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Small group communication syllabus
COM 281
Communication in Small Groups
Spring 1998
COM 281-001
COM 281-401
Class Meets: 2:00-3:15 P.M.
Class Meets 6:00-7:15 P.M.
Tuesday and Thursday
Tuesday and Thursday
Funkhouser Building B4
Funkhouser Building B3
Instructor Tyler Harrison
Phone 257-5458 or 257-3621 (main office and leave a message)
email tharr0@pop.uky.edu
Office Hours Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30 - 4:30 and by appointment
Webpage http://www.uky.edu/tharr0/welcome.html
Important announcements!!!
(check this section frequently for links to important new class information and details on assignments)
Click here for more information on the group paper.
Click here for more information on the individual assessment paper.
Check out the new updated schedule of classes (updated Feb. 6)
Course Materials
Beebe, S. A., & Masterson, J. T. (1996). Communicating in small groups: Principles and practices, Fifth Edition, New York, NY: Harper
Collins.
Course Description
The primary purpose of this course is to improve students' understanding of the principles of small group communication so that they may function more effectively in groups.
Specifically, this course is designed to (1) help students become familiar with major theory and research in group communication and (2) allow students to experience the challenge of
learning how to improve their group communication skills through actual participation in groups. The knowledge gained about groups, along with experiences participating in groups,
will help students to become more comfortable, and more competent participants in the group communication process. This course examines basic verbal and nonverbal elements which
affect communication between individuals in a variety of group contexts: the family, the social peer group, and the work group. Topics include: a) an introduction to small group theory;
b) problem solving and decision making; c) team building; d) group communication facilitation; e) communication climate; f) conflict management; g) ethics in group communication;
h) leadership; I) roles, norms, status, and power; and j) how to make small group presentations.
Course Objectives
Specifically, this course will help you:
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Small group communication syllabus
Develop an understanding of the theories and principles of group communication that are the basis for a variety of group communication situations.
Improve your problem solving and decision making skills.
Understand what important roles you and other members of your group can play in the group communication process.
Learn appropriate ways to assume a leadership role.
Improve conflict management skills.
Develop your skills in understanding, analyzing, and evaluating small group communication.
Learn how to effectively participate in a group project which involves goal setting, planning, and presenting an organized presentation.
Acquire skills necessary for group communication in the organizational setting.
Class Organization
The student is expected to be completely prepared for class and to participate fully in all activities. All work turned in for this course is expected to be
the student's best work. Academic dishonesty is wrong and any occurrence will be punished to the fullest extent possible. Students should consult the
University of Kentucky book of Student Rights and Responsibilities to familiarize themselves with the terms and policies applicable to academic
dishonesty.
This class will utilize both individual and group work (approximately half of your grade will come from each). All members of your group will
receive the same grade on group projects. Each member of the group will also evaluate the relative contribution of group members. You must put
what you learn into action for this class. Many people are uncomfortable working in groups and on group projects. Due to the nature of this course,
however, you must participate in groups. Part of passing this class and receiving a good grade means that you will demonstrate the ability (not just
theoretical knowledge) to work in groups effectively.
Exams and Projects
Students will complete a number of individual and group activities throughout the semester. The group project will consist of one major project, a
written paper, and an oral presentation, as well as a peer evaluation for your participation on the project. Individual assignments will be in the form of
quizzes, a self assessment paper, and participation in and analysis of in class group related activities.
Attendance Policy
Students are encouraged to attend every class meeting. Readings, class discussions, small group work and in-class activities increase both your
understanding of small group communication and the development of your personal communication skills. Class attendance and participation are
important in accomplishing the goals of this course. MISSING CLASS HURTS YOUR GROUP MEMBERS AS WELL AS YOURSELF. If you are
going to miss a class it is your responsibility to speak with me and your team members PRIOR to the class session you will be missing. If you should
have an unanticipated EMERGENCY, please contact your team members and leave a phone or e-mail message for me.
Students are permitted TWO ABSENCES during the semester. For each subsequent absence, 5% will be deducted from the student's final grade
(students not attending class will not be given credit for team performance). For university sponsored absences, notification must be given to me prior
to the absence. Students are responsible for arranging to make-up missed work. Late work will be penalized 2 letter grades for the first day (not class
period), and 1 letter grade for each subsequent day. Quizzes may only be made if the student has a University approved excuse (death in the family,
hospitalization....). Class activities that involve group participation may not be made up.
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Assignments
Individual Assignments
1. Quizzes: given regularly over the course of the semester to assure you are reading and keeping up with material.
2. In-class experiential learning activities: over the course of the semester there will be a number of in-class group activities designed to highlight
theoretical principles. Students will receive points for participating in and providing a brief analysis of the activity.
3. Self assessment paper. Students will analyze the way they interact in groups, including such things as the roles they play, leadership, group decision
making styles, and their own personal communication skills in order to understand their relationship to an effective small group communication
process.
Group Assignment
Form a group and do something! Groups are formed for certain purposes and goals. Your group must develop a set of goals and accomplish them
over the course of the semester. You have a great deal of flexibility in the goals you choose, but they must ultimately be approved by me. Goals could
include such things as taking up a social cause and trying to affect social change (lobbying and trying to influence the university about an issue,
environmental causes....), becoming an active volunteer group targeting some specific task (adult illiteracy, helping the homeless develop job skills....),
some sort of group learning project where as a group you learn or participate in some new activity that no one in the group has done before (rock
climbing, river running....), developing and completing a fundraising activity for a charity, or any other substantial goal. This assignment will require
a substantial amount of out of class time and participation.
