Types of questions that support dialogue
  Practice asking these questions

1: Questions that seek clarification:

Can you explain that?  Explaining

What do you mean by. . .?  Defining

Can you give me an example of. . .?  Giving examples

How does that help. . .?  Supporting

Does anyone have a question?  Enquiring

2: Questions that probe reasons and evidence.

Why do you think that. . .?  Forming argument

How do we know that?  Assumptions

What are your reasons. . .?  Reason

Do you have evidence?  Evidence

Can you give me an example/counter-example. . .?  Counter example

3. Questions that explore alternative views.

Can you put it another way?  Re-stating a view

Is there another point of view. . .?  Speculation

What if someone were to suggest that?  Alternative views

What would someone who disagreed with you say. . .?  Counter argument

What id the difference between those views/ideas?  Distinctions

4. Questions that test implications and consequences.

What follows from what you say. . .?  Implications

Does that fit with what we said earlier?  Consistency

What would be the consequences of that. . .?  Consequences

Is there a general rule for that?  Generalising rules

How could you test to see if it were true. . .?  Testing the truth

5. Questions about the question/discussion.

Do you have a question about that?  Questioning

What kind of question is it. . .?  Analysing

How does what was said help us?  Connecting

Where have we got to. . .?  Summarising

Who can summarise so far?  Summarising

Are we any closer to answering the question. . .?  Coming to conclusions

(Adapted from Teaching Thinking - Philosophical Enquiry in the classroom by Robert Fisher (1998) Brunel University)