Think of a tour. Individual text of the tour

The mos.ru portal decided to find out where routes come from and what makes people go on city tours. How to see an ancient city among skyscrapers and cars? Where is the utopia house located? Who comes up with city tours and who goes on them? How to lay a route correctly and make a person listen carefully? Larisa Skrypnik, the leading guide of the City Tour Bureau of the Museum of Moscow, spoke about the pros and cons of being a guide, about the mysteries of Moscow and the best sightseers of mos.ru.

- It seems that everything has already been said about Moscow, all the city labyrinths and nooks and crannies have been passed, and suddenly a new route, a new excursion appears - how is this possible?

— The Museum of Moscow, where I work, is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year. And all these years, the museum staff has been studying the city, its history, following all the changes that are taking place in the metropolis. Our collection contains thousands of documents, books, photographs that are still being researched. This alone already gives many reasons for a new look even at the most trivial excursions.

There is, of course, a mandatory block of excursions. As a rule, this is a sightseeing tour of Moscow, Red Square, the historical center, which are intended specifically for the first acquaintance with the city - for those who want to learn about the city in which they live. There are quite a few of them - as experience shows, Muscovites often do not know the city well. It seems to a person: I am here, I will have time for everything - and he passes by interesting places, not paying attention to them. But, when interest is shown, a person, as a rule, becomes our regular client. That is, the one who came once, begins to walk all the time. It is very joyful to see how the popularity of walking and bus tours is growing from year to year: more and more citizens want to learn about the capital as much as possible.

But there is another block of routes - those that we come up with on our own. These are always unusual walks on which we show the city from a new side. They can be thematic, timed to coincide with certain dates, events. So, we constantly have new routes through unexplored Moscow. We really want to show our beloved city from different angles; I want the participants of the walks to fall in love with Moscow just like we do. And such excursions are, as a rule, very much in demand.

— Can you tell us more about these routes?

- There was an interesting story during the celebration of the anniversary of Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. We were asked to come up with a walking tour of Gogol's places. Moreover, they asked to show not only the monuments to the writer, which are located at a distance of 400 meters from each other, not only the temple of Simeon the Stylite, whose parishioner was Gogol, but something else unusual. This is in a sense a challenge, I really love such things. It was necessary to make a walking tour and tell a lot about Gogol. As a result, with great interest for myself, I discovered more than 20 places associated with Nikolai Vasilyevich on the Arbat. Not in Moscow as a whole, but only on the Arbat. Exclusive excursions are born, for example, from such an offer - to help someone with a topic.

Or, for example, an excursion dedicated to 1612 in Moscow. She was not particularly in demand, no one ever asked to drive to these places. But when the request nevertheless appeared, it turned out that this was indeed a very interesting excursion. Of course, excursions are also born because you yourself really like something. I love architecture and of course I came up with the Art Nouveau walking tour. Routes may appear after you have read an interesting book. Now there are a lot of memoirs, all kinds of works by pre-revolutionary Muscovites, which we did not know before. You are reading and suddenly you see the area completely different, not the way you imagined it, and you have an idea to make a tour of this place and show Moscow from some, maybe unexpected side.

— And how does it happen? How is the tour prepared?

- First, the search for material begins: reading special literature, diaries, going to libraries and, of course, studying the very area that you are going to talk about. Sometimes, when you walk the streets, you go into alleys, into courtyards, you discover absolutely incredible treasures that people have not seen. For example, Nikitsky Boulevard is such a facade street. But once, when I was preparing a tour there, I saw a metal gate with a door, behind which it was written that there was a repair of shoes or some kind of hardware. In general, a completely unpresentable door. But when I entered this gateway, I realized that this is a whole city with labyrinths. Who would have thought that this could be? People are always very interested in it. It is as if you are plunging into the past, and you can imagine how you would feel if you lived in this house and your windows overlooked this courtyard ....

- You said that you developed a tour of Art Nouveau, but this is not exactly the Moscow style, what are you showing?

— Since this is a walking tour, it takes place between Ostozhenka, Prechistenka and in the lanes. This is the profitable house of Isakov Kekushevsky, and the own house of the architect Kekushev. This is the profitable house of the peasant Loskov. We had such wonderful peasants who could invite the best architects and build houses in the northern modern style. There are really not enough of them in Moscow, mainly this style is common in St. Petersburg.

- It seems to me that the most difficult thing in your work is to make people listen, not all guides and not always succeed.

- You just need to know and understand: people cannot endlessly listen to a set of some facts, even if they are quite interesting, they still need some kind of detente. But it is important not just to giggle about something, but that it be tied to the topic. And by the way, on excursions sometimes the participants themselves help to find such relaxing moments. Once, on a tour of the Arbat and Arbat alleys, I had a wonderful girl of seven years old. On the Arbat, every building has a history, and I want to tell about everything. I started talking about the house with the knights across from Tetra Vakhtangov and said that, unfortunately, not all the knights survived, and this girl says to me: “But I can tell where this knight has gone.” I ask: where? She says: “The fact is that he fell in love with this princess, and there is a fountain “Princess Turandot” near the Vakhtangov Theater, he fell in love, went downstairs, bought her jewelry, but she did not accept the gift. So the knight got upset and left.” This is a charm! Now I always tell this, such a vivid perception of Moscow with its history by a child.

How long does it take to prepare a tour?

- It depends on the topic. There are those on which a huge amount of literature has been written, and here you just need to select what you are interested in. There are topics that require serious preparation, perhaps even inquiries, meetings with some people who have information on a particular area. Interesting things are told by the residents themselves. It's always a lot of work.

The selection of material is one of the most exciting moments, and here it is important to control yourself. You search, read, and it is so captivating that by three o'clock in the morning you can find yourself somewhere on the other side of Moscow. Because when you are preparing material, one fact clings to another: but the surname slipped through, and not to clarify whether ... It is very difficult, but it is even more difficult to choose something when you have collected a huge amount of material and understand that it is impossible to tell everything , - it is always a pity to remove some of the information.

Then comes another very important moment: you have to link all the objects... It is clear that if the tour is thematic, for example, our Moscow Embassy, ​​then everything is more or less clear. And if this is a tour along the street and there are absolutely heterogeneous buildings, absolutely different stories, but you have to somehow connect them together, you should get a story.