In addition to completing the activities, there are two written and an oral part to this assignment:
Written work:
1) Your group will turn in a written analysis of the project: this includes the specific goals you set, what actions you took to meet those goals, how you
determined success, and an overall evaluation of the worthwhileness of the activities, and 2) a written analysis of the group processes involved in
achieving your goals (including such things as group roles, decision making, goal setting, group conflict, leadership, group cohesiveness, and so on).
The group will all receive the same score on the written work.
Oral work:
Your group must present your project to the class. All group members must participate in the presentation. The group will all receive the same grade
for the presentation. Each group will have one entire class period to present their project and highlight important themes and issues that arose in their
groups. In addition to the presentation, groups should be prepared to answer questions from the audience. Creativity and innovation are strongly
encouraged, as are the use of visual aids and technology. At a minimum you should have some pictures showing the process and results of your
accomplishments.
Participation:
Participation grades will be awarded by peer evaluation. Groups are responsible for developing a set of criteria on how those points will be awarded
(this must be turned in with the individual peer evaluations). Each individual will award a set number of points to each other team member, and
provide justification for the number of points they award.
Groups are dynamic, ever changing, and in competition with other groups. As such, you are not locked into the group which you initially join. You
may change groups, your group may try to lure other individuals into your group or kick somebody out of your group. You must develop a set of
guidelines and procedures approved by each member of the group before you can kick somebody out. Be warned that your individual grade
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depends on you being part of a group that successfully completes a project, and the group grade depends on the quality of the completed work. Your
group will also evaluate the amount and quality of your contribution to the project, and that evaluation will play a significant role in the determination
of your individual grade on the assignment. If you find yourself without a group you may have to find very creative ways to make yourself more
appealing to other groups so they will admit you to membership (this may mean doing much greater quantities of work than you would have if you
had been a good group member to begin with). Groups must maintain a minimum size of 5.
IT IS IN YOUR BEST INTEREST TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE A GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE GROUP MEMBER, AND THAT YOU TAKE
ACTIVE STEPS TO GET ALL GROUP MEMBERS TO FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATIONS AND PARTICIPATE FULLY.
Breakdown of grading for the semester
Individual assignments
Quizzes:
Self assessment:
Experiential learning:
Group assignment
Written assignment:
Presentation:
Individual participation:
Total for the class:
100 points
100 points
100 points
175 points
75 points
50 points
600 points
Definition of Grades:
Work that meets all the minimum requirements and is relatively clean, correct, and free from errors constitutes an average grade of "C". To receive a
higher grade you must exceed the minimum requirements defined by the assignment. To do this requires a demonstration of creativity and
mastery of the material above and beyond the norm.
Grades will be assigned as follows:
A = 600 - 540
B = 539 - 480
C = 479 - 420
D = 419 - 360
E < 360
Tentative schedule of topics and assignments
(may vary depending on the progress of the class)
1/15 Intro to class
1/20 Chapter 1 Intro to small group communication
1/22
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1/27 Chapter 2 Small group theory
1/29
2/3 Chapter 3
Group formation
2/5
2/10 Ch. 4 Relating to others in groups
2/12 Quiz on chs. 3 & 4.
In class group activity on roles
2/17 Ch. 5 Climate
In class group activity on feedback/trust
2/19 Video Color of Fear
2/24 Ch. 6 Nonverbal
Mini-paper due (on previous 2 role-playing activities and video)
2/26 Quiz chs. 5 & 6
Group meeting time (plan, schedule, share information)
3/3 Ch. 7 Decision Making
3/5 Ch. 8 Decision making cont.
Group role plays
3/10 Quiz chs. 7 & 8 Minority Influence
3/12 Video 12 Angry Men
Mini-paper on minority influence and decision making (due after spring break on role-playing activity and
video)
3/17 Spring Break
3/19 Spring Break
3/24 Ch. 9 conflict management
Mini-paper due
3/26 Group role playing
Conflict/problem solving/minority influence
3/31 Group role playing
Dealing with negative feelings
4/2 Ch. 10 Leadership
Quiz chs. 9 & 10
4/7 Video Flight of the Phoenix
Mini paper on leadership and conflict management (from roles-plays and video)
4/9 Appendix: group presentations Mini paper due
4/14 Ch. 11 Groups in organizations Group meeting time
4/16 presentation
4/21 presentation
4/23 presentation
4/28 presentation
4/30 presentation
Individual Assessment paper due
Mini-papers
The role of mini-papers is to make sure you are picking up on key concepts from the role-playing activities and videos. These papers are where you
demonstrate that you have made the link between theory and practice. As such they should include specific observations about behavior in groups
(yours and groups observed in person or in video) and link it to the theoretical material in the books. These papers should be 2-3 typed, double spaced
pages. Each paper is worth 34 points and will be graded based on creativity, insight, quality of writing, and how concretely you are able to
demonstrate the workings of key concepts. You must participate in all of the activities and watch the videos to get any credit at all for these
assignment.
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