II BTech - ENGLISH - LIFE, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE -EXPLORATION - I : Bade Bhai saab

Page No: 9

Q: 1. What is the age of the narrator?

     At the beginning of the story the age of the narrator was 11years 

     and he turned to 13years by the end of the story.

Q: 2. How does he describe his elder brother?

     He describes his elder brother as a studious person who is always 

     engrossed in books. He is much responsible towards his brother and 

     cares him a lot. But he was too dominant that he wants to control him 

     in all aspects. He desires to improve his knowledge by laying strong

     foundation. He controls himself by keeping himself away from worldly

     pleasures like playing games, fairs, cricket matches and other 

     entertainments. He has great respect towards elders. 

Q: 3. Why was his elder brother angry with the narrator? 

     Illustrate with at least three expressions he uses?

     The elder brother was angry with the narrator because

     he always wastes his time either in playground or entertaining 

     with friends rather than on studies. The following expressions make it clear:-

1        *  It is no child’s play dear.

2.      *  If you want to waste your life thus, better go home                   Gulli-danda to your heart’s content.

3.       * So you feel you have conquered the world.

4.       * Don’t fly high; you will fall on your face.

5.       * Are you out of your mind, roaming like vagabond with this hooligans. Etc….

Q: 4. How was the tension between the two brothers resolved?

     The tension between the two brothers resolved when the

     younger ones pleaded for forgiveness and he told that it was his 

     own fault and every word what he said was true. So, he never

     hates him. Immediately, the elder brother hugged him. Both of 

     them broke into tears. The hatred situation turned to warmth 

     and thus the tension between them was resolved.

 Page No: 11 Writing Style

     Throwing pebbles in the air, flying paper butterflies, this is no

   child’s play, the bouncing of football, the fervor kabbadi and the pace

   of volleyball, tiptoe, the sword of Damocles, Amma and Dada and

   home remedy are the words and phrases that convey the rural/semi-urban

   setting of the story. An urban reader gets confused when he comes

   across such words at the first glance but as he continues further he 

   gets absorbed to the nativity of the story.

Page No: 12 Theme

Q: 1.    Younger brother is at his success. The elder ones wish

     that he always wants to be admired. He says that even 

     God can’t challenge the truth that he is elder one. 

     He threatens the younger one never to develop false 

     pride whether he got into his grade or even more ahead.

Q: 2. Yes, the elder brother is a bit jealous of the success

    of his younger ones. In spite of praising and feel honored 

    as his brother topped the grade his elder brother simonized 

    him whenever he was found playing. 

Q:3. Yes, the emotional bonding between the two brothers

   is universal. Wherever two brothers in a family is seen, the 

   elder ones always dominates the younger ones and tries to

   control him. On the other side the elder care for the younger. 

Q: 4. In spite of enjoying his extracurricular activities, two 

    times in the annual results the narrator topped his grade 

    but his elder brother flunked. But instead of confronting

    him, he kept silent. He never uttered any word against him

    even when his brother warned him many times. At the end 

    of the story narrator was surprised to see his new avatar 

    even then narrator humbled himself and he pleaded for forgiveness. 

    This shows his respect towards his elder brother. 

Page No: 13 Vocabulary by Theme

I.                    

i.                     Speech       lecture        serious

ii.                    Scold         formal        chide

iii.                   Abate        contract        cut

iv.                   Rigid         harsh        serious.

II.    i. angry        annoy        irritate

ii. by heart      study        building

iii. Outgoing      outflow       offspring

iv. harmoniously  match         action

Page No: 14 Culture Point

Q: 1.    Generally, the elder brothers of the family are more responsible than younger  ones. They are often called as next to father.‘Studious’ nature of the elder brother is one of the traits observed in the story.The elder brothers feel that the younger must obey their command and follow their advice when even not asked for they lay restrictions upon themselves and others too. They make an attempt to understand the pain and struggle of their family to educate them. They seek for priority and respect. They also behave in such a manner that they know the world better than others.