I had a wonderful tour, I led it along Volkhonka, and one of the excursionists, as an intelligent person, warned me in advance that she needed to pick up her child from kindergarten, so she would leave quietly in 50 minutes in English. And I'm leading a tour and I understand that 50 minutes have passed, an hour has passed, and the woman is still with us. And I say to her: “Excuse me, please, but it seems to you that the child needs to be taken away from the kindergarten.” She says: “You understand, I can’t leave. You finish the story and are so catchy with the next one that we will now see further that I can’t leave in any way. ” That was the right excursion, since it happened.

There are also purely technical points, special ones that also need to be taken into account: how to stand up correctly so that everyone can hear you, so that you can respond to facial expressions, eyes, so that you can see the sightseers and at the same time not prevent them from seeing objects; how to stand up to show the object as much as possible; how to stand up so that you can talk about several objects without leaving your seat. When preparing a tour, it takes extra time. For example, I walk down the street and start, to the surprise of passers-by, running from one place to another, crossing the street, coming back in order to understand where it is better for me to put the group. And here you need to show imagination.

There are many other nuances. For example, you need to take into account the location of pedestrian crossings: where are they located, is it convenient for you to cross from this side to the opposite one, so that later you do not return to this crossing through another crossing, somehow go further along the route, because people are not interested in the same place to go back and forth. All in all, this is a really big job.

- Let's try to name the pros and cons of your profession.

- I was asked this question on excursions ... But it turns out that the minuses turn into pluses. Of course, this is a job that requires great physical exertion, because you need to move a lot both in the process of preparation and during the excursion. And they last sometimes two or three hours, and sometimes six or seven.

The weather that we do not choose, and our Moscow weather does not please, let's say, most of the year. The next thing is that you always work, because you must be aware of the topic of modern Moscow, know everything new that appears, new books about Moscow, new information, new objects. There is so much material that you will never be able to master it completely, but you always strive for this. As a result, you constantly train your memory, your mind, you are always on the move and constantly in the fresh air.

And yet people are different, and you make a lot of effort in order to keep attention. When this happens, I feel a tremendous moral upsurge, because I give my energy to people, and in return they give theirs. I always feel emotionally charged after the tour. Everything is interconnected here, and if you like it, then you enjoy it more.

I am not a big fan of excursions, I like to read about interesting places myself, look for them in an unfamiliar country, and also consult with local residents. But in order to have time to get acquainted with a large number of unique places unique for a particular country or city, you will have to go on an excursion. If you yourself decide to become a guide or help someone you know, I think it will be a great experience.

Ways of writing excursions

Before you start writing an excursion, you should know that this is a very laborious and painstaking process, if the difficulties do not scare you, and you also have a large amount of knowledge, then you will definitely succeed. To begin with, I would like to point out knowledge in what areas must have:

• cultural studies;
• story;
• psychology;
• rhetoric;
• drawing up plans.

So, the range of areas and skills is quite wide, so writing excursions is a very difficult, but important work for tourists. It is excursions that help guests of countries and cities to get acquainted with the culture of local residents, learn the history of the appearance of certain places, as well as learn the signs and characteristics of countries. At the same time, many excursions are quite boring and cannot interest tourists for a long time. Therefore, it is important for professionals to be able to create an atmosphere of comfort and interest to make the trip memorable for years to come.

• route development;
  
• determination of time for each place of the route;
• accounting for bus traffic patterns, if necessary;
• writing the text of the excursion;
• taking into account all historical facts;
• saving links to sources (for curious tourists);
• docking of the text of the excursion and the route.

When writing text, try use more logical connectives so that the facts are not “torn out” of context, and the logical sequence is preserved. Don't use complex language, the text should be clear to every tourist.

Do not write "dry" texts, make the tour bright and memorable. Tourists will not remember a lot of dates, surnames and other historical formulations, fill the test with "sharpness" and "piquancy" so that attract listeners.

2.3. Planning an excursion itinerary

Excursion route is the most convenient route for the tour group, contributing to the disclosure of the topic. It is built depending on the most correct sequence of objects inspection for a given excursion, the availability of sites for the group location, the need to ensure the safety of tourists. One of the tasks of the route is to contribute to the most complete disclosure of the topic.

The main requirements that should be taken into account by the compilers of the route are the organization of the display of objects in a logical sequence and the provision of a visual basis for the disclosure of the topic.

In the practice of excursion institutions, there are three options for building routes: chronological, thematic and thematic-chronological.

Excursions dedicated to the life and work of prominent people can serve as an example of the chronological construction of the route.

According to the thematic principle, excursions are built related to the disclosure of a certain topic in the life of the city (for example, "Arkhangelsk is being built", "Literary suburbs", etc.).

All sightseeing city tours are built according to the thematic and chronological principle. The sequence of presentation of the material in chronological order in such excursions is observed, as a rule, only when each subtopic is disclosed.

Route development- a complex multi-stage procedure that requires a fairly high qualification and is one of the main elements of the technology for creating a new excursion. When developing a bus route, one should be guided by the "Rules of the Road", "Charter of Road Transport", "Rules for the Transportation of Passengers" and other departmental regulations.

Objects, depending on their role in the tour, can be used as main and additional.

The main objects are subjected to a deeper analysis, they reveal the subtopics of the excursion.

The display of additional objects, as a rule, is carried out during the transfers (transitions) of the excursion group and it does not occupy a dominant position.

The route is built according to the principle of the most correct sequence of inspection of objects and is planned taking into account the following requirements:

The display of objects should be carried out in a certain logical sequence, avoiding unnecessary repeated passages along the same section of the route (street, square, bridge, highway), i.e. the so-called "loops";
- Availability of object accessibility (site for its inspection);
- moving or transition between objects should not take 10-15 minutes, so that there are no too long pauses in the show and story;
- the presence of well-maintained stops, including sanitary and parking places for vehicles.

It is recommended to have several options for the movement of the group by the time of the excursion. The need to change the route in some cases is caused by traffic jams, repair work on city highways. All this should be taken into account when creating various route options.

The development of the bus route is completed by the coordination and approval of the passport and route scheme, the calculation of mileage and the time of use of vehicles.

