CM 220 – Group Communication
Spring 2006
An individual without information cannot take responsibility; an individual
who is given information cannot help but take responsibility.
– Jan Carlson, former Chair of Scandinavian Airways
Sarah Worley
103 Quinter House
Office Phone: ext. 3168
Home Phone: 814.643.2096
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: MF 3-4:00, TR 10:30-11:30 and 1-2, and by appointment
Required Text:
Wilson. Groups in Context: Leadership and Participation in Small Groups. New York,
NY: McGraw Hill, 2005.
Course Description: This course is designed to improve communication with others in a small group problemsolving situation. We will explore ways of developing alternative communication strategies for group decision
making, for leadership, and for managing interpersonal conflict, as well as presentation skills. This course will take
a balanced approach to understanding and using communication theories, as well as offering practical experience
using skills for working in small groups. By the end of the semester students will understand the group experience
in terms of understanding your responsibility for sharing leadership, the importance of understanding and working
cooperatively with diverse group members and the sensitivity to and wisdom in making ethical choices. Please
note that the syllabus is subject to change as the semester evolves.
Attendance Policy: Regular attendance in any class is a good practice to develop, it is imperative in a course of
this nature. The expectation is that students will attend every class, no skips are permitted. I understand that
emergencies happen, but I expect to be notified before an emergency absence occurs. Excessive absences (more
than 3), excused or unexcused, will have a detrimental impact on your final grade and can result in a failing grade
for the course.
** Please note that withdrawal after the mid-term date is at the discretion of the instructor.**
Assignments: **Note: Students are expected to uphold the standards of academic honesty and integrity set forth
by the college. Any infraction of these policies will result in failure of the course.**
Group Work
Written Proposal
Proposal
Presentation
Group Project
Completion
Group Project
Overview and
Presentation
Individual Work
10% Exam 1/Midterm
10% Exam 2/Final
10%
15%
15% Journal/short writing assignments
(Journal entries (1-2 pgs) will be made at least once a week regarding your
group experience or an analysis/observation of class concepts. Final entry will
be a self reflection paper on your role in the group experience.)
15% Attendance/Participation
(Grade involves: attendance, preparedness for discussion, willingness to work
with others, contribution to group productivity)
15%
15%
Due to the nature of this course you will be participating heavily in assigned groups over the course of the semester.
While sometime will be given in class, a considerable amount of time will be spent together outside of the
classroom. I understand that working in groups can be can often take more time than working alone and that it can
be frustrating, but over the course of the semester you will learn skills to make it productive and enjoyable. I expect
that every member of the class will participate fully in his or group. I reserve the right to remove a student from his
or her group if necessary. If this happens, the student will receive zero points for the remaining group assignments.
Groups may “fire” members who they do not feel are doing their fair share of the work. Please see the firing policy
attached to the syllabus.
Page 1 of 3
Agenda: (Subject to change as semester evolves.)
Date
Readings
Jan. 16
Introductions and Syllabus
18
Groups and Group Processes
Ch. 1
20
23
25
Communication Processes
Understanding Groups as a System
Work in Groups – Groups Assigned
Ch. 4
27
Getting Started – Agendas and
Discussions
Listening in Groups
Membership and Identity - Roles
Work in Groups
Debrief
Honest Communication (video)
Leadership
Bailey Preliminaries
Group Development
Info Gathering and Critical Thinking
Writing and Presenting a Proposal
“Twelve Angry Men”
Bailey Finals – Please attend!
“Twelve Angry Men”
30
Feb. 1
3
6
8
10
11
13
15
17
20
21
22
24
Case Study – Analyze movie in context
of class concepts
27
Decision Making
March 1
3
6
8
10
13
15
17
20
Present Proposal
Present Proposal
Classes Cancelled - Spring Break
Classes Cancelled - Spring Break
Classes Cancelled - Spring Break
Decision Day!
Work in Groups
Guest Speaker – Shauna Morin
Creating a Constructive Climate
22
24
Field Trip?
Cohesiveness
Assignments
Personal assessment
due
Readings in Pdrive
Article in Pdrive
“Communicating
in Groups”
Ch. 2 pgs 37-47
and Ch. 3
Ch. 2 pgs 60-67
Ch. 6
Group Contract Due
Article in Pdrive
Ch. 7
Ch. 5
Ch. 2 pgs 48-59
Outline of Group
Proposals Due
Each group should be
prepared to lead a
piece of the
discussion about the
movie
Review Ch. 3 pgs
93-95, article in
Pdrive
Written Proposals Due
Written Proposals Due
Ch. 8 and article
in Pdrive
Ch. 9
Page 2 of 3
27
29
31
April 3
5
7
10
19
21
24
26
Group Think
Dealing with Change and Conflict
Team Problems and Participation
(Flexible Day)
Understanding Power
Leadership and Gender
Individualism vs. Collectivism cooperation
Trends in Group Communication
Classes Cancelled – Holiday Weekend
Class Cancelled – but groups will meet
with me separately during that time
Classes Cancelled – More details later
(Flexible Day)
(Flexible Day)
Service Project Presentations
28
May 1
3
Service Project Presentations
Debrief – Final Thoughts
Reading Day!
12
14
17
Readings in Pdrive
Ch. 10
Readings in Pdrive
Readings in Pdrive
Readings in Pdrive
Readings in Pdrive
Readings in Pdrive
Overview Due
Overview Due
Journals Due 5/3 by
5pm
"If you have a group of people who are very smart about how to work
together as a team, that's a group that's going to do well no matter how
bad things get,"
- Dr. Jay Buckey (astronaut and professor of medicine at Dartmouth)
Page 3 of 3