Q: 2.    At the beginning of the story the younger brother has much respect towards elder one. He never dared to question him. As the story progress, he found new confidence in him and wanted to question him by seeing his depressed face, but he didn’t do that. He wanted to argue with him but finding him crying he too cried.

            He tried not to offend him any time when the elder one stars to lecture, he bore it with patience when he was in rage the younger one shuddered. At the very sight when the elder brother was too emotional and nervous he admitted his guilt and showed compassion for him. Ultimately, he followed his elder brother,

            Respect for elder brother diminish but rage made way for compassion, feeling of fear turned to affection.

Page No: 16

Q: 3.    Clearing an exam is one thing, attaining knowledge is another. Algebra and geometry will drive you crazy and God saves you from the British history. The academic 

knowledge is not enough to lead the life happily. But even can match their wisdom in worldly matters. Look at our family members and parents how are they managing. So, we should always be aware of our surroundings.

Q: 4  In no  way did the elder admonishing contributed to the narrator’s good performances. The elder brother has admonished the younger ones several times but the younger had never cared for his words. He paid a deaf ear to his words.

            The narrator is intelligent and so stands first in the class.His performance is not at all a result of elder brother’s admonishment.

Page No: 18 Literary Concept:

            Even though the story is in the first person narrative,the author succeeded in highlighting the characters equally well. The author has depicted very carefully the emotional scenes and the sensitive issues. The narrative style leaves a positive impression for the reader on the characters. The reader sympathizes with the characters and understands their emotions. It is the writing style that made all these. The author dealt the story in a sensitive manner. He succeeded in grabbing the entire attention of the readers by describing routine activities and general ideas in a lively manner.

Page No: 19 Reading Journal

Q: 1.  The elder brother is dull and slow at learning. He lags subject knowledge and so he is unable to perform well in the examination although he is seen always surrounded with books and doesn’t undergo any recreation and relaxation that made his mind to be blunt.

            Another reason is that he was not interested in studies and has developed negative impression for history, geometry and English which is an obstacle in procuring knowledge.

Page No: 20

Q: 2.    The elder is a responsible person. He has great respect for his family and feels the responsibility for his younger brother. He believes in wisdom rather than education. He has a strong feeling though one is educated in a high position; it is the 

worldly knowledge that leads one’s life. In his opinion, pride makes one to fall down. He strongly believes that one should have self control to achieve one’s goal to succeed in one’s life.

Page No: 21 Project

(a)    Strengths:

            Being friendly with all the people.

            Empathy towards poor and needy.

            Self confident.

`           Helping nature

            Positive thinking.

(b)   Weaknesses:

            Telling lies and hiding makes me to get angry

            Short temper and very sensitive

            Doing mischievous things and getting scolded from parents.

(c)      I. By interacting with my grandparents I came to know that there is  a lot of happiness and support among the family members. In those days   and also the younger ones always obeys the elders. There will be a   lot of understanding between the family members. There will be a strong bondage of love and affection between the family members because in those days they have got joint families. Even for a small   function or occasion everyone attends it and they used to share their feelings and ideas but now a days. It is not like that no one cares for the other one. All the families are nuclear family. They are  ready to share their parents along with thei9r property. So this has   to  be changed to get a healthy society.

II.        In those days most of the people are not educated as now. In that days education is given very less importance they acquire knowledge by interacting with people.

 The people who got knowledge have participated in freedom movement. If we got education and knowledge no one can cheat us and we need not depend on others.

            But now there is a drastic change in our educational systems. So this change is very good. Women also be given great importance, they should also be educated. Then, there will be no discrimination between men and women and this leads 

to a healthy society.

INTERVIEW TIPS and Q & A

Reach the Interview place atleast 30 minutes in advance. 