Detour (bypass) of the route

Detour (bypass) of the route is one of the important stages in the development of a new excursion theme. When organizing a detour (bypass) of the route, the following tasks are set:

1) get acquainted with the layout of the route, streets, squares along which the route is laid;
2) clarify the place where the object is located, as well as the place of the proposed stop of the tour bus or walking group;
3) master the entrance by bus to objects or parking places;
4) to time the time required to show the objects, their verbal characteristics and the movement of the bus (pedestrian group), as well as to clarify the duration of the tour as a whole;
5) check the expediency of using the intended display objects;
6) choose the best points for showing objects and options for the location of the tour group;
7) choose a method of familiarization with the object;
8) for the purpose of safe movement of tourists along the route, identify potentially dangerous places and take measures.

Preparation of the control text of the excursion

The text is the material necessary for the full disclosure of all the subtopics included in the excursion. The text is intended to provide a thematic orientation of the guide's story, it formulates a certain point of view on the facts and events to which the tour is dedicated, and provides an objective assessment of the objects shown.

Requirements for the text: brevity, clarity of wording, the required amount of factual material, the availability of information on the topic, full disclosure of the topic, literary language.

The text of the excursion is compiled by the creative group when developing a new topic and performs control functions. This means that each guide must build his story taking into account the requirements of this text (control text).

The control text in most cases contains a chronological presentation of the material. This text does not reflect the structure of the excursion and is not built in the route sequence, with the distribution of the material presented by the stops where the analysis of excursion objects takes place. The control text is carefully selected and verified by sources material, which is the basis for all excursions conducted on this topic. Using the provisions and conclusions contained in the control text, the guide builds his own individual text.

On the basis of the control text, excursions on the same topic can be created, including for children and adults, for various groups of workers.

In order to facilitate the creation of such options, materials related to objects, sub-themes and main issues that were not included in the itinerary of this excursion can be included in the control text.

In addition to materials for the guide's story, the control text includes materials that should form the content of the introductory speech and the conclusion of the tour, as well as logical transitions. It should be easy to use. Quotes, figures and examples are accompanied by links to sources.

Acquisition of the "portfolio of the guide"

"Tour guide portfolio"- the code name for a set of visual aids used during the tour. These aids are usually placed in a folder or a small briefcase.

One of the tasks of the "portfolio guide" is to restore the missing links in the show. In excursions, it often turns out that not all the objects necessary for the disclosure of the topic have been preserved. For example, sightseers cannot see a historic building that has been destroyed by time; a village destroyed during the Great Patriotic War, etc. Sometimes it becomes necessary to give an idea of ​​the original appearance of the place on which the building in question was built (residential district). For this purpose, for example, photographs of a village or a wasteland, panoramas of the construction of an enterprise, a residential area are used. It may also be a problem to show what will be in the area being examined in the near future. In this case, the tourists are shown projects of buildings, structures, monuments.

In excursions, it may be necessary to show photographs of people who are related to this object or events related to it (for example, portraits of members of the Wolf family - friends of A. S. Pushkin - when conducting a tour of the "Pushkin Ring of the Upper Volga Region").

The demonstration of copies of original documents, manuscripts, literary works, which the guide tells about, makes the tour more convincing.

And one more important task of visual aids on excursions - give a visual representation of an object(plants, minerals, mechanisms by showing authentic samples or their photographs, models, dummies).

The "guide portfolio" includes photographs, maps, diagrams, drawings, drawings, product samples, etc. Such "portfolios" are usually created for each topic. They are a constant companion of the guide and help to make any trip to the past and present more exciting and rewarding. The content of the "portfolio" is dictated by the theme of the tour.

The visual aids of the "guide's briefcase" should be easy to use. Their number should not be large, since in this case the aids will distract the tourists from examining the original objects and scatter their attention.

The members of the creative group, preparing a new excursion, select from the visual materials at their disposal the most expressive ones that can help the guide in covering the topic. The methodology for demonstrating visual aids is checked on the route. Then, recommendations on the use of the "portfolio" materials are included in the methodological development.

Each exhibit included in the "portfolio" is accompanied by a leaflet with explanations or reference material. Sometimes explanations are pasted on the back of the exhibit. Such an annotation serves as the source material for the guide when showing the exhibit to the sightseers.

The list of visual materials of a certain topic included in the "guide's portfolio" should be updated throughout the development of a new excursion topic.

Great help in the selection of visual materials for the "portfolio" excursion organizations provide museums, exhibitions, archives.

Determination of methodological methods for conducting an excursion

The success of the tour is directly dependent on the methodological methods of showing and telling used in it. The choice of one or another methodological technique is dictated by the tasks set for the tour, the information richness of a particular object.

The work of the creative team at this stage consists of several parts: selection of the most effective methodological techniques for highlighting subtopics, methodological techniques that are recommended depending on the excursion audience (adults, children), the time of the excursion (winter, summer, day, evening), features display; determining methods of preserving the attention of tourists and activating the process of perception of excursion material; development of recommendations on the use of expressive means in the speech of the guide; selection of rules for the technique of conducting excursions. It is equally important to determine the technology of using methodological techniques.

Definition of excursion technique

The excursion technique combines all organizational issues of the excursion process. The authors of a bus tour, for example, carefully consider when and where the sightseers go out to inspect the object, how the sightseers move between the objects, how and when the exhibits of the "guide's portfolio" are shown, etc. The corresponding entries are made in the methodological development column "Organizational instructions" . These instructions are also addressed to the bus driver. For example, where to put the bus, where you need to go slower to observe the object from the window. Separate instructions apply to sightseers (observance of safety rules on the street, exiting the bus, accommodation in the cabin). It is important to formulate recommendations about the use of pauses in the excursion; on the observance of the time allotted for the coverage of sub-themes, the organization of answers to the questions of the tourists; about the technique of using the exhibits of the "portfolio"; about the procedure for laying wreaths, etc. No less important are the instructions about the place of the guide when showing objects, directing the independent work of sightseers on the route, and conducting a story while the bus is moving.

Drawing up a methodological development

Methodological development - a document that determines how to conduct this tour, how best to organize the display of monuments, what methodology and technique should be used to make the tour effective. The methodological development sets out the requirements of the excursion methodology, taking into account the features of the objects being demonstrated and the content of the material presented. It disciplines the guide and must meet the following requirements: suggest the guide the way to reveal the topic; equip him with the most effective methodological methods of showing and telling; contain clear recommendations on the organization of excursions; take into account the interests of a certain group of tourists (if there are excursion options); combine the show and the story into a single whole.

A methodological development is compiled for each topic of the excursion, including with a differentiated approach to the preparation and conduct of the excursion. The variants of the methodological development reflect the age, professional and other interests of the tourists, the peculiarities of the method of its implementation.

