TEAM PROJECT & PRESENTATION SUMMARY
TAKING CHARGE: COMMUNITY AND COMMUNICATION
FALL 2005
Overview
The course is about exploring the nature of leadership from an individual, group, and
community perspective. Central to this exploration is an examination of how to create
change within a diverse society. Exploring your chosen social issue allows us to
continue this path from the perspective of those that struggle with everyday
challenges that are not part of our daily experiences.
This project will also enable you to enhance your self-awareness as an individual
within our society, learn how to approach an issue from multiple perspectives,
develop a convincing argument both orally and in writing, and learn how to work
collaboratively with others.
The project will be broken down into four phases, which will be completed in class:




Phase one—getting started in your team
Phase two—problem analysis
Phase three—refining your problem and solutions
Phase four—creating the presentation outline
Process Overview
1. Select the topic
2. Identify three to four issues regarding your topic
3. Conduct your research and submit supporting articles and a library
assignment.
4. Develop the team’s solutions.
5. Develop a project outline.
6. Prepare a presentation that will summarize your research and solutions.
7. Present your work to the class.
8. Provide individual and peer feedback.
Team Project & Presentation Summary
Community and the Good Life Fall 2004
Instructor: L. Donahue & B. Lowe
Page 1 of 4
Selecting your topic
Below are suggested topics for you to choose, and around which your groups will be
formed. Each topic will relate to issues discussed in both classes. As a result, we
will be able to learn about subject areas in a greater way than possible in-class. Two
groups can not research the same topic from the same perspective; thus, if two
groups choose the same topic, we will need to negotiate what different angles the
groups can take with their topic. Six possible topic areas are as follows:
1. Create a position regarding welfare reform.
2. Create a position regarding the legitimate use of violence.
3. Create a position regarding the handling of Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath by
various leaders
4. Create a position on enhancing leadership and involvement at St. John Fisher
College.
5. Create a position regarding AIDS locally, nationally and internationally.
6. Create a position regarding the role of oral communication in social change.
7. Create a position regarding poverty locally, nationally and internationally.
8. Create a position regarding how music can create social change.
9. Create your own with our approval.
Develop a project outline
Your team will develop an outline ¾ of the way through the semester. The content
will come from the work done in Phases 1-3 and should include the following:
I.
II.
III.
Introduction
Thesis statement. What is the problem?
Body
a. Background Information (i.e. definition of terms)
b. Main point #1 about problem
i. Explanation #1
ii. Explanation #2
(with examples, facts, stories, visuals)
c. Main point #2 about problem
i. Explanation #1
ii. Explanation #2
(with examples, facts, stories, visuals)
d. Main point #3 about problem
i. Explanation #1
ii. Explanation #2
(with examples, facts, stories, visuals)
Solutions
a. Solution 1
b. Solution 2
c. Solution 3
Team Project & Presentation Summary
Community and the Good Life Fall 2004
Instructor: L. Donahue & B. Lowe
Page 2 of 4
Prepare your team presentation
Each team will give a presentation to the class on the research, results, and
recommendations from your project. The presentation should use PowerPoint and
other visual aids. Each individual team member must present for seven-to ten
minutes each and actively participate in the question and answer period.
Be prepared to distribute a handout for the class and an outline for the instructor.
By this time you will be the expert on your issue and your goal should be to share
what you have learned with your classmates and do so in a way that peaks other’s
interests while conveying important information. Keep in mind that the more you talk
to the audience (not read from a script), use a good attention-getting introduction,
speak confidently and use good body language, the more effective and interesting
your presentation will be.
Project evaluation
We will assign an individual grade based on the way you (within your group) went
about choosing a topic, gathering information, proposing a solution and presenting
that solution to the class. You will be required to hand in an outline before speaking
and distribute a handout to the class following your presentation.
Also included as part of your grade is your ability to collaborative with your group and
use the interpersonal and leadership skills discussed within ITDY 120. Although the
group work may not always run smoothly, I will look for full participation and attempts
to communicate well with your group members. Your self evaluation, peer feedback,
and instructor observations will be the measures of assessment.
The following is how the 60% will be distributed:
1. Critical Critique Paper 20%
2. Group Process and Presentation: 20%
 Group Participation (includes 4 Phase Research Process)
 Group Final Presentation (includes timing, coordination, visuals)
3. Individual Process and Presentation: 20%
 Individual Participation in Group (includes Individual Practice
Presentation)
 Individual Final Presentation
All (typed) documents above should be handed to me in a folder in the
following order on the day of your presentation:
1. Phase 1
2. Phase 2
3. Phase 3
4. Outline of Final Presentation
5. Copy of Visuals for Presentation
6. Copy of Handouts given during Presentation
Team Project & Presentation Summary
Community and the Good Life Fall 2004
Instructor: L. Donahue & B. Lowe
Page 3 of 4
Team Project & Presentation Summary
Community and the Good Life Fall 2004
Instructor: L. Donahue & B. Lowe
Page 4 of 4