Topics you dont have knowledge on
It is not a very happy situation when the panel gives you a topic that you know very less about. Or worse, that you know nothing about. The situation is similar to what Virender Sehwag had in SA, he had no clue what was going on. The idea is to come down the order and not open the innings. That way you have the ideas from other people who have batted before you and situation is in better control.
But there are some things that you can do to redeem the situation than get out of the GD without saying anything.
1. Do not panic – you know what it means if you have read The Hitchhikers Guide to Galaxy
2. Do not start – You will not be able to give a good direction if you don’t know enough on the topic. Let someone else do the honors.
3. Gather ideas from what others are talking and note down points.
4. Present counter-argument if you think someone is wrong. And trust me, there will be people who will be putting points that are plain-obvious-wrong.
5. Make sure you have something to talk atleast when the discussion is half-way through. And present sound arguments and points that are different from what others have already said.
6. Try and summarize when you think that the time is about to end. That way you have atleast communicated that you have understood what was being discussed and have articulated it well.
There is no substitute for reading wide variety of topics before a GD. There are things apart from knowledge that fetch you points in a GD, like ‘encouraging discussion, ‘listening and apprehension ability’, ‘generating alternate ideas’ etc but they may not be good enough on their own. So start reading.
But there are some things that you can do to redeem the situation than get out of the GD without saying anything.
1. Do not panic – you know what it means if you have read The Hitchhikers Guide to Galaxy
2. Do not start – You will not be able to give a good direction if you don’t know enough on the topic. Let someone else do the honors.
3. Gather ideas from what others are talking and note down points.
4. Present counter-argument if you think someone is wrong. And trust me, there will be people who will be putting points that are plain-obvious-wrong.
5. Make sure you have something to talk atleast when the discussion is half-way through. And present sound arguments and points that are different from what others have already said.
6. Try and summarize when you think that the time is about to end. That way you have atleast communicated that you have understood what was being discussed and have articulated it well.
There is no substitute for reading wide variety of topics before a GD. There are things apart from knowledge that fetch you points in a GD, like ‘encouraging discussion, ‘listening and apprehension ability’, ‘generating alternate ideas’ etc but they may not be good enough on their own. So start reading.
Gyan-ee 1:32 AM
3 Comments:
Its sometimes scary when the stakes are high and you are clueless onthe topic... it willbe good to have a post ont he most dreaded/awaited question in PI..(tell me something about yourself???)
Will put it up by tomorrow if all goes well...
Actually have written it in the PI Prep section. But will consolidate and write in more detail in the next post
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