Formulation of methodological development is as follows:

The title page contains data: the name of the excursion institution, the name of the topic of the excursion, the type of excursion, the length of the route, the duration in academic hours, the composition of the excursionists, the names and positions of the compilers, the date of approval of the excursion by the head of the excursion institution.
- the next page sets out the purpose and objectives of the tour, a route diagram indicating objects and stops during the tour.

Methodological development consists of three sections: introduction, main part and conclusion. The introduction and conclusion are not posted in columns. For example, here are the recommendations for the guide on how to build an introduction to the methodological development of an excursion on the topic "Tyumen - the gate to Siberia": "First of all, you need to get to know the group, name the guide and driver, then remind the excursionists the rules of behavior on the bus, warning them that they will be able to ask questions and share their impressions when the time for this is presented.In the information part, it is necessary to name the topic, route, duration of the excursion, but it is desirable to do this in such a way as to arouse interest in the topic; part of the introduction should be bright, emotional.It can begin with poems by A.S. Pushkin or a quote - a statement by the Decembrists about the innumerable riches of Siberia, the great future of this harsh region. " The landing place of the group is determined in working order together with the customer, the starting point of the excursion is determined by the methodological development.

Table 2.1

Sample methodological development of the excursion

The effectiveness of methodological development depends on the correct filling of all seven columns. Development size - 6-12 pages of typewritten text. The volume of the document depends on the number of excursion objects, the number of subtopics, the duration of the excursion in time and the length of the route.

In the column " Excursion route" is called the starting point of the excursion and the end of the I subtopic.

In the column " Stops"These points of the route are called where the exit from the bus is provided; it is supposed to examine the object from the windows of the bus without the exit of the excursionists, or it is planned to stop on a walking tour. You should not make such inaccurate entries, such as: "The Volga River Embankment" or "Central Square". More correctly write down: "Embankment of the Volga River near the monument to N. A. Nekrasov."

In the column " Display objects" list those memorable places, main and additional objects that are shown to the group at the stop, in the course of moving or moving the group to the next stop.

In a country excursion, the objects of display can be a city, a village, an urban-type settlement as a whole, and when traveling along a route, visible parts from a distance (a tall building, a tower, a bell tower, etc.). In a city tour, the objects of display can be a street or a square.

Count" Tour duration". The time that is called in this column is the sum of the time spent on showing this object, the guide's story (the part when there is no showing) and on the movement of sightseers along the route to the next stop. Here it is necessary to take into account the time spent on movement near the inspected objects and between objects.

Count" Name of subtopics and list of main issues"contains brief notes. First of all, the subtopic is called, which is revealed on a given segment of the route, at a given period of time, at the objects listed in column 3. Here the main questions are formulated when the subtopic is disclosed. For example, in a city sightseeing tour to one of the subtopics is called "Poltava in the Northern War between Russia and Sweden". The main issues that are covered in this subtopic are "Swedes in Ukraine" and "The Battle of Poltava". The subtopic "New Stary Gorod" reveals the main issues: ", "Development of culture and art", "Construction of a sports complex". The number of main questions included in the subtopic should not exceed five.

In the column " Organizational guidelines"Put recommendations on the movement of the group, ensuring the safety of sightseers on the route and fulfilling sanitary and hygienic requirements, the rules of conduct for excursion participants in memorial places and at historical and cultural monuments. It also sets out the requirements for sightseers for nature protection and fire safety rules. In this column include all the questions that are included in the concept of "Excursion Technique". Let's give an example of the entry: "The group is located in such a way that all the excursionists see the entrance to the building." "At this stop, the excursionists are given time to take pictures." In country excursions, this column include instructions on sanitary stops, recommendations for nature protection, rules for the movement of tourists at stops, especially near highways, in order to ensure their safety.

When conducting production excursions, visiting working workshops, safety recommendations are given, excerpts from the instructions of the enterprise administration, mandatory rules for the behavior of sightseers at the enterprise, places where pauses are made in the story and show are called.

Count" Guidelines"defines the direction of the entire document, formulates the basic requirements for the guide on the methodology of conducting the tour, and gives instructions on the use of methodological techniques. For example, in the tour" Memorial complex "Khatyn" on the object "Defense Line of the 100th Rifle Division" two methodological instructions are given: " When revealing the subtopic, the method of verbal comparison is used, information is given about the military potential of fascist Germany at the time of its attack on the USSR "and" The story of the battles is conducted using the methodical method of visual reconstruction of the place where the hostilities took place.

It should indicate where and how methodological techniques are applied. This column also outlines a logical transition to the next subtopic, provides recommendations for displaying the "guide portfolio" materials, includes tips on using the movement of excursionists relative to objects as a methodological technique (for example, "After observing the object and the guide's story, tourists can independently continue their acquaintance with object", "The guide should explain the terms ...", "When showing the battlefield, it is necessary to orient the tourists ...", etc.).

Drawing up an individual text

Excursion practice proceeds from the fact that the basis of the guide's story is individual text, which determines the sequence and completeness of the presentation of thoughts, helps the guide to logically build his story. Each guide makes up such a text independently. The control text is the basis for the individual text.

All individual texts, with a good control text, will have identical content, but different turns of speech, different words, different sequence in the story, there may even be different facts confirming the same position. Naturally, all the guides, being at the same object, will say the same thing.

The control text should not be hidden from those who are developing a new excursion for themselves, since a creative group of the most prepared guides worked on the control text, and the guide preparing a new topic for himself will not be able to achieve what was done before him by collective efforts. After the preliminary work of the guide on a new topic is completed (collection, study and primary processing of the material), he is allowed to familiarize himself with the control text. This will help him select material for the story, determine the optimal number of examples used in covering subtopics, draw the right conclusions on the subtopics of the excursion and in general. Referring to the control text, made in time, guarantees a higher level of preparation for the beginner's excursion.

The main difference between an individual text and a control text is that it reflects the structure of the excursion and is built in full accordance with the methodological development of the excursion. The material is placed in the sequence in which the objects are shown, and has a clear division into parts. Each of them is dedicated to one of the sub-themes. Compiled in accordance with these requirements, an individual text is a story ready for "use". The individual text contains a complete summary of what should be told on the tour. When presenting the essence of historical events, there should be no abbreviations, no assessment of their significance.

