DISCUSSION SKILLS

Introduction

Discussion skills are important in students’ academic life. As students, you may need to
conduct group discussions in order to complete your group assignments or you may need to
get together to discuss your academic subjects. In order for group discussions to be
successful, it is essential that you are adequately prepared. In a discussion, you should use
language appropriately as well as generate ideas effectively.

Reasons for discussion

Discussions will help you to:

 Express opinion
 Share ideas
 Respond appropriately
 Think critically
 Listen to other people’s ideas
 Identify solutions to a particular problem
 Make decisions
 Increase your confidence in speaking

Language functions in discussions

Effective discussions involve the use of a wide variety of language functions, which include:

 Giving and asking opinions

 Expressing agreement and disagreement
 Expressing reservations
 Emphasizing a point
 Stating priorities
 Asking questions

The following table illustrates some expressions used for the language functions mentioned
above:

LANGUAGE EXPRESSIONS

1. Asking for an opinion

 What do you think of/about…?
 What are your views on…?
 How do you feel about…?
 Have you got any comments on…?
 (Name), I wonder if you’d like to comment on…?
 (Name), would you like to give an opinion about…
 (Name), what’s your reaction to…
 (Name), how do you feel about…

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2. Giving an Opinion
 In my opinion…
 Personally, I think that…
 It seems to me…
 As far as I’m concerned…
 As far as I can see…
 Well, I must say that…
 I think…
 I’m convinced that…
 From my point of view…
 With all due respect

3. Agreeing
 That’s right
 You’re right
 I think so, too
 I agree with you
 I definitely agree
 I completely agree with you
 I concur with you

4. Expressing Reservations
 Yes, but…
 Possibly, but…
 Yes, but the problem is…

5. Disagreeing
 I don’t really agree with you
 I’m not sure I agree with you. The reason is that…
 Yes, that may be true, but…
 I’m afraid I have a different view
 I beg to differ

6. Asking about agreement and disagreement

 Do/Don’t you agree?
 Wouldn’t you say so?
 Right?
 Do/Don’t you think so?
 You’d agree with (name), wouldn’t you?
 I wonder if you would agree…

7. Emphasizing a point
 It seems to me that the real issue is…
 I think the basic cause is…

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 Panel Discussion
Purpose/Objective Structure Characteristics Procedure
- Interchange ideas through - Small number of panelists - Moderator - Problem/topic
conversation, co-operative (experts) - Meant for public worded as question
thinking discussion - Panelists answer
- Programmes on
radio & TV
- Less formal than
meetings

As a moderator, you would:

1. Introduce the topic and the panelists.

2. Keep time.
3. At the end of the final presentation, open the question-and-answer session. You invite
members of the audience to ask questions and forward them to the respective
panelist(s).
4. Make a brief conclusion and close the panel discussion.

It is essential that the moderator uses proper language expressions according to the
functions mentioned. The following are some language expressions that can be used to
serve different functions:

LANGUAGE EXPRESSIONS
1. To greet the audience
 Good morning/afternoon/evening
 Welcome to our discussion session
2. To present the topic (a brief background of the topic)
 The issue for the discussion today is…
 I’m pleased to inform you that the topic of today’s discussion is
entitled…
 We’re here to listen to a discussion on…
3. To introduce the panelists
 It’s a pleasure to have with us today our invited speakers for this
discussion. On my right is…
 Our distinguished panelists are…
 We’re here very fortunate to have with us today these experts are as
our panelists. They are…
4. To invite the panelists to give their views
 I would like to call upon… to share his/her viewpoint about today’s
topic.
5. To initiate discussion
 What is your opinion about…?
 Why do you say that…?
 Could you explain further…?

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 6. To ensure turn-taking
 OK we’ve heard… opinion, now let’s hear from…
 Interesting! Let’s have the input of another member of the panel…
7. To sum up
 I’m afraid we don’t have much time left, I wish to sum up what has
been said…
8. To open the question and answer session
 Does anybody have anything to ask or comment? (audience)
 Would anybody like to respond to…
9. To conclude
Before we end the forum, I would like to thank…

As a panelist, you would:

1. Express your opinion in a clear, effective and organised way.

2. Present arguments using relevant examples.
3. Respond to opinions of others.

As a member of the audience, you would:

1. Give your attention to each speaker and listen attentively.

2. Ask questions and give feedback only during the question-and-answer session.
3. Wait for the moderator to acknowledge you before participating in the discussion.
4. Address your questions to a particular panelist or to the panel in general.

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 REPORT WRITING

Purpose Report Writing is one of the ways to make your content more
comprehensive (easy to read).

Techniques The techniques includes:

- Grouping by related content
- Adding label
- Highliting text
- Using supporting images – Guidelines
- Using supporting images – Lead Sentence
- Language : Simple vocabulary
- Language : Sentence size guidelines

Grouping by Group or gather information into smaller group. Group similar or related
related content together. Related Content means ensuring every piece of
content information within a unit is only related to one idea, purpose or can be
similar in nature and context.

Adding label^ Give a meaningful label to each unit of information.

For example:
- What is WritePro < Label
WritePro is a reader centric method which gives readers the ease of
finding and understanding information.

Highlighting To highlight text use only one technique of bold, underline, font size or
text colour.

Using Use the following guidelines when using images.

supporting - Put images near the related text.
images – - Use images frequently.
Guidelines - Ensure images are relevant to the text.
- Use up-to-date images.
- Use a Lead Sentence to introduce all images.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Using A Lead Sentence introduces and describes the content or function of a

supporting table or an image.
images – Lead
Sentence The diagram below shows an example of text supported with the relevant
image.

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 The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner
manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest
twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven".

The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from
5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles (9,695 to 17,370 km), depending on model.
Its distinguishing features include the largest-diameter turbofan engines of
any aircraft, six wheels on each main landing gear, a circular fuselage
cross-section, and blade-shaped tail cone.
adapted http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_777
Rule: A Lead Sentence must introduce every table and image.

Language: A key feature of using plain language is using simple terms that everyone
Use simple understands. The table below has some examples:
vocabulary
Use words like… Rather than…
build construct
help assist
do undertake
show exemplify
better superior
about pertaining to

Language: Follow these guidelines to manage sentence size:

Sentence, size - Use a maximum of 20 words per sentence
guidelines - Use words that readers understand
- Use active instead passive voice
- Reduce groups of words to one or two words.

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Example

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Use the format given below to write your report.

TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
_____________________________________________________

Introduction
_____________________________________________________

Speaker 1
_____________________________________________________

Speaker 2
_____________________________________________________

Speaker 3
_____________________________________________________

Conclusion
_____________________________________________________

Exercise

In groups of 4, conduct a Forum on the Environmental issues in Aviation. Use the

guidelines given below.

Forum Guidelines

The following is the guideline for your forum which takes approximately 15 minutes. The
allocation of time is as follows:

Introduction by the moderator 3 minutes

Presentation by panelists 7 minutes
Question & answer session 3 minutes
Conclusion by the moderator 2 minutes

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