How to handle Abstract GD Topics?
How to handle Abstract GD Topics : – Abstract topics have been an evergreen part of group discussions in top B-schools for admissions as well as placement interviews. While they can blow your mind outright by their vagueness, they can potentially earn you more brownie points if you’re prepared for them beforehand.
What is an Abstract topic :-
Broadly, we can divide GD topics into 3 categories;
- Knowledge based topics – Topics on Indian Economy, World summits, International affairs, Supreme Court judgments ..etc.
- Opinionated topics – Should reservations be banned? / Small states or Large states / Technology is helping/ harming human development? ..etc
- Abstract Topics – a>b>c, Drastic times call for drastic measures, Pink pyjamas over the Red fort .. etc
Abstract topics are open to readers’ interpretation. They usually are single line statements / phrases / idioms / quotes. The participants are required to understand the given statement, look for hidden messages & draw suitable inferences.
Also Read:- How To Prepare For Group Discussion Tips
- What Group Discussion Skills Required
- How to Start a GD
- What Skills Are Judged In GD?
- How to Enter a GD in the Middle of the Discussion
- How to prepare for Group Discussion
- Read Daily Current Affairs
Purpose of giving Abstract topics :
To deal with abstract topics, it’s important to know the qualities that will be assessed during the discussion of abstract topics. Through them interviewers will assess candidate’s creativity, application of knowledge, clarity of thought, ability to deal with uncertainty under stress, leadership qualities & negotiation skills.
One should have the confidence & clarity to present one’s view & to drive the discussion. In fact, an abstract topic is a golden opportunity to present one’s creative thinking & get noticed by interviewers, which will ease the next step in the process, i. e interview.
- Abstract topics are more challenging because they are perception based. The topic may be interpreted in different ways by different participants and hence may lead to a lot of confusion with respect to the key discussion points in a limited time span.
- On one side is the pressure to come out with diverse ideas, on the other hand is the pressure to take one thread forward for discussion. While diversity in ideas is indicative of a group with progressive thought process, it may lead to cross discussions and undesirable interventions if not channelized well.
Top 5 Best Tips How to handle Abstract GD Topics?
1. Understand the twin challenge
Abstract GD topics are more challenging as they are perception based. The topic is open to multiple interpretations which may lead to a lot of confusion with respect to the key discussion points in the limited allotted time.
The pressure is to come out with a diverse set of ideas and it is equally stressful to stick to one thread for discussion. While diversity in ideas is indicative of a group with progressive thought processes, it can possibly lead to cross discussions and time wastage if not given a proper direction.
In order to tackle this twin challenge, one should find the optimality between the number of topics and the quality of discussion on each aspect brought into the discussion.
2. Trick to widen your horizon and summarize it back
The inverted funnel approach helps in thinking out of the box. At the onset of the discussion, the best practice is to create a pool of ideas for subsequent discussion.
One must stretch the thought process to think as diversely as possible. To do so, note down all the ideas as they come to you in a quick sequence. The list must be prioritised and be assigned a sequence for discussion.
It is important to not be too judgmental about ideas, either your own or of others. This may create a mental block hampering your ability to accept others’ point of view. In discussions on abstract GD topics, you are motivated to be open-minded to be able to comprehend the various points of view.
Given that the GD typically lasts for 10-20 minutes, it will not be practically possible to discuss all ideas in the given span of time. While the inverted funnel approach widens the gamut of discussion, it is important to pay heed to the quality of the discussion as well.
It is highly recommended that you start summarising on specific discussion points after a while. Converging meaningfully will help to do justice to the topic in the given time. It is recommended that you discuss two or three ideas based on the priority list.
3. SPELTER Approach
The beauty of an abstract GD topic is that it can potentially be viewed in multiple ways by different participants in the discussion, which may enhance the overall scope of discussion. One way to bring in more ideas is through SPELTER:
S: Social
P: Political
E: Economic
L: Legal
T: Technological
E: Environmental
R: Religious
Using SPELTER helps to get a holistic perspective on the topic of discussion. As an example, we can use it for the topic red:
S: Social (Red is socially a colour of love and energy and it brings vibrance to society)
P: Political (Red represents communism and in some ways is used to depict “deep pockets” in polity)
E: Economic (Red hat capitalism is a widespread phenomenon in the economic interpretation of “red”)
L: Legal (Redline is an illegal practice of discriminating credit based on caste/creed/colour/gender)
T: Technological (The red colour stands at the end of the spectrum and so it’s wavelength plays an important factor in laser technologies)
E: Environmental (Red is a colour of danger as well)
R: Religious (In Hindu mythology, red is a colour of marriage)
4. Keyword approach
Though widely used for factual GD topics, keyword approach can also be used for abstract topics. The idea is to identify keywords or maybe stakeholders associated with the topic. Use words to form patterns and connections which can be further used to dwell on the topic and thereafter build content.
5. Effective time management
In a group discussion, time is of essence. It is important to ensure forward progression rather than repeating certain points time and again. Adding value in a given time frame must be the objective of discussion.
Initial minutes should be kept for multiple interpretations, the meantime for quality discussion and the last minutes for winding up. An effective time distribution for the group discussion will be in the ratio 3:5:2, for diverging, converging, and then recapitulating.
To summarize, in order to deal with abstract topics, one needs to have the same preparation and confidence as dealing with other topics. However, preparing for abstract GD topics will need a higher level of effort. D2C wishes you the best in your abstract GD preparation!
Also Read:- How To Prepare For Group Discussion Tips
- What Group Discussion Skills Required
- How to Start a GD
- What Skills Are Judged In GD?
- How to Enter a GD in the Middle of the Discussion
- How to prepare for Group Discussion
- Read Daily Current Affairs
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