Discussant Guidelines

What to Take to Your Session

• The program (note your position and order of the presenters).
• The paper(s) with your comments.
• Notebook paper for additional notes.
• Post-it notes so you can write key phrases and arrange them quickly.

What to Discuss During the Session

• Give the core idea of each paper.
• Identify shared ideas across papers.
• Integrate the ideas; give a context and connect the papers.
• Encourage audience participation in integrating the papers or suggesting next steps.
• Suggest future directions.
• Give each paper equal time.
• Talk about ideas not included in the paper.
• Make constructive suggestions about methods or arguments.
• Compare what was said to what you expected.
• Discuss teaching implications of the papers.

How to Prepare for Your Session

• Read the paper(s) several times.
• Rehearse your presentation and stay within time constraints.
• Connect papers to current events.
• Use constructive and helpful language.
• Stay within the time limit.
• Give each presenter a copy of your remarks.
• Avoid citing all flaws one paper at a time.
• Avoid using this as a platform for a personal "ax to grind" about a topic/paper.

Last Updated: 05/19/2008