Syllabus - Speech 225
SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION
Instructor: Fianna Dickson
Class: 12:30 – 2:40pm, T/R
Text: Brilhart, Galanes & Adams. Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice, 11th Edition
New York: McGraw Hill.
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 11:30 – 12:30 and by appointment (R-230L)
Phone: 425-564-2346
Email: fdickson@bcc.ctc.edu
Course Site: http://mybcc.net
Course Objectives
This course is designed to enhance your ability to work in groups through understanding of and participation in group communication theory and practice. The method for improving your small group communication will be a combination of theory, critical analysis, and practice. Through applying personal experience and communication theories to group activities, you will develop the capacity to critically reflect upon small group dynamics and to know what is most likely to be effective as well as recognizing those behaviors and attitudes that are counterproductive. In addition to learning how to work well in groups, it is hoped that class members will also learn how to shape groups that work well.
You will be assigned to a work group with approximately five other class members this quarter and 50% of your course grade will be earned from the results and methods your group develops. 50% of your course grade will be earned from working on your own.
Those students who achieve the most success in this class are those who accept the nature of group responsibility and prepare and participate effectively. The specific communication elements and behaviors that make this success possible and probable are the subject matter of the class. We will cover these elements together as a group.
Methods of Evaluation
Group website project (group grade) = 15% of course grade
Group website presentation (group grade) = 10% of course grade
Three section exams (individual grade) = 40% of course grade
Group exercises (group grade) = 25% of course grade
Group members’ peer evaluation (individual grade) = 10% of course grade
100%
Assignments
Group Website Project (weighted as 15% of your course grade, 15 page maximum): This will be a website that your group will develop and produce on CD. Its content will be what you think first quarter new arrivals at BCC need to know about working in student groups during their approaching years at BCC. Your group members’ experience and individual needs and expectations will inform this project while using all that you have learned about group communication in this course. The appearance, content, organization, and scope (how much information; how many links, etc.) of your website are up to you. This will represent what you consider to be most effective for your audience. You will turn in the website as a printed report, accompanied by your CD. This project is due at the end of the quarter. More about this assignment will be discussed in class and in group conferences with me.
Group Website Presentation (weighted as 10% of your course grade, 20-30minutes): Your group will have 20 minutes to present your website to the class as a fully interactive presentation. You will be graded on presentation clarity, style, cohesiveness, and completeness. This grade is based not upon the quality of your website, but rather, the quality of your presentation of your website. It should be a demonstration of your group’s ability to plan, to practice, and to use its member’s skills and abilities effectively and harmoniously. Members must be present to receive credit and all members must participate.
Section Exams (weighted as 40% of your course grade): There will be three scheduled exams this quarter (see “Class Schedule”) to test your knowledge of the assigned readings and in-class lectures and exercises. Each section exam will cover the material assigned in the previous three weeks and will consist of no more than 8 essay and “short answer” questions.
Group Exercises (weighted as 25% of your course grade, done in class): There will be five in-class group exercises in which you and your group members will engage an aspect of course content and develop a response that is turned in at the end of class. At the end of the quarter, all five exercises will be averaged and this will be 25% of your grade. Your response will be graded on its completeness, clarity, and accuracy. This exercise will require your group to assess, prioritize, reach consensus, and respond to the assignment requirements within the 50-minute class period. You will be given a group worksheet and directions for each group exercise. This exercise will test your group’s ability to solve problems and to work within time constraints while accomplishing a specific goal. Members must be present to receive credit.
Group Members’ Peer Evaluations (weighted as 10% of your course grade): This grade will be assigned by the group to each of its members. At the end of the quarter each group member will be evaluated by the other group members in terms of their contributions to the group. Reliability, contribution, and responsibility will be key evaluation criteria. Group members who miss group meetings and exercises should not expect a high score from their peers.
Grading Criteria
Every grade you receive on an assignment in this class will be rendered as a numerical grade. To ensure that you understand what these scores mean in this class, you should consider the following evaluative scale.
Percent % ~ 4.0 Scale Comparison
|
94/4.0 |
93/3.9 |
92/3.8 |
91/3.7 |
90/3.7 |
89/3.6 |
|
88/3.5 |
87/3.4 |
86/3.3 |
85/3.2 |
84/3.1 |
83/3.0 |
|
82/2.9 |
81/2.8 |
80/2.7 |
79/2.6 |
78/2.5 |
77/2.4 |
|
76/2.3 |
75/2.2 |
74/2.1 |
73/2.0 |
72/1.9 |
71/1.8 |
|
70/1.7 |
69/1.6 |
68/1.5 |
67/1.4 |
66/1.3 |
65/1.3 |
|
64/1.2 |
63/1.2 |
62/1.1 |
61/1.0 |
60/1.0 |
<60/0 |
Course Requirements
As a 200-level college course, college-level spoken, written, and reading competence in English, regular participation, and effective communication skills are essential to success in this course.
