Panel discussion. * Panel discussionis the format of a debate in which participants representing various shades of opinion on a topic argue the case

* Panel discussion is the format of a debate in which participants representing various shades of opinion on a topic argue the case, usually under the guidance of a chairperson.

• Research Work. Look for the information on the following topic in various sources of information.

Ø Economic and social causes of low birth rates in Russia.

The relevant issues may be useful to consider while discussing the topic:

Ø Financial and social incentives that the Russian government has announced to ensure a stable population.

Ø Survey of the Internet discussions of the birth rate issue. Younger generation opinions on the issue.

Ø Large families is the way out of the population crisis?

Ø Modern families: a profile of a typical family, its living habits, challenges, prospects.

• Arrange the information in the written form.
• Choose a chairperson to lead the discussion.
• Contribute to the discussion.

!!! Strategy Point for panel discussion ü Voice opinions you are a party to. ü Take turns to practise reporting your ideas on the issue. ü When you report ideas in discussion, you must not read your source material. It is more usual to summarise or paraphrase the ideas in your own words. ü Listen carefully to the other students’ reports on their reading and make notes on the key points. ü Respond to the arguments of the participants with your own ideas. ü You have to take care to make it very clear to your listeners when you are expressing your own opinions, and when you are reporting ideas you have read or heard about. ü Use a repertoire of expressions for voicing strong agreement, disagreement, and all the shades of opinion in between. Expressing an opinion: If you ask me… If you want my opinion, … Strong agreement: Absolutely. I couldn’t agree more. Conceding an argument: Ok, you win. You’ve convinced me. Hedging: I take your point, but … Yes, but … Qualified agreement: That’s partly true. I’d go along with that. Strong disagreement: I totally disagree. On the contrary …

Part 2