Comm B8, Small Group Communication, R6 p.m., Spring08
Professor: Michele Bresso
Email: [email protected]
Website: www2.bakersfieldcollege.edu/mbresso
Office: FA 52
Phone: 661-395-4611
Office Hours
Tuesdays
1 - 3 p.m.
Wednesdays
5 - 6 pm.
Thursdays
1 - 3 p.m.
Finals Week May 10-16, 2008: By appointment
Course Objectives: Effective communication in a community, public or professional setting
requires an understanding of how people behave in a group context and how they interact with
others inside and outside the group. This course will cover the principles and processes of small
group communication, including the attitudes and skills necessary for effective participation and
leadership in small groups. With careful study and participation, you will become familiar with
theory and research in group communication, apply ideas about effective group communication
techniques to practical settings, develop your personal communication competency in small
group settings.
Textbook: Beebe, S. A. & Masterson, J. T. (2006) Communicating in Small Groups (8th ed.
Custom Edition for Bakersfield College). Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing.
Materials: Index cards in one of the following sizes: 3” x 5”, 4” x 6”, or 5.5” x 8.5”.
Point System: Activities, assignments and participation will be weighted as follows.
A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, D= 60-69%, F = 59%.
Attendance: Comm B8 and your team require your presence each week. Students who fail to
attend the first class meeting will be dropped. Students absent for four class meetings will be
dropped in accordance with Bakersfield College policy. Students are expected to be on time.
Roll will be taken once during class. Two tardies count as one absence. Leaving class early
constitutes a tardy. You do not need to tell me if you will miss class. There are no excused
absences. Schedule appointments outside of class time. Students are responsible for securing
any assignments or material they may have missed. There are no make-up quizzes or
assignments.
Students bear all responsibility for dropping this class. Students’ failure to execute a web drop to
remove themselves from the roster may result in an “F” grade for the course.
Perfect attendance reward: At the end of the semester students will receive a 2% point bonus
added on to their overall point total if they do ALL of the following: 1) Attend every class
meeting; 2) Are tardy (arrive late/leave early) no more than one time during the semester; 3)
Turn in all individual or team assignments on time. EXAMPLE: A student who receives this 2%
award and ends the semester with an 88% in the class will receive 90% or an A.
Projects and assignments: Work must be submitted to the instructor on the date specified.
The posted deadline is firm. All work must be typed. Keep copies of all assignments.
Assignments this term include:
Our Team Presentation*
150 points
Community Service Presentation*
Presentation (100 points)
Participation (100 points)
200 points
Case Study Presentation*
Presentation (100 points)
Participation (100 points)
200 points
In-class, point-getting activities
80 points
Example, Presentation Outline Activity = 30 points
Treasure Hunt--8 clues
Reflection Paper
Quizzes (11x10 points)
Exam #1
Exam #2
TOTAL
40 points
25 points
110 points
100 points
100 points
1005 points
Presentations noted with * above are required in the course. Failure to complete all three
presentations will result in a F grade regardless of a student’s point standing in other work.
Grade Check: Please email the instructor at ANY time during the term, and as often as you’d
like, to learn your current course grade.
Email use: Email is the primary form of communication with the instructor. You can obtain an
email address at no any student-access computer on the BC campus. Log in as “student” with
no password, then go to https://intranet.kccd.edu/aacms.
Your own work: Academic honesty is an unassailable requirement of this course. All work is to
be your original composition. You will receive zero points for any assignment that is found to be
work other than your own.
Mechanical devices: Cell phones and other ringing/beeping/alarm-sounding gizmos must be
shut off or placed in silent mode during class.
Students with disabilities: Students with disabilities who believe they may need
accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disabled Student Programs & Services
(661-395-4334), FACE 16, as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are
implemented in a timely fashion
COMM 8 SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION, R 6 p.m., with Michele Bresso
This schedule may change as the semester progresses. Changes will be announced in class.
