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Nurturing Talent!

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GroupDiscussions

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Group Discussions

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Role of GDs, why are theyimportant?

It is not me Vs them philosophy

but should aim at win-win

situation

Many to many situation,

demands greater spontaneity

than public speaking

It is not a gift of the gab nor is a

skill developed only by convent

educated students

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Behaviors

Initiating

Clarifying

Reacting

Test UnderstandingSummarizingSeeking Information

Giving information

Supporting

Disagreeing Defending Attacking

Bringing inShutting out

Proposing

Building

Processing

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Types of Gds

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Topic-based

Case-based

Article -based

Knowledge based topics:

Economic topicsSocial topics

Political topics

Sports/ Flim related

IT based

Non-knowledge based topics:Concrete topics

Abstract topics

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Examples: India should withdraw from WTO

The economics of technology driven systems do not help developingnations

Familiar with critical economic indicators (GDP, sectoral allocations

from budget, trade and fiscal balances, export and import intems

and values, stock indices)

Education should become a social right Familiar with the generic nature of topic and specific manifestations

of the social issue

Coalition politics in a country like India is a drain on the national

economy

Familiar with interdependent topics

Cricket is like opium to Indian masses

Familiar with popular sporting events and allied fields

We need more money to fertilize crops than to increase bandwidth

Girls make better children than boys Green is better than red

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Performance parameters in a GD

Content

Not just facts but it is knowledge relevant to the topic pertaining to

what to say aspect of GD

Communication

Effective communication: it should convey what you intent to say

Listening is as important as speakingLanguage: Express your ides in as few words as possible, simple,

clear and lucid!!

Group Behavior

Rational approach- adult to adult interaction, listening to the views

expressed, integrate them with your ideas, finally present a cogentpicture of the groups view

Leadership Skills

A leader is one who is spoken to most and lends direction to the

groupobjective and balanced approach6

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Discourse makers To state your idea: I think, I feel, In my view, I believe, In my opinion, As I

see it

To express similar views : My opinion would be, Further to that, I agree with Xand, In the same way

To agree: Yes I agree, I am with you, Thats right,Thats what I was

thinking, Exactly

To state contrasting points: On the other hand, On the contrary, Where as,

To emphasize contrast: However, Yet, Despite that, In spite of,

To disagree: Well, I dont think so,I cant agree with that, Thats not the way I seeit, I am afraid I cant agree with that, Maybe, but, Perhaps, but,

To partially agree: I dont entirely agree with you, I see your point but, On the

other hand, Yes, but dont you think

To change the subject: I think we are drifting,

Lets not forget,

To structure statements: Firstly, Secondly,

To begin with,

To add more points: Moreover, In addition to that, Besides, On top of that,

To generalize : On the whole, In general, Broadly speaking, To a large

extent, In most cases,

To sum up: In conclusion, To sum up, Briefly speaking, In short, Finally,7

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Administrative details

Number of candidates in a group

Seating arrangement

Time allotted for group discussion

Addressing group members

Communication of the topic by the

moderator

Addressing the group members

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Improving your performance in a GD

Building your knowledge base

Generating ideas about the topic

Improving your participation in the group

Concentrating on Why and how more

KWA (Key word approach), VAP (Viewpoint of affectedparties), SPELT (Socio-cultural, political, economical,

legal, technological) angles to the given topic

Example: Excessive exposure of the female anatomy in

advertising should be banned Excessive exposure, advertising, Ban

Audience for the advertisements, the advertisers,

advertising agencies/ media, Models

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Improving participation Taking a position vis--vis the topic

If you have a soft voice

Id you are interrupted when you are discussing

How to get into discussion

If you are not noticed when you are speaking

If you donot know much or anything about the topic

Supporting some body else whose ideas are similar to yours

What if you know a lot about the topic and the others relatively

ignorant

The first to start the discussion

Language to be used in a GD

Using statistics in your discussion

Questioning other members on points made by them

Summary content

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FAQs in GDs

Can the participants in the GD take turns and speak one

after another with out other group members interruptingIf I am not allowed to speak what should I do?

How should I deal with subjects about which I am

emotionally attached?

How orderly or chaotic are group discussions?

What is cartelization in GDs? What should I do if it

happens in my group?

When I answer the question raise by some body or continue

the point made by some body, can I speak looking at him orher alone?

When I make an entry, should I continue speaking the same

point or can I start with a new point?

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Can we make that mark?

Be a smart Roman

amongst other Romans

when in Rome!!