--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 15 number: 8 published: 1912-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Lesson V: How to Question a Class," *Improvement Era* 15, no. 8 (June 1912): 752.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1508unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1508unse start_page: 752 end_page: 752 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1912-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1508unse publication_year: 1912 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1912, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Lesson V: How to Question a Class 752 IMPROVEMENT ERA the canyon, and thirsty on the desert where water there was none, but "Mormonism" was true, and Joseph Smith was that mighty Prophet of the living God. In this fair city, I have gazed on the faces of the dead; yes, when the soul was filled with sorrow and disappointment, with fond hopes shattered, yet "Mormonism" was true, and Joseph Smith was sent of God. In my missionary travels, I have staggered and reeled on the stormtossed deck, and clung to the quivering masts when the fierce winds whistled through rigging and sails, and the waves rolled mountain high, and the sky and waves seemed to meet and kiss each other, until it looked like all would be lost in the watery grave, when strong men feared and stout hearts quailed, yet I knew that "Mormonism" was true and Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. God bless you, my brethren. Lessen V. How to Question a Class. In all teaching much depends upon the skill used in questioning a class. If the teacher can question well, one can wager that the class recitation will be interesting and instructive. A class leader should never ask questions which can be answered by yes or no. Nor should a question be suggestive of the answer. A good question is thought-stimulating, and therefore should be one that will cause the members to reason on the subject under discussion. A question should not be answered immediately, if it is a thought-stirring one. Time should be given, and yet tact used so that the recitation will not drag. For a teacher to ask good questions, it takes careful thought and planning. He should ask himself whether or not his questions challenged the thought of the class; whether they were clear and to the point. If the teacher's questions are stimulating, depend upon it, the members of the class will begin to ask questions. If the questions are well organized and planned, the class will respond with enthusiasm, and the subject matter of the lesson will be made clear as a consequence. Let all class teachers think about the following definite suggestions: 1. Call upon each member of the class at least once during the evening. 2. If a brother fails to answer a question, give him another trial at the same question during the recitation. 3. Help the one who is likely to fail, by suggestion. He will answer the question in his way, and it might be helpful to all. It certainly will help him. 4. Always ask the question before designating the one to answer it. 5. Get various answers to a question and compare them. 6. Make each question clear and to the point. 7. Ask questions that are thought-stimulating and that cause the members to reason on the subject in hand. 8. Never discourage any one in his answer. Remember you are dealing with your brethren. They want to contribute something to the lesson. If their answers are obscure, try to catch their meaning, and encourage them to answer again.