Listed below are the planned homework assignments for the course. I’m looking for two main things in each homework assignment – a demonstration that you understand concepts from this course, and a demonstration that you are using the assignment to gain more insight into yourself, your communication behavior, and the groups that you belong to.
All homework must be typed or printed from a word-processor, double-spaced. Due dates will be announced as the individual assignments come up. Homework that is turned in late will be marked down twenty percent.
- Defining Small Group Communication – Using the definition of small group communication from Ch. 1 in your textbook, describe a small group that you have been a member of. How did the different aspects of the definition become manifested within your group? Be sure to include specific examples to support your analysis. (1-2 pages; 10 points) DUE____________
- Group Formation and Development – Using Tuckman’s Group Development Stages from Ch. 2 in your textbook, describe a small group that you have been a member of. How did the various stages become manifested within your group? Be sure to include specific examples to support your analysis. (2 pages; 10 points) DUE_____________
- “Twelve Angry Men” – Using Benne and Sheats’s Functional Group Roles from Ch. 3 in your textbook, write an analysis of the roles portrayed by the various characters in the film, “Twelve Angry Men” (this film will be shown in class). Be sure to include specific examples to support your analysis. (2-3 pages; 15 points) DUE____________
- Leadership Style – Using either Styles Theory (pp. 107-108) or Functional Theory (p. 113) from Ch. 5 of your textbook, write a profile of yourself as a group leader. Include specific examples to support your analysis. If you have never been a group leader, base your answer on the type of leader you would want to be, and explain why. (2 pages; 15 points)
- Research Abstracts – Turn in a list of five possible sources of information for your Group Project along with a one-paragraph abstract, or summary, of each source. Be sure to provide complete bibliographic information for each source and to write the abstract yourself. You will use these abstracts to do your research report to the group. (1-2 pages; 15 points) DUE____________
- Agenda – Develop an agenda for one of the planning sessions for your Group Project. You will be in charge of leading your group’s planning session on the day that you turn in the agenda. Bring enough copies to class for all of your group members, including yourself, plus one for your instructor. Each group should divide up its planning session dates so that all group members have the opportunity to do this assignment. See Ch. 11 for help in preparing the agenda. (1 page; 10 points) DUE____________
- Minutes – Write the minutes for one of the planning sessions for your Group Project. Bring enough copies to the following class period for all of your group members, including yourself, plus one for me. Each group should divide up its planning session dates so that all group members have the opportunity to do this assignment. You should not lead the group’s planning session and do the minutes on the same day. See Ch. 11 for help in preparing minutes. (2 pages; 15 points) DUE____________
