CMST
230 Small Group Communication
FORMERLY
SPCH 225
Fall
2008 Course Syllabus
Item
0997 Section C
Meeting times &
location: M-F 11:30-12:20 in R 303
Instructor:
Course Materials: go
to http://bellevuecollege.edu then log into MyBCC
Office & Hours: R230W
M-Th 12:30-1:20 or by appointment
Email: shurst@bellevuecollege.edu
(This
is the best way to get in touch with me. J)
Phone: 425.564.3062
Text: Effective
Group Discussion: Theory & Practice
by Galanes & Adams, 12Th
Ed..
Course
Goals This course is
designed for the student to explore small group communication theory and
concepts and to develop an ability to apply this knowledge to everyday small
group experiences. After completing this
course, you will have a better understanding of the behaviors needed to create,
lead, and sustain an effective group.
Students
who successfully complete this course will be able to:
Format You will be engaged in activities and
discussions designed to aid your understanding of the concepts explored in this
class. This course also includes an
extensive group project. Lectures by the
instructor will be kept to a minimum.
Given this format, students need to commit to being active
participants in this class. In addition,
this area of study contains complex theories and difficult social science
jargon. I will do my best to assist you,
but a college reading level and college writing level in English is needed
to succeed in this course.
Required
Assignments:
3 Exams @ 100 Points Each 300
Points
1 In-Class Group Film Assignment
75 Points
3
Analysis Paper 100
Points
Class Participation & Attendance 200 Points
Group Project 200
Points
Peer Evaluations 25 Points
Keirsey Temperament Inventory
25 Points
Total 1000 Points
Grading
Scale
A = 940 – 1000 pts. A- = 900 – 939 pts.
B+ = 860 – 899
pts. B = 830 – 859 pts. B
- = 800 – 829 pts.
C+ = 760 – 799
pts. C = 730 – 759 pts. C- = 700 – 729 pts.
D+ = 660 – 699
pts. D = 600 – 659 pts.
F = 0 – 599
pts.
Expectations and
Policies:
How
to succeed in this class…
Success in this class is dependent
on: 1.) your motivation and desire to
explore and learn, 2.) keeping up with the assigned readings by the due dates,
3.) your ability to read and write in English at the college level, 4.) the
ability to learn from written materials, including lectures, 5.) meeting the
attendance policy and contributing in a relevant and constructive manner to
class discussions, 6.) self-discipline to focus, set goals, and complete
assignments on time.
Student
Conduct…
The division policy on classroom
conduct applies to this course.
In order to receive credit for this
course, students must complete all the assignments, projects and
examinations as well as meet the attendance requirement.
Essential to a liberal arts education is an open-minded
tolerance for ideas and modes of expression which might conflict with one’s
personal values. By being exposed to
such ideas or expressions, students are not expected to endorse or adopt them
but rather to understand that they are part of the free flow of information
upon which higher education depends.
To this end, you may find that class requirements may
include engaging certain materials, such as books, films, and art work, which
may, in whole or in part, offend you.
These materials are equivalent to required texts and are essential to
the course content. If you decline to
engage the required material by not reading, viewing, or performing material
you consider offensive, you will still be required to meet class requirements
in order to earn credit for this class.
This may require responding to the content of the material, and you may
not be able to fully participate in required class discussions, exams, or
assignments.
The
college's "Affirmation of Inclusion” is posted in each classroom and sets
forth the expectation that we will all treat one another with respect and
dignity regardless of whether or not we agree philosophically.
This expectation is in line with the principle of free speech in a free
society: we have the right to express unpopular ideas as long as we don't
show disrespect for reasonable people who might believe otherwise. In a
hybrid course, you will be expressing ideas through the medium of the course
site in addition to face to face in the classroom. As such, these
expectations also refer to the courtesy with which you communicate with one
another through e-mails and e-discussions.
