CMST 230 Small Group
Communication
(FORMERLY
SPCH 225)
Winter 2010 Course Syllabus
Item 0997 Section C
Meeting times & location: Daily 11:30-12:20 in R 204
Instructor: Stephanie
Hurst
Course Materials: go
to http://bellevuecollege.edu then log into MyBCC
Office & Hours: R230W
M-Th 12:30-1:15 or by appointment
Email: shurst@bellevuecollege.edu
Phone: 425.564.3062
Text: Effective Group Discussion: Theory &
Practice by Galanes & Adams, 13Th 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
2
In-Class Group Film Assignments 100
Points
2
In-Class Team Building Assessments 50 Points
Analysis
Paper 100
Points
Class
Participation & Attendance 100
Points
Group
Project 200
Points
Homework
Assignment - Keirsey
Inventory 50 Points
Pop
Quizzes 100
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://bellevuecollege.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://bellevuecollege.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
MyBC at http://www.bellevuecollege.edu.
Participation
& Attendance (100 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. Any student caught using
electronic means for communicating during class (such as: text-messaging, instant messaging, e-mailing,
‘surfing’ etc.) will receive a ‘0’ for class participation and attendance that
day and will be asked to leave class.
Please turn off all pagers, iPods, and the like, 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 sources in MLA or APA style. Detailed instructions for each paper will be
made available on the course website.
For each paper you may select any one area of Small Group Communication
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. 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 project.
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 20 to 30 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.
Homework Assignmet - Keirsey Temperament Inventory (50 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 (2 @ 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 (2 @ 50 Points Each) 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.
|
ASSIGNMENT |
MY
GRADE ON THIS ASSIGNMENT |
|
Exam
1 |
|
|
Exam
2 |
|
|
Exam
3 |
|
|
Homework
Assignment - Keirsey Inventory |
|
|
In
Class Group Film Assignment #1 |
|
|
In
Class Group Film Assignment #2 |
|
|
Team
Building Assessment #1 |
|
|
Team
Building Assessment #2 |
|
|
Group
Presentation |
|
|
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,
individual performance in the group project, and pop quiz scores (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 Center (B132) to establish their
eligibility for accommodation. The
Disability Resource Center 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 Academic Success
Center’s Writing Lab located in D204 for assistance.
Students
who need access to a computer can utilize computers in the BC Computer Lab located
in N 250.
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