group discussion

1. Group Discussion
KARAN SINGH

2. What is aGD?
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• Group Discussion is amodern method of assessing
students personality
• Group Discussion is aprocesswhere exchange of
ideasand opinions take place
• Atopic is discussedby a group

3. How is it conducted?
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• Atypical GDcomprises of asmall group of candidates
i.e. 5 to 10 students
• Studentssit in acircular or Cshape arrangement
• Eachgroup is then given atopic for discussion
• Studentsare given apaper and pen & 2 minutes to think
before they start discussing
• AGDshould last not more than 15-20 minutes

4. Typesof GD
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• Factual Topics
• Abstract Topics
• Controversial Topics
• CaseStudybased

5. Benefits?
Ritika
Dhameja
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• Expansion of knowledge
• Understanding your strength and weakness
• Your true personality is revealed
• Language skills
• Academic knowledge
• Leadership skills
• Peoplehandling skills
• Teamwork/ Team spirit
• General knowledge

6. Pre-requisites of aGD
Ritika
Dhameja
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• Planning and preparation
• Knowledge
• Communication skills/ power of speech
• BodyLanguage and personal appearance
• Being calm and cool
• Listening skills
• Co-operation
• Alertness & presenceof mind
• It isn’t sufficient to have ideas.They have to beexpressed
effectively.

8. Skills assessedin GD
• Communication Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Motivational Skills
• TeamBuilding Skills
• Tolerance
• Academic Skills
• Out of the box thinking
• Listening skills
• Presentation Skills
• Analytical / Logicalskills
Ritika
Dhameja
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9. What is judged?
Ritika
Dhameja
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• How good you are at communication with others.
• How you behaveand interact with group.
• How open minded are you.
• Your listening skill.
• How you put forward your views.
• Your leadership and decision making skills.
• Your analysis skill and subject knowledge.
• Problem solving and critical thinking skill.
• Your attitude and confidence.

10. Tips for effective participation
Ritika
Dhameja
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• Understand- Understand the topic before attempting to contribute.
• Speak- Try and get achance to speak.If you can't get achanceto
speakmake your chance.
• Initiate - Takethe initiative to begin the discussion, if possible.
• Structure - Structure arguments logically - justify your stand.
• Summarize- Summarize the discussion effectively
• Involve- Takeactive part throughout the GD.
• Articulate- Work continuously towards articulating your ideasinto
meaningful sentencesto make the bestimpact. Beclear in your
speech.
• Listen- Bean attentive listener.
• Quality, notquantity matters- it's not ‘how much' you say, but
‘what' you saythat's important.

11. • Beagood listener
• Do not usehigh vocabulary
• Never usetechnical language while speaking
• Talk appropriate to the issue
• Make original points & support them by substantial
reasoning
• Listen to the other participants actively &carefully
• Whatever you saymust bewith alogical flow
• Make only accurate statements
Do’s
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12. Do’s
• Speak pleasantly and politely to the group
• Respect the contribution of every speaker
• Rememberthat adiscussion is not an argument. Learn to
disagree politely
• Think about your contribution before youspeak
• Beaware of your body language when you arespeaking
• Agree with and acknowledge what you find interesting
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13. Don’ts
• Do not get personal with anyone
• Do not beshy /nervous / keepyourself isolated from G.D
• Interrupt another participant before his argument is over
• Do not Change opinions
• Don’t make fun of any participant even if hisarguments
are funny
• Do not Get irritated
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14. Don’ts
• Don’t loseyour temper.Adiscussion is not an
argument.
• Don’t shout. Useamoderate tone and medium pitch.
• Don’t usetoo many gestures when you speak. Gestures
like finger pointing and table thumping can appear
aggressive.
• Don’t dominate the discussion. Confident speakers should
allow quieter students achance to contribute.
• Don’t interrupt. Wait for aspeakerto finish what they
are saying before you speak.
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15. Keepeyecontactwhilespeaking:
Do not look at the evaluators only. Keep eye contact with every team
member while speaking.
Initiate theGD:
Initiating the GD is a big plus. But keep in mind – Initiate the group
discussion only when you understood the GD topic clearly and have
some topic knowledge. Speaking without proper subject knowledge
is bad impression.
Allow othersto speak:
Do not interrupt anyone in-between while speaking. Evenif you
don’t agreewith his/her thoughts do not snatch theirchanceto
speak.Instead makesomenotesand clear the points when it’s your
turn.
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How to beapart of the GD

16. Speakclearly:
Speakpolitely and clearly. Usesimple and understandable words
while speaking. Don’t betoo aggressiveif you are disagreeingwith
someone.Expressyour feelings calmly and politely.
Make suretobring thediscussionon track:
If by any meansgroup is distracting from the topic or goal then
simply take initiative to bring the discussion on the track. Make all
group membersaware that you all needto cometo someconclusion
at the end of the discussion. Sostick to thetopic.
Positiveattitude:
Beconfident. Do not try to dominate anyone. Keeppositivebody
language. Showinterest in discussion.
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How to beapart of the GD

17. Initiation Techniques
• Statethe topic
• Quote
• Definition
• Question
• Shock Statement
• Facts,figures & statistics
• Initiate aGDonly when you have understood the topic &
have avalid point
• Don’t start aGDjust for the heck of it
• Opening sentence should lead the GD
• Keepit brief
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18. How to summarize?
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• Avoid raising new points.
• Avoid stating only your viewpoint.
• Keepit brief and concise.
• It must incorporate all the important pointsthat came
out during the GD.
• If the examiner asksyou to summaries aGD,it means
the GDhascometo an end.
• Do not add anything oncethe GDhasbeen
summarized.

19. Summary/ Conclusion
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• Begin with, “In anutshell..” or “To summarize…”
• Stategroup opinions not just your opinion
• Incorporate all the major points
• Keepit brief
• If mixed opinions then take apoll by araise of
hands/yes-no & conclude
• EndGDafter summary

20. Usestatements like
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• “I agree with my friend that…”
• “I’d like to add apoint to what my friendsaid...”
• “ I would further liketo add something to….”
• “In my opinion…”
• “According to (state source/facts/stats)…”
• “I think we are diverting away from thesubject…”
• “Pleaseallow our friend _who hasbeentrying to say
something a chance”
• “ I request to give his/her opinion on…”

21. THANKYOU
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