It is also not allowed to mention facts without their dating, references to sources. At the same time, the text of this type reflects the features of the speech of the "performer". The guide's story consists, as it were, of separate parts tied to visual objects. These parts are combined with conclusions for each subtopic and logical transitions between subtopics (and objects). In the individual text, each subtopic is a separate story suitable for use during the tour.

When composing an individual text, its author should not forget about the logic of sounding speech, that the word and the image (object) act, as a rule, on the feeling of the sightseers synchronously. The desire for liveliness in the presentation of material on excursions should not lead to attempts to entertain sightseers. When deciding on a combination of cognitive and entertaining elements on an excursion, the matter should be decided according to the formula: maximum educational and minimum entertaining. The question of legends has a special place in the preparation of the excursion. Only legends can be used in excursions.

In terms of content, both texts (control and individual) are the same. And this means that if there is a correctly composed control text for all guides who have mastered this topic, excursions are "standard". They are the same in their content, they coincide in their assessments of historical events and facts in the conclusions that are made on individual subtopics and on the topic as a whole.

Analyzing the same visual object, the guides show and tell the same thing. This is the meaning of the control text as a standard.

However, with equal content, the guides may use different turns of speech, may state the recommended facts, figures and examples in a different sequence. The individuality of the tour also lies in the fact that the guides leading the tour on one topic may have a different degree of emotionality. They can, being at the same object, use different display techniques and storytelling forms. One and the same position can be revealed on different examples. The text should be written in the first person and express your individuality.

Narrative and individual text

The success of the story depends on how close the individual text is to the generally accepted speech, how it takes into account the speech features of that particular guide to whom this text belongs. "The degree of impact on our consciousness of various texts depends on many reasons and conditions (logic, evidence, novelty of the topic and information, the author's psychological attitude to the impact or its absence, etc.)". However, speech plays an equally important role, its properties, structure, features.

The individual texts of almost all guides on the same topic are characterized by similarities in the content and presentation of the material, in the assessment of historical events, facts and examples. However, the stories of all guides are individual. What is the expression of the individuality of the guide? All guides, conducting excursions on the same topic, tell the same thing, but speak differently. Their story is the same in content, but in form, use of vocabulary, emotional level is different.

The methodology requires the guide to keep in mind the significant difference between the speech of the lecturer and the guide when compiling an individual text.

During the tour, the guide "hurries" objects that need to be shown to the group. The two or three hours allotted for the tour, the stay of the excursionists on their feet and in the open air, force the guide to speak briefly, clearly characterize the monuments that were in front of the group, and succinctly talk about the events associated with them.

The duration of the story should not exceed the time that the monument is able to attract the attention of tourists. Most often it is five to seven minutes. If this time is not observed, then no liveliness of the story, no methodological techniques are able to restore the attention of the tourists. It is no coincidence that the term "object language" is used in methodological literature. One of the tasks of the guide is to make the object "speak".

Technique for using individual text

The guide, just like a lecturer, can use his own individual text during the tour. For ease of use, it is recommended to transfer the content of the story to special cards, where brief data about the object, the main thoughts of the story, individual quotes, historical dates are recorded. For each subtopic, several cards are filled out (usually according to the number of main questions).

Using the cards, the guide does not read their content during the tour, but only by looking at them, recalls the content of the story. If there is a significant break between objects in the tour, the guide can look at the cards again and refresh the material of the story. Most often, cards are used as a summary of the story in preparation for the excursion. The exceptions are those cards that contain quotations and large excerpts from works of art, the content of which forms the basis of literary montage. On excursions, they are read out in full.

The card should be easy to use. A small size is recommended, about a quarter sheet of thick writing paper suitable for long-term use. The cards have serial numbers and are folded before the tour, taking into account the sequence of the subtopics to be disclosed.

The use of cards on excursions is the right of every guide, but with the acquisition of experience they no longer need this. The fact that the cards are at hand and can be used at the right time gives the guide confidence in his knowledge.

The presence of an individual text does not mean that it must be memorized and delivered word for word to the tourists.

Logic jumps

The creators of the excursion are faced with the task of linking the content of all subtopics into a single whole. It is solved with logical transitions, which should be considered as an important, although not independent, part of the excursion. Well-composed logical transitions give harmony to the excursion, provide consistency in the presentation of the material, and are a guarantee that the next subtopic will be perceived with interest.

Often in excursions, when moving from one subtopic to another, they use formal (constructive) transitions. Formal is such a transition that is not related to the content of the excursion and is not a "crossing bridge" from one part of the excursion to another. (For example, "And now we will pass through the square", "Now we will follow further", "Let's look at another remarkable place"). However, one should not deny the legitimacy of using such transitions in general and consider them one of the mistakes in excursion work.

In cases where movement between objects takes a matter of seconds, such transitions are inevitable: (For example, "Now look here" or "Please pay attention to the monument located nearby"). Such transitions are inevitable when viewing expositions in museums and exhibitions, where halls, thematic sections and individual stands dedicated to various sub-themes are located close to each other. A constructive transition, not being a "transitional bridge" between subtopics, aims the sightseers to get acquainted with the next object.

More efficient logical transition linked to the theme of the tour. Such a transition may begin before the group moves to the next stop, or may end already at a stop near the object. The logical transition is dictated not so much by the features of the excursion object as by the content of the excursion itself, the subtopic after which this transition is made.

The duration of a logical transition is usually equal in time to the movement (transition) of the group from object to object, but it can be both longer and shorter.

Acceptance (delivery) of excursions

With a positive assessment of the control text and the methodological development of the excursion, as well as in the presence of a completed "guide portfolio" and a map of the route, the date of acceptance (delivery) of a new excursion is assigned. Delivery of the tour is entrusted to the head of the creative group. In case of his absence due to illness or other valid reasons, the tour is handed over by one of the members of the creative team. The leaders of the excursion institution, methodological workers, members of the creative group and the methodological section where the excursion was prepared, as well as heads of other sections, take part in the acceptance (delivery) of the excursion.

Reception (delivery) of the excursion is of a business nature, carried out in the form of a creative discussion, exchange of opinions, and identification of shortcomings. Participants of the excursion should be familiarized with its control text and methodological development, the route scheme, the content of the "guide's portfolio", the list of references, etc.

Excursion approval

With a positive conclusion on the control text and methodological development, as well as on the basis of calculating the cost and determining the rate of return for a new excursion, the head of the excursion institution issues an order to approve the new excursion topic and the list of guides admitted to its conduct.

