Page 51 - FDCC Deposition Drills

Deposition Drills How to Teach Deposition Skills
Asking Short Questions
Asking short questions creates a quick cadence and back and forth between the interrogator and witness. The fewer words in a question the better. This exercise addresses how to ask short questions.
EXPLANATION
Participants learn to ask short questions.
EXERCISE
Identify a witness you cross-examined in deposition and describe the case and the role of the witness in the case to the participants. Discuss the power of short questions and how to take long questions and reduce them to shorter questions. Have participants compete with making questions shorter and shorter. Have the participants question you (as you role play the witness) using only short questions.
LESSONS LEARNED
Long questions can be confusing, difficult to follow and invite long answers. Try to limit your questions to 10 words or less. Then try questions with five words. You may even have questions that have a single word, and you ask them by using the inflexion in your voice. Short questions and short answers create drama and energy in your favor.
A FEW QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS
Why is it important to ask short questions? How does one ask short questions?
What do you achieve by asking short questions?
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SECTION 04 CROSS EXAMINATION