Research • Interview • Discussion Programs

Some programs on the Internet Radio Saint Rose site are duscussion programs that are to serve as academic assignments for students from various courses. One version of this is the Research • Interview • Discussion program. In this assignment, students from a given course are assigned a topic relevant to the course they are taking. The participants are formed into groups of three or four. Each member researches a different aspect of the topic and then familirizes themselves enough with their research so they can present their findings in the discussion format. This is intended to make the program more appealing to a listening audience.

The ideal discussions are those that don't sound scripted. While it is true the participants have indeed written papers or commentaries on their research prior to recording the radio program, it is not expected that the participants would simply read their articles. Each participant needs to become conversant on his or her area of research that they can engage in a conversation on that topic.

The same goes for the moderator's commentary. The moderator's commentary should not sound scripted. In the discussion program format, the moderator would normally refer to a list of talking points and/or questions to ask the participants during the discussion program. It is not desierable for the moderator to simply read off questions. It is preferred that questions and talking points be presented as conversation or discussion. This makes the program more engaging.

Sample 1 -- Discussion on Diets

Sample 2 -- Discussion on Nutrition

Above are two samples that demonstrates some these principles.

Additional pointers that will make presentations effective:

• Rehearse (pronounce out loud) names or words you might have difficulty enunciating.

• The moderator needs to be flexible -- able to adapt as the dicussion flows. If the dicsussion drifts away from the original list of talking points or questions for a while, that is not necessarily a bad thing. The moderator can pursue a new line of discussion, and then get back on track as the discussion continues. The moderator need not strictly stick to the talking points as they appear on the original list.