Panel Preparation

We worked in the library, where I used a computer to research the candidates and then write concise biographies about them to be read at the panel. Although only two candidates were able to attend the panel, we wrote the biographies on all of them. The biographies of the absent candidates were read anyways, to better inform the audience.

We deliberated over the introduction sentences, because we had never conducted a panel before. In the end, the introduction was semi-formal, welcoming the audience and then proceeding to introduce the candidates. As with most things, small pieces of this introductory material had to be re-written right before the panel began, because some of the candidates could not stay for the entire panel.

Ryne and Brandon spent a lot of time writing the questions in a way that was both unbiased and informative. The claims in the questions were well-supported by recent articles and statistics, and the panel was more successful because of this.

Frank thinks about the introduction material, which he also helped write. Frank was also a co-host with me, as we read the introduction, bios, and questions together during the panel.

It seems like a small task to write the "script" for a panel, but it required hours of work from all of us. However, it also taugt us the methods to write in an unbiased and appropriately formal style, which will prove invaluable in college.