Using didactic questioning techniques and rhetoric is a great way to establish yourself as an authority in the classroom. Prior to stepping into a classroom for the first time I worried about how I would present myself to students. Would I be able to convey the material? Would I be able to command respect in the classroom? How would I handle unruly students? A fellow instructor advised me that I should ask questions that I know the answer to - this in turn almost completely sets up a lecture. In one well worded question you can a) gauge student knowledge, b) see if they did prior assignments or reading, c) involve the students in the course and d) direct the classroom activity - all by asking a question. It's an excellent technique that all instructors should master right away. After I asked my first didactic question I knew that it was the right way to get started. Josef