Guides who took an active part in the development of the topic and were heard on the route or during the interview are allowed to work. The conclusion on the interview is made by the methodologist of the excursion and methodological department.

All other guides, who later independently prepared this topic, conduct a trial tour in the usual manner. Guides (regardless of work experience) are allowed to conduct excursions on a topic that is new to them only if they have individual text after listening and issuing the appropriate order.

conclusions

Mandatory documentation on the topic. Preparing a new excursion topic is a complex process. This work is considered completed when all the necessary documents are prepared. Documentation on excursion topics is stored in the methodological office.

Table 2.2.

Documentation required for each theme

2.5. Excursion technique

The effectiveness of any excursion largely depends on the technique of its conduct, the relationship between the methodology and technique of conducting. A number of requirements are imposed on the technique of conducting an excursion. These include the introduction of the guide to the group, the correct arrangement of the group at the object, the exit of the excursionists from the bus and returning to the bus (another vehicle), the use of the microphone by the guide, keeping the time allotted for the tour as a whole and the disclosure of individual subtopics, answering the questions of the excursionists etc.

Acquaintance of the guide with the group. The guide, entering the bus, gets acquainted with the group. He greets those present, calls his last name, first name, patronymic, the excursion institution that he represents, introduces the tourists to the bus driver, that is, he begins the tour with an introduction.

It is important that from the very beginning the guide subordinated his actions to the established rules of communication with the group. He doesn't start talking right away. There is a pause that lasts ten to twenty seconds. The first acquaintance takes place, further contacts of the guide with the group largely depend on it. The sightseers gradually fall silent, sit down more comfortably, their attention switches to the guide. Tourists estimate what the guide is capable of, what interesting things he will tell them, and the guide thinks about how to interest these people, how to rive their attention to the topic.

With the correct organization of excursion work, preparation for it should take place in advance. This is done by tour organizers or travel agents.

The plot of the excursion must be known to the excursionist in advance. The excursionist must know the topic of the excursion. It is extremely important that advertising activities and the purchase of a tour package be separated from the tour by one or two days. This is significant in the sense that during this period of time a certain psychological attitude of the excursionist will occur. He will have time to think and get used to the plot of the tour.

Each topic has its own introduction. If the composition of the group is different (for example, the local population and visiting tourists, adults and children), the same excursion will have different introductions. The guide pays special attention to the preparation and execution of the introduction, which gives a specific setting to the tourists, allows you to establish contact with them.

The exit of tourists from the bus (trolleybus, tram). Tourists need to prepare in advance for the exit. In cases where this is not done, a significant part of the group remains on the bus, not leaving to observe the monuments at their location. Thus, tourists lose the opportunity to personally get acquainted with the object.

At stops where the exit of the excursion group is provided, the guide leaves first, showing an example to the group and determining the direction of its movement to the object. In cases where other stops are arranged in the excursions, for example, sanitary or for the purchase of souvenirs, the guide reports the exact time (hour and minutes) of the bus departure. It is necessary to require tourists to comply with the rules of the tour, which affects the schedule of the bus along the route. If the parking time in a country excursion for some reason is reduced or increased, the guide informs all sightseers about this.

Arrangement of the group at the object. When developing an excursion, as a rule, several options for placing a group to observe the excursion object are determined. This is done in the case when the place determined by the methodological development is occupied by another group or when the sun's rays shine into the eyes, making it difficult to inspect the object. There are other reasons that prevent the use of the recommended place. In hot weather, opportunities are used to locate groups in the shade. In case of rain, the option of placing tourists under the roof, under the crown of trees, is provided. In some cases, the technique requires that several points be selected to inspect the object: far, if the object is shown together with the environment or other objects; near, if individual details of a building, structure, terrain, natural object are analyzed. These features are reflected in the column "Organized guidelines for methodological development." Each guide carefully studies these instructions and, before going on the route with the group, clarifies issues related to the arrangement of the group to observe objects. It is also necessary to ensure the safety of sightseers when inspecting objects and when crossing motorways.

With the simultaneous location of several groups near one object, such a distance must be maintained between them so that one guide does not interfere with the other with his story, so that one group does not obscure the other object of observation. Known difficulties in observing this condition are the placement of groups to show the museum exposition.

Movement of sightseers from the bus to the object, from the object to the bus, between the objects is carried out by the group. The guide's place is in the center of the group, a few people go in front, a few are nearby, the rest are behind. It is important that the group does not stretch: the distance between its head and those who go last should not exceed 5-7 meters. The guide must ensure that when the group moves along the route, integrity is not violated. With a long group, not everyone will hear the guide's story, his explanations and logical transitions that are presented along the way. Experienced guides skillfully guide the movement on the route.

The pace of the movement of the group depends on the composition of the group (children, youth, middle age, the elderly), on the terrain, for example, climbing uphill, poor roads, overcoming ditches of dangerous zones in working shops, etc.

In a walking tour, the pace of movement of tourists is slow, unhurried, since the display objects are located next to each other.

It is more difficult to set the required pace of the group's movement on a bus tour. Here, getting off the bus, the guide does not start moving immediately, especially if the object is located in the distance. He allows most of the sightseers to get off the bus and then, slowly, but not too slowly, leads the group towards the goal. Approaching the object, he does not begin his story immediately, but after the whole group has gathered.

The guide directs the movement of tourists and in the course of their independent work on the route. Tourists walk around the object to read the inscription on it themselves, to enter inside it, to see the peculiar features of the architecture. They climb a hill to determine its height, climb a bell tower, a minaret to make sure of the unusual "step" of the steps of a steep staircase, descend into the moat to determine its depth, etc. These movements of sightseers enrich them with additional information and new impressions. , make it possible to feel the unique features of the objects, the features of the events to which the excursion is dedicated.

The return of tourists to the bus. During the movement of the group, it is led by a guide. When a group boards a bus, it stands to the right of the entrance and counts the sightseers who enter the cabin. This is done invisibly. After making sure that all the participants of the excursion have gathered, he enters the bus last and gives a signal to the driver about the start of the movement.

It is necessary to avoid counting tourists who have already taken their seats on the bus. This introduces unnecessary nervousness, sometimes causing comical situations, thereby disrupting the course of the excursion.

Tour guide location. The guide on the bus should take a place where he can clearly see the objects that are discussed on the tour, but so that all the tourists are in his field of vision. At the same time, tourists should see it. Typically, this is a dedicated front seat next to the driver (the seat behind the driver is reserved for another driver). The guide is not allowed to stand while the bus is moving (as well as sightseers) for safety reasons.