Sit in waiting room / wash your face and hands, check your combing, makeup, dress in loo.
If u don’t find a comfortable or a good loo or waiting room, go to nearby hotel or restaurant and relax there.
Carry water with you and have a glass of water before appearing in interview.
No chewing of gum at the time of Interview, but check if you have a bad breath. Chew a Gum or Mouth freshener and spit.
Clean your nose before entering the interview chamber.
If you feel right, knock the door and ask, “May I come in, please,” and after hearing “yes” enter.
Check before entering your mobile phone is on silent mode or Switched Off.
Wish Good Morning or whatever. Sit after you are asked to sit and say Thank You.
Do not keep your hands on the table or any of your belongings on the table.
Put your bag / brief case on the floor near your right foot.
Maintain a balance in your pose and posture.
No aa, aa, ey, ey, or crack in your voice. Reply clear cut and to the point.
No nervousness or down heartedness in the interview room.
Let the questions be completed then think and then speak the answers.
No stretching/ extending of hands while answering the questions.
Have a smiling face, but don’t laugh there.
Be attentive there and have a direct eye contact with the interviewers.
If not getting the questions etc., say “Pardon”
If don’t know the answers or are ignorant simply say “Sorry, I don't know" or "Sorry, I am not sure about it".
Don’t show that you are in need of employment. Job will be offered to you if you are able.
Don’t touch your mouth, cheeks or fingers, your hair or itch your body parts. Oops, control your hands.
Smoking is bad habit and if still you do, don’t carry cigarette box with you and see your breath is free of smoke.
Don’t eat onion, garlic or any thing heavy on that day.
Don’t drink carbonated beverages etc.
Avoid Farts.
Don’t argue or enter into controversies.
Don’t tell lie or give false statements, otherwise it will be difficult to manage the situations.
Be calm, don’t show gestures, reactions etc.
If they are asking you embarrassing or confusing questions, let them check your temperament and don’t allow your confidence shattered.
When finished, say “Thank you”.
Don’t take the initiative to shake hands yourself. If they do, then you must respond with soft and firm hand shake.

Question 1: So, tell us about yourself?

Undoubtedly the most frequently asked interview question, and one that interviewees have the most difficulty answering. Your answer should be in alignment with your career objective, which means you shouldn't respond with comments about your hobbies, spouse or extra-curricular activities.

1. Start with a brief introduction. Talk about skills that are key to the position applied for.
Sample: 'During my 2 years of experience as a sales executive, I have mastered the ability to prospect, generate business leads, and motivate my team members to reach targets.'

2. Provide a summary of your recent work history. Keep your response limited to your current experience. Don't go back more than 2 years.
Sample: 'Most recently, at The XYZ Corporation, I was challenged with turning around a stagnant territory that ranked last in sales. I developed an aggressive sales campaign that focused on winning new accounts and nurturing the existing client base. Within six months, my sales team and I were able to increase sales by 40 per cent.'

3. Tie your response to the needs of the organization. Demonstrate how your experience and skills are transferable to the open position.
Sample: 'I have learnt about the challenges your IT department is facing and my background in developing software for leading companies will add value.'

4. Ask an engaging question. By asking a question, you gain control of the interview. Doing so will alleviate the stress you may feel to perform.
Sample: 'What strategies are currently underway to reduce the employee turnover and improve morale?'

Question 2: What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

Highlighting strengths and accomplishments: Use specific examples to highlight your accomplishments -- explicit numbers, results and outcomes. Generic words are meaningless unless backed by data. For example, instead of using the word 'significant', use a number or percentage instead.

Strengths that interviewers are looking for include:
. Committed: Talk about the times you may have sacrificed a vacation to complete an important project.
. Action-oriented: Quote an example from a past job where you drove the meeting, committee or project that was languishing. Or, when a deadline loomed and you came up with a way to reach the goal.
. Inquisitive/Curious: Show how curiosity has served you well in the last job. For example, when was the last time you knew there had to be a better way of performing a task, closing a particular deal or making a sale to a difficult client? How did your questioning of the situation find a solution?
. Long term approach: Talk about how you were able to see the broader consequences of a decision in your previous company. Your contribution provided a viewpoint that others had overlooked.

