrupt me even in the middle of a sentence if you want”.

Francis A. Schaeffer believed in giving honest answers to honest questions. Many faculty do not want questions from the class because often they don’t understand their own material on a fundamental level. Defensive math  teachers  often say when a student asks a probing question, “We don’t have time for that, we have too much we have to cover”.

The InterVarsity “inductive Bible study method” is based on a series of questions to cause everyone to be probing into the Scripture along with the leader.

What does it say?

What does it mean?

How does it apply?

That is my most favorite way to lead small group Bible study. A pastor got defensive during Sunday evening studies when he was asked  questions he didn’t feel prepared to answer. I have found a way to answer hard questions, even when I’m fearful.

I love it when students  ask  questions I can’t answer easily. I say, “Is this what you’re  asking?” “Oh, it isn’t?” Usually another student will help me. Then I re-state it. And say to the class, “What do some of you think about this?” I make short comments on their answers, and eventually say, “I think Bill comes closest in his answer, but I still wonder about this. We’ll have to come back to this again next class.”