One of those situations where papers are assigned so you had no choice in the matter. The paper is not in your field, you hardly have any idea what it is about and feel like you are ripping off the presenter by doing a really crappy job at discussing it. What do you do? Changing the paper is not an option.
Discussing a paper at a conference
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Yeah, read the paper until you mostly understand it. If you are still confused about things call the author, he/she will be flattered you are taking the time and is probably eager to talk about the paper.
You will look like a star and totally make a new friend.
Know what you shouldn't do? Do a s**tty job reviewing it and waste everyone's time at the conference. That's annoying, and there will be people who do like the paper and do understand what's going on and they'll be annoyed with you for taking up time where you could be discussing the paper not some idiot's misunderstanding of it.
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I am actually in a similar situation. Have to discuss a paper on a topic that is not my field, and the paper is written by top scholars in the field. Plus, it has already been presented and commented many times at prestigious conferences. If anything I should thank them for the knowledge I gained by reading the paper on a topic I knew nothing about. I really don't know what I can talk about or tell them that they don't know already..
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This is harder.
Discussions only need last about 5 min. In this case (I've been there before), I feel like if I can make just one useful point, it is worth it for everyone involved. In fact, I think that is always true of a discussant - if you can help one point on the paper you've done your job and are in the top 30% of discussants. So, at the end of the paper, what would you additionally like to know? Share that with them. Ideally, suggest how they may accomplish it.
I am actually in a similar situation. Have to discuss a paper on a topic that is not my field, and the paper is written by top scholars in the field. Plus, it has already been presented and commented many times at prestigious conferences. If anything I should thank them for the knowledge I gained by reading the paper on a topic I knew nothing about. I really don't know what I can talk about or tell them that they don't know already..
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Just remember that your job is to discuss it, not referee it. So that gives you a lot of latitude. Talk about the things you find interesting, and maybe link it to an area you're more familiar with. Mention anything surprising. Give people an idea of what questions remain (or were prompted) by this paper - not as a slight of the current paper, but for people in the audience to extend it.
Unless this is a very high-powered conference, I wouldn't worry about doing much background reading on the topic - maybe skim the abstracts of some of the key papers cited.