The one question candidates love to avoid is, "What is your greatest weakness?" Do not give superficial answers like "I'm a workaholic" or "I'm a perfectionist." These are boring and predictable. Interviewers can even reply to them with, "That doesn't sound like a weakness. Now why don't you tell me about a real weakness?" So, state a true weakness that doesn't have a major impact on your ability to do the job.
Sample -- If you are applying for a non-managerial role: 'In the past, I've had some trouble sharing responsibilities with others. I felt I could do things better and faster myself. This sometimes backfired because I'd end up with more than I could handle and the quality of my work would suffer. But I plan to take courses in time management and effective delegation.'

Or, 'I am weak in accounts and had a tough time when I was asked to work on a project with the finance team. I have enrolled in an online program on basic finance to overcome this.' (NOTE: You would not want to use this example for an accounting or finance position.)

Question 3: Why did you leave your last job?

If you left your last job under less-than-ideal circumstances, you probably dread this question. Here's how to handle it. Never lie. If you were fired, don't say you quit. A background check will reveal this lie easily. Don't say anything negative about your former boss, co-workers or company. Any negativity, frustration or anger will only reflect negatively on you.
Sample -- If you were fired for not adhering to a company policy: 'I was asked to leave for violating a company policy that I feel wasn't communicated to me clearly. I should have taken the responsibility to read all of the company policies and ask questions about those I didn't fully understand. That will be the first thing I do in my next job.'

Any employer would love to hear stories about how employees take responsibility for their actions and learn from their mistakes. Make sure they understand that what happened to cause you to leave your last job was the exception, not the rule. Provide references or letters of recommendation to verify that your job performance is above par.

Question 4: How would you……? (Problem solving question)

The interviewers aren't looking for a 'right' or 'wrong' answer to this one. They are more interested in understanding your thought process. Show your ability to think logically and demonstrate problem-solving capabilities by:
. Asking questions to confirm exactly what the interviewer is looking for.
. Explaining how you would collect the information and data required to develop a solution.
. Telling them how you'd use the information you gathered to develop and analyse alternative courses of action.
. Sharing your solution or recommendation, explaining how you feel it's the best option based on the information you were given.

So, go ahead and create a smashing impression. It's all about the right answers.

Tips for Dialogue

1. Find out about the person you'll be talking to before you actually talk to them, if you can. If it's someone who you work with, or go to school with, look at their department website and see if they have any projects in the works. If the person is a mutual acquaintance, ask your friend what this person does for a living and how they know each other. (Do not, however, dig any deeper than these suggestions. Coming into a conversation equipped with personal information about that person comes off as creepy. That means researching a person on social networks before talking to them for the first time is not okay!) The information you get can be good for starting conversations:
 "I was looking at the biochemistry department website and saw that you're working on a pretty interesting thesis! How'd you come to choose that topic?"
o "I saw on the office memo that you're working on the outreach project for local schools. How's that going?"
o "Milly here told me that you went skydiving!"

2. Ask questions. What do they like to do? What sort of things have they done in their lives? What is happening to them now? What did they do today or last weekend? Identify things about them that you might be interested in hearing about, and politely ask questions. Remember, there was a reason that you wanted to talk to them, so obviously there was something about them that you found interesting. However, try to space out your questions or they'll feel like you're interrogating them which is very bad and closes off friendships.


o How to Come Up with Good Conversation Topics for ideas.
o Ask clarifying questions. If the topic seems to be one they are interested in, ask them to clarify what they think or feel about it. If they are talking about an occupation or activity you do not understand, take the opportunity to learn from them. Everyone loves having a chance to teach another willing and interested person about their hobby or subject of expertise.
o Try to get them talking about something they enjoy thinking about and something that you're interested in hearing or else the conversation isn't fulfilling and one of you will feel unsatisfied with it.

3.Listen. This is the most important part of any conversation. Pay attention to what is being said. Make acknowledging noises or movements to indicate that you are still listening. A conversation will go nowhere if you are too busy thinking of anything else, including what you plan to say next. If you listen well, the other person's statements will suggest questions for you to ask. Allow the other person to do most of the talking. They will often not realize that it was they who did most of the talking, and you get the credit for being a good conversationalist - which of course, you are!


o Practice active listening skills. Part of listening is letting the other person know that you are listening. Make eye contact. Nod. Say "Yes," "I see," "That's interesting," or something similar to give them clues that you are paying attention and not thinking about something else - such as what you are going to say next.
o Paraphrase back what you have heard, using your own words. This seems like an easy skill to learn, but takes some practice to master. Conversation happens in turns, each person taking a turn to listen and a turn to speak or to respond. It shows respect for the other person when you use your "speaking turn" to show you have been listening and not just to say something new. They then have a chance to correct your understanding, affirm it, or embellish on it.