On a walking tour, the guide should be half-turned to the object. Conducting a display of visually perceived objects requires that they be in front of the eyes of the guide, because he analyzes them based on his visual impressions. This is especially important in out-of-town excursions, when the guide, while the bus is moving, sitting in his place with his back to the sightseers, looks into the front window of the bus and talks about what the sightseers already see or are about to see.

Compliance with the time in the excursion. The methodological development indicates the exact time allotted for the disclosure of each subtopic in minutes. Everything is provided here: showing objects, the guide's story, moving along the route to the next one and the movement of the group around the observed objects. The ability to meet the allotted time for the guide does not come immediately. This requires a lot of practice, including conducting an excursion with a watch in hand: at home, at a specific object. It is necessary to achieve compliance with the time when conducting a logical transition, highlighting a single sub-topic and main issues. Helps the guide timekeeping the time spent on individual parts of the tour. On the basis of such timing, taking into account the comments of the listener, the guide makes appropriate adjustments to his story. Everything superfluous is removed from the tour, which leads to a waste of time. Often, for reasons beyond the control of the guide, the tour is significantly reduced in time. The reason for this is the protracted gathering of the group, breakfast served to tourists at the wrong time, the bus being late, etc. As a result, the tour starts late. The guide has only one way out - to reduce the time allotted for the disclosure of the topic. This should be done by keeping everything important in the content of the excursion and removing the secondary. To do this, you need to prepare in advance for a possible reduction in the material of the excursion.

Technique for conducting a story while the bus is moving. The story while driving on the bus should be conducted by a guide through a microphone. If the equipment does not function well or there is no microphone at all, it is useless for the guide to talk while driving. The noise of the engine and the shaking of the bus limit the audibility, so that the explanations will be audible only to the sightseers sitting nearby. In this case, the guide gives materials about the nearest section of the route before the start of the movement, and during the movement he reports only the names of objects or areas. If there are important objects or settlements, it is necessary to stop the bus, turn off the engine, and only then give explanations. This must be agreed in advance with the driver.

Answers to the questions of tourists. In excursion practice, a certain classification of questions has developed. They are divided into four groups: the questions of the guide, which are answered by the tourists; questions posed during the story, which the guide answers; rhetorical questions that are posed to enhance the attention of tourists; questions asked by the participants of excursions on the topic. The first three groups of questions are related to the methodology for conducting excursions, and only the fourth group of questions is related to the technique of conducting excursions. Their content is different - sometimes they are associated with objects, sometimes - with the life of famous figures, and often - with events that are not related to the topic of the excursion. The main rule for dealing with such questions is that you should not interrupt the story and give an immediate answer to them, and you should not also answer questions at the end of each of the subtopics. This scatters attention and distracts the audience from the perception of the content of the topic being disclosed, since not everyone in the group is concerned about these issues. Therefore, the guide should answer questions not during the tour, but at the end of it. The content of the answers should not be debatable, i.e., make the tourists want to argue, continue the topic raised in the question.

Making an introduction to the topic, the guide informs his listeners about this order of answering questions.

Breaks in the tour. The tour guide should not talk continuously. There should be small breaks between the individual parts of the story, the story and the excursion information on the way, the logical transition and the story about the object and the events associated with it.

Pauses pursue the following tasks:

The first is semantic, when the time of breaks is used by people to think about what they heard from the guide and saw with their own eyes. To consolidate the factual material in memory, formulate their conclusions and remember what they saw. It is important that the sightseers have time free from showing and telling each object for self-examination, preparation for the perception of what will be shown and told at the next stop;
- the second - to give a short rest to the tourists. It does not carry any semantic load. This is especially important for those who are not yet accustomed to such an active form of cultural and educational work as an excursion.

Pauses in out-of-town excursions are combined with rest, which, in accordance with the existing procedure, is provided to the guide: 15 min. after each hour of work (for the guide, the hour of the tour is 45 minutes). This rest can be summarized and used by the guide at the end of the tour. There may also be pauses in excursions - free time used to purchase souvenirs, printed materials, quench thirst, as well as for sanitary stops on long excursions.

The technique of using the "guide's briefcase". The content of the "portfolio of the guide", its significance and role in the use of methodological techniques of the show is related to the methodology for preparing and conducting the tour. Each exhibit - a photograph, a drawing, a reproduction of a painting, a portrait, a drawing, a copy of a document - has its own serial number. This determines the sequence of demonstration of this exhibit to the tourists.

The exhibit can be shown by the guide from his workplace, handed over to the tourists in the rows for a more detailed acquaintance.

Sometimes, in accordance with the methodological development, the guide organizes the playback of tape and video recordings. It is important to check the serviceability of the equipment in advance, the availability of the necessary records, to ensure audibility for all participants in the tour. The guide must be able to use this equipment.

During the tours, elements of the ritual (a ceremonial developed by folk customs) are used. Tourists at burial sites and memorials honor the memory of the dead with a minute of silence, are present at the changing of the guard of honor, participate in processions and rallies, and listen to mourning melodies. The guide needs to know the procedure for laying flowers, the passage of sightseers at the locations of mass graves and obelisks, participation in the guard of honor, in a minute of silence, the rules of conduct at the Eternal Flame and at the burial sites of heroes of the Civil, Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) and others wars. Before the start of the tour, the guide informs about everything, emphasizing the importance of observing the ritual when visiting historical sites.

conclusions

The importance of issues related to the technique of conducting excursions can hardly be overestimated. Neither a fascinating story about objects, nor methodical methods of displaying monuments will give the necessary effect if all aspects of its implementation are not seriously thought out, if conditions for observing objects are not created.

test questions

1. The concept of "excursion technique".
2. Contents of the column "Organizational instructions".
3. Organization of the guide's work with the group.
4. Skillful use of excursion technique.
5. Skills in using the technique of conducting excursions.
6. The pace of movement of the group, its significance.
7. Using the microphone. Work in the absence of a microphone.
8. Establishing the necessary order in the group.
9. Use of free time during the excursion.
10. Answers to the questions of the tourists.
11. Technique for using visual aids.

