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Course Requirements

COMM 382

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

 

  1. Attendance and Participation:

 

a. Attendance: Because of the participative nature of this class, attendance is a must.  Excessive absences will result in your participation grade being lowered by one or more letter grades, depending on the number of absences.  You are allowed a maximum of four (4) absences.  Five (5) or more absences are defined as "excessive."  Excused absences are only given in extreme and rare cases.  An absence is defined as "not being present in class".  University sponsored activities such as field trips or participation in athletic events are not counted as absences.  Please inform Dr. Thomlison in advance of university related activities that will cause you to miss class.

 

b. Participation: Participation is also a must because the course is designed for active involvement. By actively participating you have an opportunity to apply the theories and concepts studied.  You also have a chance to share your ideas with peers and develop techniques of effective self-expression in groups. The participation grade is based on qualitative and quantitative criteria:  (1) Demonstration of knowledge of concepts, research, and theories from the assigned readings--determined by quality of information shared in class; and (2) Amount of participation—regularly sharing your insights, observations, ideas, and reactions with the class, as well as active participation in exercises and discussions. Note that just speaking on unrelated topics will not be seen as fulfilling the requirement.  Feel free to contact Dr. T for feedback on how you are doing on this requirement.  Consistent participation is preferable to domination of the class discussions. 

 

  1. Examinations:

 

Four (4) exams will be given during the semester.  Each will cover all material from the assigned chapters in the text, any handouts, and any material covered in class that was not in the readings. Exams will include any combination of multiple-choice, true-and-false, fill-in–the-blank, matching, and short essays.  Each exam will cover approximately one-fourth of the class material.  No make-up exams are allowed except under extraordinary circumstances in which arrangements are made with the professor in advance.  Missing an exam without prior approval will result in a zero on the exam.

 

3.  Social Change Project:

 

One team project will be required. See the Social Change Project Guidelines below for details.  Each team will receive a group grade based on the quality of the team’s social change project group paper and presentation. There will also be individual grades based on self ratings and ratings by fellow group members regarding your contributions to the team’s success.     

 

SOCIAL CHANGE PROJECT GUIDELINES

Overview

All members of the class will participate in a semester-long Social Change Project. Project teams will be formed early in the class with the goal of contributing to a significant social change. This will be done by identifying a specific social problem or need on campus or in a local community, developing a workable solution, and implementing that solution. A Team Project Form must be submitted and approved before the group begins to implement a solution. All teams must be formed and projects approved within one month of the beginning of class. See class calendar for last day to submit the form.

Each group will serve as an organizational team expressly designed to solve the identified problem. Each team will create its own structure and designate roles for its members. A group paper and class presentation analyzing the team's organizational development and communication in light of the class content will be due near the end of the semester. It would be wise to keep careful records of the group's activities in preparation for the paper and presentation. One group project grade will be given for the paper and presentation. An individual project grade also will be determined by a combination of self and peer evaluation.

Procedures

1.    Teams Assigned: Teams will consist of three (3) or four (4) persons. Since we seldom get to pick our own colleagues in organizational settings, teams will be assigned.

2.    Select Project: Each team will undertake an out-of-class project that will involve identifying a campus or community problem of some type which positively affects others. This will take some preliminary investigation of the problem. Teams will develop a proposed solution(s) to the problem or a method of meeting the need. Think big! Don't limit your thinking! However, also be realistic regarding what can be done in one semester. Note: Projects which have an ongoing component to them to continue the work begun by the team will receive the highest evaluations.

3.    Submit Form: Once the team has selected a social change project and done some preliminary investigation, the Team Project Form should be completed and submitted. The project must be approved before the team can proceed to work on developing all the details of implementing a solution.

4.    Do The Project: Once the project is approved, set up times outside of class when the group will meet regularly. The team will proceed by doing additional investigation of the problem/need, refining the solution, and implementing the solution. The team will make all decisions on goal-setting, budget planning, solution refinement, implementation strategy, and so forth. All funds needed for the project must be secured by the team through its own initiative. The team must solve all intergroup and intragroup problems itself. Start early on the project! Make sure all members of the team are involved and that there is a fair distribution of labor.

