Group Presentation
August 1-3

Paper and Logs Due: August 1

The goal of this project is for you to apply the concepts and theories of group problem solving/task management. Further, the project will help you and your groupmates review some theories and concepts for the final exam.

Project 1
This project asks the group to design a classroom for the sole purpose of teaching COM 114. The budget is unlimited, although there must be an actual budget proposed. The classroom must be in Neff Hall and correspond to the dimensions of either Neff 141 or Neff 147. The written proposal and class presentation must indicate the communicative purposes for all design choices. Evaluation of this project will focus how well the analysis takes into account course material on Nonverbal Communication

Project 2
This project asks the group to design a series of exercises to increase group cohesion. These exercises may be physical, mental and/or paper-and-pencil. The exercises themselves do not have to be original, but if not original, the source of the exercise needs to be acknowledged. Written and oral presentations must indicate the communicative purposes for each exercise. Evaluation of this project will focus how well the analysis takes into account course material on Group Communication

Project 3
Attend religious services at a minumum of three different types of religious groups, such as congregations of non-Christian faiths and beliefs, differing forms of Christian belief, congregations of ethnic homogeneity (African-American, Hispanic-American, European-American). Make sure the congregations can be discribed as distinct from each other. The group presentation should describe the differences in the communication practices of both (1) religious leaders ministers, priests, rabbis, etc.) and (2) the congregations. The presentation and report should draw on material in the textbook (especially Chapters 4 on culture and Chapter 7 on listening) to illuminate ways in which communication practices reflect cultural situations. Evaluation of this project will focus how well the analysis takes into account course material on Intercultural Communication

Project 4
The video project

1. As a group, select a movie or three episodes of a television series available on video that focuses on group communication. You must get the instructor's approval by July 21. Note: If you are using a commercially available film, a DVD player can be supplied for the presentation and would allow for easier cueing than a videotape.
2. View the movie or episodes once (at least) as a group and set aside one hour to discuss the film. This should be done as soon as possible after viewing.
3. Decide in that discussion which group communication concepts or theories are best illustrated by the group actions in the film. Select three or four concepts or theories to talk about in your presentation.

Your purpose is to use the film to illustrate the concepts in a way that defines the concepts accurately and helps your classmates review and understand them. Some of the concepts you might choose include: norms (procedural, social and task), rules, roles (functional and dysfunctional), hidden agendas leadership styles, and stages of group development. Appropriate aspects of interpersonal communication can also be included such as: self-disclosure, Johari windows, communication climates, conflict management, and problem-solving.

Presentations
Each team must prepare a 15-20 minute presentation in which all members share equally in the preparation and presentation of the panel. The presentation must include all the elements of an effective public presentation. Appropropriate use of Powerpoint is encouraged. Each group will create a Web site to (1) introduce the group to the class, and (2) to provide additional resources in support of the project.

Sample Web Site

Written Assignment
Each member of the group must turn in the following:

1. A detailed outline of his or her part of the presentation.
2. A detailed log describing his or her input into the overall group preparation: time spent in meetings, time spent on research, time spent on editing or preparing clips, etc.
3. A one page description of how the group interacted using the appropriate concepts and language from the class.

Evaluation
Each group will receive an overall group grade for the content of the presentation. This grade will be averaged with the student's individual grade for their part of the presentation and their summary analysis to arrive at the final grade.