Introduction…………………………………………………..3

1. Subject and ides of the excursion methodology.

1.1 Subject and types of excursion methodology ...... 5

1.2. Methodology for preparing excursions………………... 8

2. Classification of methodological techniques.

2.1 Classification of teaching methods………….14

2.2 Methodological techniques of display……………….…...17

2.3 Methodological techniques of the story………………….25

3. Special methodological techniques.

3.1. Receiving a demonstration of a visual aid………35

3.2Assimilation by the guide of methodological techniques………………………………………………………..39

4. Technique of conducting excursions.

4.1 Technique of conducting excursions………………………42

Conclusion……………………………………………………..51

Bibliographic list……………..……………….…52

Introduction.

Methodology in the broad sense of the word is a set of methods for expediently carrying out this or that work, solving a problem, achieving a goal, and in a narrower sense, it is a set of specific methodological methods for conducting lectures, conversations, excursions on a specific topic and for a specific group.

The technique is divided into general and private.

A tour is a methodically thought-out display of places of interest, historical and cultural monuments, a display based on an analysis of the objects that are in front of the eyes of the tourists, as well as the events associated with them.

The guide is not indifferent to what the excursionist sees, how he understands and perceives what he sees and hears.

The guide, with his explanations, brings the tourists to the necessary conclusions, the effectiveness of the excursion depends on this.

From this it follows that the essence of the excursion can be defined as follows: a visual process of learning about the surrounding world, a process built on pre-selected objects that are in natural conditions or located in the halls of museums, exhibitions, workshops of a sculptor, artist, etc.

The excursion technique is a private technique, since it is associated with the process of disseminating knowledge on the basis of one form of work. The excursion methodology is a set of requirements and rules for excursions, as well as the sum of the methodological methods for preparing and conducting excursions of various types, on various topics and for various groups of people.

The tour guide answers the following questions:

1. Why is the excursion prepared and conducted (goal, objectives)?

2. What issues are covered on the tour (what is its content about)?

3. How to conduct a tour (methodological techniques)?

The excursion methodology consists of several independent, interconnected parts:

Methods for developing a new topic for this bureau;

Methods of development by the guide of a new topic for him, but already developed in this bureau;

Methods of preparing the guide for the next excursion;

Excursion methods;

Methods after excursion work.

1. Subject and types of excursion methods.

1.1 Subject and types of excursion methods.

The method of conducting an excursion is a set of techniques used in conducting an excursion, which are designed to find a way more than usual and, together with the effective merit of the goal of the excursion, to help the excursionists easier and more firmly to finally learn the content of the excursion.

Methodological methods of conducting excursions are divided into general, personal and individual. Imagine one fact that general receptions are, as usual, the basis for conducting, as everyone knows, any excursion, regardless of its topic, the composition of the excursion group. It must be said that personal, in the end, are those methods that are used in excursions, as most of us are used to saying, of a certain type (industrial, museum, natural history, transport, walking), or in excursions conducted for a certain, as people are accustomed to express themselves to the excursion audience (kids, youth, adults). It's not a secret for anyone that personal methods, focusing on the main requirements of the excursion methodology, develop and concretize more effective methods of conducting excursions of this type. Everyone knows that in the end, single techniques are, as we constantly say, unique methods of observing some, as many people say, 1 object or a story about it, for example, showing a building standing on the shore of a reservoir, which on a fine summer day is finally reflected on its surface. And it is not even necessary to say that such techniques are usually the intellectual property of the 1st guide and, finally, are used by everyone who, therefore, conducts such excursions. Indeed, single techniques also include those whose implementation is limited, as we put it, to a certain time of the year or day.

The excursion technique is considered in several aspects: as the basis of the professional skills of guides; as a mechanism that improves the "feed" of the material; as a process of streamlining the activities of the guide. The technique helps the tourists to see, remember and understand much more than in a lecture that reveals the same topic. This happens because the lecturer's methodology is largely based on various kinds of messages and descriptions, the lecture story is conducted in isolation from the objects of description. The excursion methodology consists of several independent, interconnected parts: - methods of development by the guide of a new topic for him, but already developed in this bureau; - methods of preparing the guide for the next excursion; - methods of conducting excursions; - methods of post-excursion work.

Aspects of the excursion methodology: the basis of the professional skill of the guide, the mechanism for supplying material, the process of streamlining the activities of the guide during the preparation and conduct of the excursion.

The excursion technique is associated with such concepts as storytelling and showing. To the question about the relationship between showing and telling in a guided tour, the methodology gives an unequivocal answer: from showing to telling. You should start with a show, with visual or other (tactile, olfactory) impressions, and then introduce a story. The technique takes into account the ability of the object to attract attention, uses various means to enhance the attention of tourists.

Another task of the methodology is to suggest the most effective use of methodological methods of conducting excursions. The excursion methodology takes into account the issues of emotional impact on tourists.

The subject of the excursion methodology is the purposeful study, systematization, formulation, clarification and practical application of the means and methods of education and training, as well as methodological techniques, with the help of which employees of excursion institutions carry out their activities. The excursion methodology summarizes the experience of conducting excursions, develops and offers such methodological techniques that have justified themselves in practice and ensure the highest efficiency in the disclosure and perception of the topic.

1.2 Methodology for preparing excursions.

The development of the excursion is carried out by a creative group, consisting of 3-10 people, depending on the complexity of the topic. Each of the participants works on one of the sections or one of the subtopic excursions. The head of the creative team unites and edits the prepared material.

Preparation is divided into two stages:

Preliminary - selection and study of factual materials (i.e., the process of initial accumulation of knowledge on this topic), carried out by the creative group, the choice of objects on which the excursion will be built;

Direct - drawing up an excursion route, processing of factual material.

In addition, work is underway on the structure of methodological development: introduction, main part, conclusion; a control text is compiled, the methodological conduct of the excursion is analyzed (determination of the most appropriate methodological methods of showing and telling specifically for one or another part of the excursion), a "guide portfolio" is formed, and an individual text is prepared. A methodological development is a concise plan, a document that determines how to conduct this excursion, in what sequence to organize the display of monuments, what methodology should be used to effectively conduct the excursion. Here the guide should find advice on the sequence in which to show and tell, what materials from the "guide's portfolio" and when it is better to demonstrate. A methodological development is compiled for each topic of the excursion.

Methodological development is a mandatory document, without which an excursion on this topic cannot be conducted.

An individual text is also a mandatory document, which gives the guide the right to conduct an excursion on this topic. Properly compiled methodological development helps the guide to more fully reveal the topic.