5.    Record Keeping: Although it is not required and will not be turned in or graded, it is strongly recommended that each member of the group keep accurate records or a journal of the team's activities, their feelings about the team, etc. You can even tie in content from the text and class that is related to your team activity. This record can be used to help write the group paper, and to do your self and peer evaluation statements. You can keep a record of the team's development, who emerges as leaders and when, conflicts, how conflicts were resolved, problems, etc. It would be wise to at least do an entry for each team meeting, plus any other items that come up between meetings including content you want to remember to tie into your final team paper.

6.    Team Paper: Each group will submit a team paper. Basically, you can view your team as the object for a case study. That is, from the records or journal each member kept, develop a thorough analysis of how the group developed, how it operated, who were leaders, who played what functions or roles on the team, what kinds of leadership emerged, how decisions were made, conflicts resolved, ethical concerns, and other insights you gained about your team's functioning. Use as many concepts from the text and class as you see operating in the team. The final section of the paper must include a section entitled "If We Knew Then What We Know Now." This section will present your ideas on how the project could have been accomplished if the team had known about the team and organizational communication concepts it now knows about. In other words, if the team had to do the project again, what would you change and why? Due on the same day as the class presentation (see class calendar).

7.    Presentation: Each group will also prepare a summary and overview of their team project for the class to be presented on the day indicated on the class calendar. The presentation will also share some analysis of the team's functioning, as presented in the team paper. All members of the team must participate in some way in the oral presentation. A brief document or handout must be distributed at some point in the presentation. There should be one copy for each member of the class. A copy of this handout along with any supporting material should also be given to Dr. T.  with the team paper. The handout could be a booklet your team created as part of your project, a summary of the social changes your team produced, etc. It will be about 20 - 25 minutes in length.

8.    Evaluation Paper: Each team member will also write a brief paper with two parts. First, each member will write a brief analysis (about one page) of their individual participation and contributions to the team project. You may also note specific class content material that you noticed operating in your team, but the main purpose is for you to do an honest evaluation of your contributions to the team effort. At the end of this part, state a grade you feel is a reflection of your overall contributions to success of the team project. Second, write a brief analysis and review (at least two pages) of the contributions of each of the other members of your team. Give support for your statements with examples of specific contributions or behaviors. Tell who played what roles, who the leaders were, etc. End with a recommended grade for each member of the team based on your assessment of their overall contributions to the success of the project.

Evaluation

            The project will be worth a maximum of 300 points, with up to 250 points for the team paper/presentation and up to 50 points for the self and peer evaluation. The project paper and presentation will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

  1. Was there a thorough review of the team's activities starting with its formation through the completion of the solution to the problem and preparation for the class presentation?
  2. Was there a clear statement of the methods used by your team to isolate and/or locate the selected problem or need?
  3. Was there a clear statement of the problem-solving and decision making methods used by your team to develop a solution to the problem?
  4. Was there a thorough discussion of the roles of each member, both formal and informal, including which roles were assigned, which were volunteered, and which evolved over time? (including leadership roles)
  5. Were references to group and team communication concepts and theories from the class content given throughout the paper?
  6. Did the team accurately identify the needed social change or problem?
  7. Did the team effectively develop a solution to the problem?
  8. Did the team effectively implement the developed solution?
  9. Was the solution one that will provide some long-term, on-going social change?
  10. Was the paper typed?
  11. Was the paper at least 8 pages in length? (12 font and single spaced)
  12. Was the paper grammatically correct?
  13. Was the paper organized in an understandable and effective manner?
  14. Was the class presentation original, understandable, & effective?
  15. Was the class presentation well organized?
  16. Was a handout provided for the class?
  17. Did the presentation tie in several concepts & theories from the class in their discussion of their team's activities?
  18. Did all members of the group participate in the class presentation?