Part of this respect involves professional behavior toward
the instructor, colleagues, and the class itself. Disruptive behavior is
disrespectful behavior. The Arts and Humanities Division honors the right
of its faculty to define "disruptive behavior," which often involves
such things as arriving late, leaving early, leaving class and then returning,
talking while others are trying to hear the instructor or their group members,
doing other homework in class, wearing earphones in class, bringing activated beepers,
alarm watches, or cellular phones into class, inappropriate comments or
gestures, etc. In on-line communication with classmates “flaming’ is also
considered disruptive behavior. Such behavior interrupts the educational
process. When you are in doubt about any behavior, consult your
instructor during office hours as the judgment of the instructor is the final
authority in these matters.
Suggestions Regarding Online
Interaction (e-mail and the like):
Be careful
about your tone of voice. In a written discussion a slightly critical comment
can seem like a crushing condemnation because readers can't see the facial
expressions and body language that tell them how serious you are. On the other
hand, it's not a good idea to write
"smiley-face" comments all the time. Those kinds of comments don't
add anything substantial to the discussion. If you question or disagree with
something someone has said, you need to say so—tactfully.
One way to express a disagreement tactfully is to couch your comment as a question: "Do you think we should
consider...?" Another way is to use tentative language: "But I wonder if we couldn't look at
it from another angle..." These kinds of comments invite others to
join the discussion and give their ideas. Remember—our purpose is to generate
ideas, not to win verbal battles.
Furthermore, it is not appropriate to be disrespectful in anyway – either
online or face-to-face. Part of your
success in this class is from your developed skill of dealing with conflict and
with people who are different than you.
The difference may be in worldview, beliefs, and values. We will respect one another in all of these
ways.
Attendance and
Tardiness:
This course utilizes the Arts and Humanities policy on attendance. Students are required to attend all
class meetings. More than three
unexcused absences will result in a reduction in points for participation. If a student misses a class, he/she is
responsible for any material covered in class during his/her absence. Students who miss 10 or more classes will
fail the course. See
http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/Artshum/policy/html for more information.
Students are expected to come to class on time. Arriving late to class or leaving early is
disruptive and inconsiderate to those who are on time and stay for the whole
class period. Chronic tardiness will
result in a reduction in points for class participation. This is a college
level class, the courtesies assumed therein apply. Please refer to the Division of Arts and
Humanities Student Procedures and Expectations regarding acceptable student
conduct.
Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses. The division’s policies on plagiarism and
cheating are clear. Students caught
plagiarizing papers or projects or cheating on exams will receive an “F” (0
points) for the assignment and will be reported to the Dean of Student Programs
and Services. See
http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/Artshum/policy/html for more information.
Assignments are due on the designated due dates by the end
of the class meeting time. Late work will not be accepted by the
instructor unless prior arrangements
have been made (that is, before the due date).
In order to receive credit for this
course, students must complete all the assignments and examinations as well as
meet the attendance requirement.
Required
Assignments
Please
note: Specific guidelines and details regarding all assignments will be posted on
MyBCC at http://www.bellevuecollege.edu.
Participation (200 Points)
Students are expected to come to class on time, prepared, having read all
required reading assignments for that meeting; bringing to each class meeting
the course textbook; ready to share relevant and constructive information with
the class. With regard to their overall
course grade, students will be evaluated on their constructive and
meaningful participation in classroom discussions of course material. Each student is required to be an active
group member in this class. Students
will be evaluated on their participation in classroom discussions of course
material. Group communication (i.e. the
college classroom setting) is always more interesting and fun when every group
member (that's you) is ready and willing to participate constructively. Please silence all cell phones before class
begins. Please turn off all pagers, iPods,
Blackberries, etc. before class begins.
Analysis Paper (100 Points) Students will write an analysis paper
applying course concepts to groups in action.
Students will apply their knowledge of small group communication theory
and concepts to their team project. Each
paper will be 4-6 pages typed and double-spaced with 1 (one) inch margins on
white paper and include a Bibliography of references in MLA style. Detailed instructions for each paper will be
made available on the course website..
For each paper you may select any one area of SGC to focus
including: leadership, systems theory,
conflict, decision making, norms and roles, nonverbal signals, etc.