4.Consider your response before disagreeing. If the point was not important, ignore it rather than risk appearing argumentative. On the other hand, agreeing with everything can kill a conversation just as easily as disagreeing with everything. When pointing out your difference of opinion, remember these points:


o Agree with something they said (state common ground) before disagreeing.
o Try to omit the word "but" from your conversation when disagreeing, as this word often puts people on the defensive. Instead, try substituting the word "and"--it has less of an antagonistic effect.
o Playing devil's advocate (pretending to defend the opposite point of view) can be a good way to keep the conversation going, but if you overuse this technique, you could end up appearing hostile.
o Don't manipulate the talk to serve your own agenda and steam-roll your counterpart. If you come away from the conversation feeling full of yourself, you used the occasion to show off your wit and knowledge. Try to keep from using a conversation to boost your ego.

5. Do not panic over lulls. This is a point where you could easily inject your thoughts into the discussion. If the topic seems to have run out, use the pause to think for a moment and identify another conversation topic or question to ask them. Did something they said remind you of something else you have heard, something that happened to you, or bring up a question or topic in your mind? Mention it and you'll transition smoothly into further conversation!

6. Remember that sometimes if a conversation isn't going well, it might not be your fault. Sometimes the other person is distracted/lost in thought, isn't willing to contribute, or is having a bad day. If they don't speak or listen, then they are the ones not using good conversation skills, not you. But in any case, it's still a good idea to strive to do your part as a good conversationalist.

7. Know when the conversation is over. Even the best conversations will eventually run out of steam or be ended by an interruption. Smile if you're leaving, tell them it was nice talking to them, and say goodbye. Ending on a positive note will leave a good impression.

Group Discussion Tips

GD Tips
1. Initiation Techniques
2. Body of the group discussion
3. Summarization/ Conclusion
Initiation Techniques

Initiating a GD is a high profit-high loss strategy.

· When you initiate a GD, you not only grab the opportunity to speak, you also grab the attention of the examiner and your fellow candidates.
· If you can make a favorable first impression with your content and communication skills after you initiate a GD, it will help you sail through the discussion.
· But if you initiate a GD and stammer/ stutter/ quote wrong facts and figures, the damage might be irreparable.
· If you initiate a GD impeccably but don't speak much after that, it gives the impression that you started the GD for the sake of starting it or getting those initial kitty of points earmarked for an initiator.
· When you start a GD, you are responsible for putting it into the right perspective or framework. So initiate one only if you have in-depth knowledge about the topic at hand.
Body of the group discussion
Different techniques to initiate a GD and make a good first impression:

I. Quotes
II. Definition
III. Question
IV. Shock statement
V. Facts, figures and statistics
VI. Short story
VII. General statement
I. Quotes
Quotes are an effective way of initiating a GD.

If the topic of a GD is: Should the Censor Board be abolished?, you could start with a quote like, 'Hidden apples are always sweet'.

For a GD topic like, Customer is King, you could quote Sam (Wall-mart) Walton's famous saying, there is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company -- from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.'

II. Definition
Start a GD by defining the topic or an important term in the topic.

For example, if the topic of the GD is Advertising is a Diplomatic Way of Telling a Lie, why not start the GD by defining advertising as, 'Any paid form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods or services through mass media like newspapers, magazines, television or radio by an identified sponsor'?

For a topic like The Malthusian Economic Prophecy is no longer relevant, you could start by explaining the definition of the Malthusian Economic Prophecy.

III. Question
Asking a question is an impact way of starting a GD.

It does not signify asking a question to any of the candidates in a GD so as to hamper the flow. It implies asking a question, and answering it yourself.

