The task here:
This assignment asks you to develop and present an understanding of the “group-life” of one or more selected groups of which you have some familiarity (by membership or observation) by the application of selected small group communication concepts, characteristics, and theories.
Procedure:
Draw upon one or more groups of which you are a member or that you can observe. (So, groups you have witnessed as well as ones you can yet.)
Your goal is to develop and illustrate your understanding of the “group-life,” the functioning of small group communication. To do this, you will need to be focused and to investigate this using selected concepts, approaches and/or theories we have encountered and that you have located outside of our readings. (That is, draw upon the sources attached but locate other scholarly sources relevant to your focus from outside of class.)
This will require you applying the material to observations of the group(s). Your observations become the “data” that you are using to understand how groups function. The observations can also serve as illustrations or examples to help the reader follow your ideas and explanations. You may find it interesting to compare groups you have observed concerning a particular issue or feature.
Be specific in your selection of materials to apply to help you further understand small groups. Don’t try to cover everything there is concerning groups; select those concepts, etc. that you see as relevant or interesting to apply. You may use sources from outside class to supplement those from within if you wish.
In undertaking this application: describe the material (concepts, theory, model,…) that you are employing (that is, give the reader a brief refresher on it); describe and explain groups’ behaviors, communication or interaction by applying that material; and note what you now understand about groups (or a specific one) as a result of this investigation. Include yourself in this work as well if you’re a member of the group; your contributions to it are illustrative and consequential as much as anyone else’s.
Format:
Typed, double-spaced lines, one-inch margins using 10 or 12 point size of clearly legible font (this handout is Calibri, 12 point font). Number the pages. Be sure to place your name, the class and the assignment on a title page, centered. A bibliography should be supplied to note the materials you draw upon (including those from class). Your paper should be between six (6) and nine (9) complete pages in length (without counting the bibliography or title page).
Your Audience:
Consider that the audience you are writing for is composed of your peers in this class. So, everyone is likely familiar with many concepts you might draw on but may be less familiar with those ideas you draw on from outside our readings. Consequently, the readers will benefit by having you refresh them of key particulars. They will also appreciate your being explicit in describing the group and applying material to understand it.