Group Project (200 Points)
Students will be assigned to and participate in a small group. Each small group's goal will be to select a
means to assist (that is, help in some way) the community. Choices may include: helping a homeless shelter in some capacity,
organizing a food drive, organizing a sweater/coat drive, etc. At the end of the quarter, each group will
present to the class their project.
Students will be given adequate time to meet in class in
order to complete this projects. The
entire project grade consists of two parts:
group performance and effectiveness on the presentation (100 pts.), and
student attendance, contribution and professionalism to & with his/her
group (100 pts.). Class presentations
will be held the last week of the quarter.
More details regarding this assignment will be provided on a later date.
Note: at any
time during the quarter, non-participatory and/or non-contributing group
members can be ‘voted off the island’ or ‘fired’ by the rest of his/her group
members. If a student is ‘voted off the island’
or ‘fired’ from his/her group, he/she will research and write a 15 page
research paper on a Small Group Communication topic of the instructor’s
choice. The research paper will have a
minimum of 15 cited journal sources and a comprehensive bibliography. The student will present his/her paper and
findings to the class in a 30 to 40 minute presentation. It is the recommendation of this institution
that students not car pool to any activity or event. Public methods of transportation are
recommended.
Exams
(3 @ 100 Points Each) There will be 3
examinations given. Each exam is worth
100 points and will consist of true/false and multiple-choice questions. Exam material will pertain to information
covered in the text, as well as, information discussed and presented in class.
Keirsey Temperament
Inventory (25 Points) Each
student will complete the Keirsey Temperament Inventory on line, print out
his/her results and bring them to class to hand in by the due date.
Team Building
Activity & In-Class Assessment for Improvement (3 @ 25 Points Each) After completing an in-class team building
activity, each group will complete an analysis of for how their group can
improve utilizing course terminology and theory.
In-Class Group Film
Assignments (1 @ 75 Points) As a class we will watch two films pertaining
to small group theory and small group communication concepts. With regard to each film, students will
respond to questions requiring their written analysis as a group. Responses must apply course theory in an
in-class written essay.
Peer Evaluations
(25 Points) Each student will complete
one peer evaluation form per person in his/her group and hand them in. Criticism should be constructive in nature.
|
ASSIGNMENT |
MY GRADE ON THIS ASSIGNMENT |
|
Exam 1 |
|
|
Exam 2 |
|
|
Exam 3 |
|
|
Absences (List the dates of all absences) |
|
|
Keirsey Temperament Inventory |
|
|
In Class Group Film Assignment #1 |
|
|
In Class Group Film Assignment #2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group Presentation |
|
|
Group Project Participation |
|
|
Analysis Paper |
|
Directions: Add all
assignment scores. This is the total
number of points achieved in the class out of 700. Note…Class
participation, attendance, and individual performance in the group project (i.e.
the remaining 300 points) will be evaluated by the instructor and added in to
the final grade calculation.
Students with
Disability and/or Special Needs:
If you require accommodation based on a documented
disability, have emergency medical information to share, or need special
arrangements in case of emergency evacuation, please see me as soon as
possible. Students with disabilities who
have accommodation needs are required to meet with the Director of Disability
Resource Services (B132) to establish their eligibility for accommodation. Disability Resource Services is in B132, and
can be reached by phone at 425.564.2498 or TTY 425.564.4110. Students are encouraged to review their
accommodation needs with each instructor during the first week of the quarter.
If you have any mobility issues, please come talk to me.
Students who need extra help in college writing should go to
the BCC Writing Lab located in D204 for assistance.
Students who need access to a computer can utilize computers
in the BCC Computer Lab located in the N building.
Communication is key! Please come talk to me if you have any
concerns or issues.
The following quotes
are indicators of my teaching philosophy:
If
I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one
and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself. - Confucius
What
we have to learn to do, we learn by doing. – Aristotle
The
wise teacher does not bid you enter the house of wisdom, but rather leads you
to the threshold of your own mind. – Kahlil Gibran