Any question that might hamper the flow of a GD or insult a participant or play devil's advocate must be discouraged.

Questions that promote a flow of ideas are always appreciated.

For a topic like, Should India go to war with Pakistan, you could start by asking, 'What does war bring to the people of a nation? We have had four clashes with Pakistan. The pertinent question is: what have we achieved?'

IV. Shock statement
initiating a GD with a shocking statement is the best way to grab immediate attention and put forth your point.

If a GD topic is, The Impact of Population on the Indian Economy, you could start with, 'At the centre of the Indian capital stands a population clock that ticks away relentlessly. It tracks 33 births a minute, 2,000 an hour, 48,000 a day. Which calculates to about 12 million every year. That is roughly the size of Australia. As a current political slogan puts it, 'Nothing's impossible when 1 billion Indians work together'.'

V. Facts, figures and statistics
If you decide to initiate your GD with facts, figure and statistics, make sure to quote them accurately.

Approximation is allowed in macro level figures, but micro level figures need to be correct and accurate.

For example, you can say, approximately 70 per cent of the Indian population stays in rural areas (macro figures, approximation allowed).

But you cannot say 30 states of India instead of 28 (micro figures, no approximations).

Stating wrong facts works to your disadvantage.

For a GD topic like, China, a Rising Tiger, you could start with, 'In 1983, when China was still in its initial stages of reform and opening up, China's real use of Foreign Direct Investment only stood at $636 million. China actually utilized $60 billion of FID in 2004, which is almost 100 times that of its 1983 statistics."

VI. Short story
Use a short story in a GD topic like, Attitude is Everything.

This can be initiated with, 'A child once asked a balloon vendor, who was selling helium gas-filled balloons, whether a blue-colored balloon will go as high in the sky as a green-colored balloon. The balloon vendor told the child, it is not the color of the balloon but what is inside it that makes it go high.'

VII. General statement
Use a general statement to put the GD in proper perspective.

For example, if the topic is, Should Sonia Gandhi be the prime minister of India?, you could start by saying, 'Before jumping to conclusions like, 'Yes, Sonia Gandhi should be', or 'No, Sonia Gandhi should not be', let's first find out the qualities one needs to be a a good prime minister of India. Then we can compare these qualities with those that Mrs. Gandhi possesses. This will help us reach the conclusion in a more objective and effective manner.'

Summarization/ Conclusion
· Most GD do not really have conclusions. A conclusion is where the whole group decides in favor or against the topic.
· But every GD is summarized. You can summaries what the group has discussed in the GD in a nutshell.

Keep the following points in mind while summarizing a discussion:
1. Avoid raising new points.
2. Avoid stating only your viewpoint.
3. Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.
4. Keep it brief and concise.
5. It must incorporate all the important points that came out during the GD.
6. If the examiner asks you to summaries a GD, it means the GD has come to an end.

Note : Do not add anything once the GD has been summarized.

common mistakes made at group discussions

Here's a list of the most common mistakes made at group discussions:

Emotional outburst 

Devi was offended when one of the male participants in a group discussion made a statement on women generally being submissive while explaining his point of view. When Devi finally got an opportunity to speak, instead of focusing on the topic, she vented her anger by accusing the other candidate for being a male chauvinist and went on to defend women in general.

What Devi essentially did was to

Deviate from the subject
Treat the discussion as a forum to air her own views.
Lose objectivity and make personal attacks.
Her behavior would have been perceived as immature and demotivating to the rest of the team.

Quality Vs Quantity

Surya believed that the more he talked, the more likely he was to get through the GD. So, he interrupted other people at every opportunity. He did this so often that the other candidates got together to prevent him from participating in the rest of the discussion.

Assessment is not only on your communication skills but also on your ability to be a team player.
Evaluation is based on quality, and not on quantity. Your contribution must be relevant.
The mantra is "Contributing meaningfully to the team's success." Domination is frowned upon.

