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Making Public Presentations of the Group’s Output 367

Finally, visual displays, such as with a PowerPoint slide, of the topic or question under
consideration help keep the discussion organized.
The panel discussion outline can follow one of several formats. The one
described here is common. The moderator should ask panelists in advance to sug-
gest questions and subquestions for the discussion. After these are compiled into a
rough outline that the moderator intends to use, panelists should receive a copy in
advance so that they have a chance to think of possible responses to each question.
The moderator’s outline has an introduction, sequence of questions to be raised,
and a planned conclusion format. The moderator acts as a conversational traffic
officer directing the flow of the discussion. Moderators ask questions of the group
of panelists, see that each panelist has an equal opportunity to speak, and clarify
ambiguous remarks or ask panelists to do so. They do not participate directly in the
arguments. They summarize each major topic and keep the discussion flowing.

Symposium
A symposium is more structured than a panel discussion. Instead of a relatively free Symposium
interchange of ideas, the topic is divided into segments, with each discussant present- One of three kinds of
ing an uninterrupted speech on a portion of the topic. The purpose of a symposium is group public
similar to that of panel: to enlighten an audience about an important subject. On discussions in which
September 11, 2001, after the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, participants deliver
Governor George Pataki, Mayor Rudolf Giuliani, and other New York dignitaries uninterrupted
held a news conference in a symposium format to disseminate information to the speeches on a
public about the recent terrorist attacks. New York and the rest of the world needed selected topic.
information in a quick, controlled format. This symposium allowed each presenter to
deliver information without interruption. Most symposiums and panels are usually
followed by a forum, which allows the audience to question the symposium presenters
or panelists and permits the discussants to answer these questions and comment on
each other’s presentations. After the press conference in New York City, reporters
were allowed to ask questions to each presenter, who was given time to respond from
his or her own area of expertise.
Symposiums typically present the history and background of their problem and
are mostly informative in nature. Common procedures for a symposium involve
three main steps. First, select a moderator to introduce the speakers and the topic
and to offer a conclusion at the end of the symposium. Second, select a small group
of experts to present different aspects of the issue. Because each individual presen-
tation is uninterrupted, make sure there will not be much repetition among the
speakers. Third, make appropriate physical arrangements as you would for a panel.
Forum Discussion
Forum Discussions A large audience
interacting orally,
Sometimes when a group presents a report to a large gathering, members of the usually following
audience are permitted to ask questions or express opinions about the group’s work. some public
Forum discussion refers to this period of verbal interaction during which audience mem- presentation.
bers interact in an organized way with the presenters. The term forum also refers to a

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