Policies
Students with Disability: Students with disabilities who have accommodation needs are required to meet with the Director of Disability Support Services to establish their eligibility for accommodation. Contact DSS at (425) 564-2498; TTY line, (425) 564-4110. In addition, students are encouraged to review their accommodation requirements with each instructor during the first week of the quarter.
Academic Integrity: Students caught in academic dishonesty (plagiarizing, cheating, etc.) will be reported to the Dean of Student Services, as well as receive an ‘F’ on the assignment. Please consult the Arts and Humanities Division statement of Student Procedures and Expectations at: http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/Artshum/policy.html
Attendance: Should you be absent, you are responsible for learning material presented while you were away; you can get this information from your classmates. Missing class more than 4 class sessions will result in failing this course. Due to its disruptive nature, chronic tardiness and cellular phone disturbances will be treated as absence.
Etiquette: Students are expected and required to act in class and toward other students and instructors in a manner that demonstrates respect for the collegiate environment and toward the other people in it.
Academic Standards: All written assignments will be typed, double spaced in size 12 font. Handwritten assignments will not be accepted, with the exception of exercises completed in class. References will be cited in either APA or MLA format (an on-line version of these style manuals is available through the BCC Writing Lab at http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/writinglab/). Failing to cite references is considered plagiarism.
Missed Assignments/Exams: For obvious reasons, class exercises and presentations cannot be made up, regardless of excuse. Read the syllabus carefully and make sure that you do not miss key days and assignments. As in the working world, what counts in this class is accomplishment, not excuses. (In the rare instance of a true emergency, only official documentation such as a collision report or physician’s note will allow for the possibility of a make-up.)
Late Assignments: Assignments not turned in by the end of class on their due dates will be assessed one full grade (e.g., from 3.0 to 2.0) for every full day they are late, or one half grade for any portion of a day late (e.g., from 3.0 to 2.5). Assignments can only be accepted in person, not via email.
Tentative Class Schedule
|
Day |
Class Activity |
|
Reading Assignment [Due on date listed] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEEK 1 |
|
|
|
|
Jan 4 |
Introductions, “Survivor” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 6 |
Group Types, Problem Solving, Assign Groups |
|
Ch. 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEEK 2 |
|
|
|
|
Jan 11 |
Systems View, Communication |
|
Chs. 2, 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 13 |
Nonverbal Communication, Group Exercise 1 |
|
Ch. 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEEK 3 |
|
|
|
|
Jan 18 |
Culture, Gender, Exam Review |
|
Ch. 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 20 |
Assign Project, Section Exam 1 (Chs. 1-5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEEK 4 |
|
|
|
|
Jan 25 |
Group Development, Norms, Roles |
|
Chs. 6 & 7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 27 |
Mission Statement, Group Exercise 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEEK 5 |
|
|
|
|
Feb 1 |
The Commitments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 3 |
The Commitments, Group Exercise 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEEK 6 |
|
|
|
|
Feb 8 |
Group Cohesiveness , Group Think |
|
Ch. 8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb. 10 |
Problem Solving, Exam Review |
|
Ch. 11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEEK 7 |
|
|
|
|
Feb 15 |
Section Exam 2 (Ch. 7, 6, 8, 11), Creativity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 17 |
Leadership, Types of Leaders, Decision Making |
|
Ch. 9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEEK 8 |
|
|
|
|
Feb 22 |
Decision Making, Critical Thinking |
|
Ch. 12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 24 |
Managing Conflict, Group Exercise 4 |
|
Ch. 13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEEK 9 |
|
|
|
|
March 1 |
Leaders Tasks, Exam Review, Lottery |
|
Group 4 exercise due |
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 3 |
No School |
|
|
|
WEEK 10 |
|
|
|
|
March 8 |
Section Exam 3 (Ch. 9, 10, 12, 13) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 10 |
Group Conferences |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEEK 11 |
|
|
|
|
March 15 |
Group Presentations |
|
Projects Due |
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 17 |
Group Exercise 5, Wrap-up Discussion |
|
Peer Evaluations Due |