Egotism Showing off

Krishna was happy to have got a group discussion topic he had prepared for. So, he took pains to project his vast knowledge of the topic. Every other sentence of his contained statistical data - "20% of companies; 24.27% of parliamentarians felt that; I recently read in a Jupiter Report that..." and so on so forth. Soon, the rest of the team either laughed at him or ignored his attempts to enlighten them as they perceived that he was cooking up the data.

Exercise restraint in anything. You will end up being frowned upon if you attempt showing-off your knowledge.
Facts and figures need not validate all your statements.
Its your analysis and interpretation that are equally important - not just facts and figures.
You might be appreciated for your in-depth knowledge. But you will fail miserably in your people skills.
Such a behavior indicates how self-centered you are and highlights your inability to work in an atmosphere where different opinions are expressed.

Get noticed - But for the right reasons
Sri knew that everyone would compete to initiate the discussion. So as soon as the topic - "Discuss the negative effects of India joining the WTO" - was read out, he began talking. In his anxiety to be the first to start speaking, he did not hear the word "negative" in the topic. He began discussing the ways in which the country had benefited by joining WTO, only to be stopped by the evaluator, who then corrected his mistake.

False starts are extremely expensive. They cost you your admission. It is very important to listen and understand the topic before you air your opinions.
Spending a little time analyzing the topic may provide you with insights which others may not have thought about. Use a pen and paper to jot down your ideas.
Listen! It gives you the time to conceptualize and present the information in a better manner.
Some mistakes are irreparable. Starting off the group discussion with a mistake is one such mistake, unless you have a great sense of humor.

Managing one's insecurities

Suma was very nervous. She thought that some of the other candidates were exceptionally good. Thanks to her insecurity, she contributed little to the discussion. Even when she was asked to comment on a particular point, she preferred to remain silent.

Your personality is also being evaluated. Your verbal and non verbal cues are being read.
Remember, you are the participant in the GD; not the evaluator. So, rather than evaluating others and your performance, participate in the discussion.
Your confidence level is being evaluated. A decent communication skill with good confidence is a must to crack the GDs.
Focus on your strengths and do not spend too much time thinking about how others are superior or inferior to you. It is easy to pick up these cues from your body language.
Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has more chances of success. In other words, sound knowledge on different topics like politics, finance, economy, science and technology is helpful.
Power to convince effectively is another quality that makes you stand out among others.
Clarity in speech and expression is yet another essential quality.
If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression. Instead, you might adopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively to others, may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later.

A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided.

A GD is not a debating stage. Participants should confine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. In the second part of the discussion candidates can exercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing or remaining neutral.
Language use should be simple, direct and straight forward.
Don't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by increasing your size, not by cutting others short.
Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contact plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as listening intently or nodding while appreciating someone's viewpoint speak of you positively.
Communicate with each and every candidate present. While speaking don't keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her.

How to Face GD

A group discussion consists of :

Communication Skills
Knowledge and ideas regarding a given subject
Capability to co-ordinate and lead
Exchange of thoughts
Addressing the group as a whole
Thorough preparations
Communication Skills

The first aspect is one's power of expression. In a group discussion, a candidate has to talk effectively so that he is able to convince others. For convincing, one has to speak forcefully and at the same time create an impact by his knowledge of the subject. A candidate who is successful in holding the attention of the audience creates a positive impact.

It is necessary that you should be precise and clear. As a rule evaluators do not look for the wordage produced. Your knowledge on a given subject, your precision and clarity of thought are the things that are evaluated. Irrelevant talks lead you nowhere. You should speak as much as necessary, neither more nor less. Group discussions are not debating stages.

Ability to listen is also what evaluators’ judge. They look for your ability to react on what other participants say. Hence, it is necessary that you listen carefully to others and then react or proceed to add some more points. Your behavior in the group is also put to test to judge whether you are a loner or can work in a group.

You should be able to convey your thoughts satisfactorily and convincingly before a group of people. Confidence and level headedness in doing so is necessary. These add value to your presentation. In case you are not good at it, you might gain by joining an institute that offers specialized courses in public speaking. For instance, British Council Division's English Language Teaching Centre offers a wide range of courses like conversation skills, business communication skills, business writing, negotiation skills and presentation skills. Mostly people attend these courses to improve their communication skills. Students here are involved in activities which use communication skills and teachers provide inputs, monitor and facilitate the classes. The course at the Centre makes you confident enough to speak before people without any nervousness.

