I. Course Description: Survey and critical evaluation of theoretical and empirical literature dealing with human communication within small group settings.

II. Prerequisite: COM 320 or consent of instructor.  While not formal prerequisites, this course will be more beneficial to you if you have had a course that introduces you to communication research methods (such as COM 300) and an intermediate course in writing research papers (such as ENG W233 or one of the other courses that satisfies the Arts and Sciences second writing course requirement).

III. Course Goals: Upon completing this course, you should be able to (or have enhanced your ability to):

1) apply relevant small group communication theories to the behavior of yourself and others;
2) evaluate the usefulness of some of these theories for enhancing communication competence in the groups you belong to;
3) explain and critically evaluate contemporary notions of when groups are and aren’t appropriate ways to get things done, and how to maximize the experience when groups are the appropriate way to get things done; and
4) have developed or enhanced research and critical thinking skills.

IV. Course Tools:

V. Course Assignments: This course will be graded on a 1000 point scale, as follows:

• Tests (2 at 250 points each = 500 points).  The tests will cover material in lecture, class discussions and the readings.  The tests will not be cumulative, except as explicitly noted in test review.

• Research project (400 points).  This project will require you to propose a topic relevant to this course that you wish to learn more about, and design and conduct a study on that topic, which may be either original research or a critical synthesis of published research.  Upon approval of your proposal, graduate students will produce a 10-12 page paper suitable for presentation at a regional or national communication convention and undergraduate students will produce a 7-10 page paper suitable for presentation at an undergraduate research conference. Each student will make an in-class research presentation.  This assignment will be introduced and described in more detail in class.

• Class contributions (100 points) You are expected to attend class.  Beyond mere attendance, though, this is a participatory course.  Your productive contributions to class discussions and activities are important.  In addition, brief homework assignments beyond the readings will be assigned.  This portion of your grade reflects my assessment of your participation in class discussions and activities and brief homework assignments.  Each unexcused absence will reduce your grade for this component by 10 points.  11 or more unexcused absences will result in a grade of F for the course.  All that is required here is that you account for yourself for each class period, as follows: 1) If you know in advance you won’t be able to attend a given class, you should let me know the reason in advance, preferably by e-mail as that provides us with a written record.  2) In emergency situations where you can’t tell me in advance of your absence, it’s your responsibility to account for those absences as soon as possible afterward and in no event more than two weeks afterward. 3) If you arrive to class after I have taken attendance, it’s your responsibility to see me after class to insure that I have recorded your presence.  4) Leaving class early without permission shall constitute an unexcused absence.

VI. Grading Scale: A = 900-1000; B = 800-899; C = 700-799; D = 600-699; F = 0-599.

VII. Late or Missing Assignments and Tests: In the absence of extreme circumstances, written assignments will not be accepted after the class period in which they are due, and examinations not taken on the designated date can not be made up.  Failure to turn in an assignment or take a test will result in a grade of F for the course.

VIII. Academic Integrity: You are expected to be familiar with what constitutes academic misconduct in this course and at IPFW, and with what the penalties are for such conduct, as set forth in  parts II and III of the IPFW Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct, which is published on pages 180-193 of the 2006-2007 Student Handbook Planner and available online at <http://www.ipfw.edu/senate/stu_code.htm>.

As Professor Carr used to say on his syllabi, “if caught cheating or plagiarizing, a student will receive no credit for the assignment and/or an ‘F’ for the course. Any instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean and Vice Chancellor and may result in expulsion from the University. Most instances of academic dishonesty result from a combination of the last-minute rush, poor judgment and a lack of familiarity with academic propriety. Consult the instructor well in advance of an assignment due date to clarify your responsibilities.”

IX. Incompletes: A grade of incomplete will only be given in compliance with IPFW’s policy on incomplete grades, as set forth on page 277 of the 2006-2008 IPFW Undergraduate Bulletin, page 131 of the 2005-2007 IPFW Graduate Bulletin, and available online at <http://www.ipfw.edu/senate/acadregs.htm#ARTICLE6_4>, and then only under extraordinary circumstances.  If such circumstances arise, please let me know and we will discuss whether an incomplete is appropriate.

X. Campus Services:

• Services For Students With Disabilities, Walb Student Union 113, 481-6657, <http://www.ipfw.edu/ssd>, provides specialized academic support services and other assistance to persons with qualifying disability conditions.

• The Writing Center, Kettler Hall G19, 481-5740, <http://www.ipfw.edu/casa/WC>, provides one-on-one assistance with writing, both in person and online.  There are also links to valuable writing resources on their web page.  

• Center for Academic Support and Advancement (CASA), Kettler Hall G23, 481-6817, <http://www.ipfw.edu/casa>, provides tutoring by appointment.  You may also find useful the hints on their web page for note taking, text reading, and test taking.

• Information Technology Services, Kettler Hall 206, 481-6030 <http://www.its.ipfw.edu/students>, provides student e-mail accounts and web space and administers the student computing labs.  Valuable computing help is available on their web site and by telephone.

• Child Care Center, 4133 Hobson Road (Cor. Stellhorn),  481-0111,  <http://www.ipfw.edu/childcar/>, provides childcare services for students.

Copyright © 2001-2007 Irwin Mallin
Last Updated: 7 January 2007
URL: http://users.ipfw.edu/mallini/520syl.html