SPCH 225 Small Group Communication
Winter 2008 Course Syllabus
M/W 12:30-2:40 Item 1969 D R204
Instructor: Stephanie Hurst
Course
Materials: go to
http://www.bellevuecollege.edu then log into MyBCC
Office
& Hours: R230W M/W
11:30-12:15 & T/Th 9:15 – 10:15 A.M. or by appointment
Email: shurst@bcc.ctc.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.
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
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.
Attendance
and Tardiness:
This course utilizes the Arts and Humanities policy on attendance. Students are required to attend all
class meetings. More than two unexcused
absences will result in a reduction in points for class participation. Students who miss 5 or more classes will fail
the course. See
http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/Artshum/policy/html for more information.
If a student misses a
class, he/she is responsible for any material covered in class during
his/her absence.
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.
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.
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 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. Attendance as well as class
participation count. Students are
required to attend all class meetings and group meetings. More than two 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 are expected to come to class on
time, prepared to participate, having read all required reading for that
meeting; bringing the textbook to each class meeting. 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. Students are
expected to come to class 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. Please turn off all cell phones, pagers,
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.
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 (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 a film
pertaining to small group theory and small group communication concepts. On two occasions, 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