Knowledge and Ideas Regarding a Given Subject
Knowledge of the subject under discussion and clarity of ideas are important. Knowledge comes from consistent reading on various topics ranging from science and technology to politics. In-depth knowledge makes one confident and enthusiastic and this in turn, makes one sound convincing and confident.

Leadership and Coordinating Capabilities
The basic aim of a group discussion is to judge a candidate's leadership qualities. The examiner withdraws and becomes a silent spectator once the discussion starts. A candidate should display tactfulness, skill, understanding and knowledge on varied topics, enterprise, forcefulness and other leadership qualities to motivate and influence other candidates who may be almost equally competent.

Exchange of Thoughts
A group discussion is an exchange of thoughts and ideas among members of a group. These discussions are held for selecting personnel in organizations where there is a high level of competition. The number of participants in a group can vary between 8 and 15. Mostly a topic or a situation is given to group members who have to discuss it within 10 to 20 minutes.

The purpose is to get an idea about candidates in a short time and make assessments about their skills, which normally cannot be evaluated in an interview. These skills may be team membership, leadership skills, listening and articulation skills.

A note is made of your contributions to the discussion, comprehension of the main idea, the rapport you strike, patience, assertion, accommodation, amenability, etc. Body language and eye contact too are important points which are to be considered. .

Addressing the Group as a Whole
In a group discussion it is not necessary to address anyone by name. Even otherwise you may not know everyone's names. It better to address the group as a whole. Address the person farthest from you. If he can hear you everyone else too can. Needless to add, as for the interview, attend the group discussion in formal dress. The language used should also be formal, not the language used in normal conversations. For instance, words and phrases like "yar", "chalta hai", "CP", "I dunno", etc. are out. This is not to say you should use a high sounding, pedantic language. Avoiding both, just use formal, plain and simple language. Hinglish, (mixture of Hindi and English) should be discarded. Confidence and coolness while presenting your viewpoint are of help. See that you do not keep repeating a point. Do not use more words than necessary. Do not be superfluous. Try to be specific. Do not exaggerate.

Thorough Preparation
Start making preparations for interview and group discussions right away, without waiting till the eleventh hour, this is, if and when called for them. Then the time left may not be adequate. It is important to concentrate on subject knowledge and general awareness. Hence, the prime need for thorough preparation. Remember, the competition is very tough. Only 460 candidates make it to the final list from 2.75 lakh civil service aspirants each year.

It may so happen that you are called for interviews and group discussions from three or four organizations but are not selected by any. The reason obviously lies in your not being well-prepared.
In a group discussion you may be given a topic and asked to express your views on it. Or in a case study GD, students have to read a case study and suggest ways of tackling the problem. For this you should have a good general knowledge, need to be abreast with current affairs, should regularly read newspapers and magazines. Your group behavior and communication skills are on test, i.e. how you convince the others and how clearly you are able to express your points of view. You should be articulate, generate ideas, not sound boring, should allow others to speak, and adopt a stand on a given subject. During the course of the GD this stand can even be changed, giving the impression that you are open to accommodate others' viewpoints.
Additional marks may be given for starting or concluding the discussion.

Points to Remember

Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has more chances of success. In other words, sound knowledge on different topics like politics, finance, economy, science and technology is helpful.
Power to convince effectively is another quality that makes you stand out among others.
Clarity in speech and expression is yet another essential quality.
If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression. Instead, you might adopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively to others, may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later.
A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided.
A GD is not a debating stage. Participants should confine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. In the second part of the discussion candidates can exercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing or remaining neutral.
Language use should be simple, direct and straight forward.
Don't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by increasing your size, not by cutting others short.
Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contact plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as listening intently or nodding while appreciating someone's viewpoint speak of you positively.
Communicate with each and every candidate present. While speaking don't keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her.