Week 1
Due
Bring
Discuss
Activity
Syllabus; Communication Model; Our
Team Presentation Explained
Preferred meeting time cards
Group Attraction Survey;
Discuss
Activity
Intro to Communicating in Teams
Community Service Project Explained
Go To Lunch assignment explained
Team Contract & Mission explained
Team Banner explained
Quiz: Ch 1, Communication
Model and Syllabus; Team
Assignments Puzzle; Top
10/Bottom 5
Discuss
Activity
Ch 2: Group Cohesion
Quiz: Ch 2
Murder Mystery Activity
Team Banner Activity
Bring
Discuss
Activity
Each team:
Art supplies
Poster board
Service Presentation Explained
Oral Presentation Basics; review rubric
Presentation Outline Activity
Treasure Hunt Clue #1
Discuss
Activity
Thursday
Jan 24
Week 2
Due
Thursday
Jan 31
Read Ch 1
& pp. 379381
Week 3
Due
Thursday
Feb 7
Read Ch 2
Week 4
Due
Thursday
Feb 14
Bring
Bring
Week 5
Due
Bring
Thursday
Feb 21
Outline;
Contract;
Mission
Statement
Read Ch 3
Speaker’s
Ch 3: Group Formation
outline
(index cards);
Banner
Our Team Presentations
given
Quiz: Ch 3;
Fishbowl Exercise;
Find Someone Who…
Week 6
Due
Bring
Discuss
Activity
Thursday
Feb 28
Read Ch 5
Read Ch 4
Formal
Outline
Ch 5: Improving Group Climate
Ch 4: Culture and Roles; Exam #1 Review
Quiz: Ch5
Moon Survival Activity
Quiz: Ch 4
Treasure Hunt Clue #3
Week 7
Due
Bring
Discuss
Activity
ScanTron form
& No. 2 pencil
Exam #1 (covers chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Take Exam #1; Treasure
Hunt Clue #4 (Mar 3)
Bring
Discuss
Activity
Group member personality traits
What Color Reflects Me?
Draft overview of
Community Service
Presentation
Thursday
Mar 6
Week 8
Thursday
Mar 13
Due
Mar 17-21
SPRING BREAK—NO CLASSES
Week 9
Due
Bring
Thursday
Mar 27
Formal
Outlines
Speaking
Outlines
Week 10
Due
Bring
Thursday
Apr 3
Read
Ch 9
Week 11
Due
Wednesday
Apr 9
Read
Ch 10
Week 12
Due
Thursday
Apr 17
Read
Ch 6
Week 13
Due
Thursday
Apr 24
Read
Ch 7
Week 14
Due
Thursday
May 1
Read Ch
11 & 12
Week 15
Due
Bring
Thursday
May 8
Formal
Outlines
Speaking
Outlines
Week 16
Due
Bring
Discuss
Activity
ScanTron form
& No. 2 pencil
Exam #2
(covers chapters 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12)
Take Exam #2
Thursday,
May 15
6 p.m.
Bring
Bring
Bring
Bring
Discuss
Activity
Community Service
Presentations Given
Treasure Hunt Clue #5
Discuss
Activity
Ch 9: Decision Making & Problem Solving
Quiz: Ch 9;
Time Capsule
Treasure Hunt Clue #6
Discuss
Activity
Ch 10: Problem-solving Techniques
Quiz: Ch 10; Treasure Hunt
Clue #7 (Apr 7)
Medical School Activity
Discuss
Activity
Ch 6: Nonverbal Group Dynamics
Quiz: Ch 6; Find Your
Animal Mate; Fashion
Rules; Treasure Hunt Clue
#8 (Apr 14)
Discuss
Activity
Ch 7: Conflict Management
Case Study Presentations explained
Quiz: Ch 7; Conflict Styles
Questionnaire; Select Case
Study Presentation Theory
Discuss
Activity
Ch 11: Creativity; Exam #2 review
Ch: 12 Leadership
Quiz: Ch 11; Imagination
Activity; Quiz: Ch 12;
Leadership Scavenger Hunt
Discuss
Activity
Case Study Presentations
given