TENTATIVE SYLLABUS – CAS 100B
Summer II 2006 – Penn State University
Instructor: Dr. Bobbi Toth Office Hours: M & W 10 – 11 AM
Office Phone: 814-863-0760 Virtual Office Hours: T & R 8:30 – 9 AM
Office: 215 Sparks Building E-Mail:
Required Text:
Brilhart, J. K., Galanes, G. J. and Adams, K. L. (2004) Effective Group Discussion, 11th ed. Boston. McGraw-Hill.
Purpose of the Course: This course is an entry level course designed to introduce you to the principles and practices of small group interaction. It is designed to further your understanding of small group discussion via lecture, class discussion and small group exercises. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of skills and techniques necessary for effective and efficient small group communication.
General Course Objectives:
1. To enhance your knowledge of small group communication processes.
2. To provide with the opportunity to apply conceptual ideas and theories of effective small group discussion.
3. To help you develop your communication skills in small group settings.
4. To assist you in the acquisition of skills for public presentations.
Instructor’s Expectations of Students:
1. Attend class.
2. Be punctual.
3. Thoroughly read this syllabus.
4. Practice and study small group communication techniques both in and outside the classroom.
5. Complete ALL assignments on time.
6. Meaningfully participate in, and contribute to, class exercises and class discussions.
7. Display an understanding of the concepts, theories, and principles of small group communication.
8. Share in examining current problems and issues relative to small group interaction.
9. Scrutinize your own communication skills with an eye towards your improvement and growth.
10. Demonstrate an understanding of the course material by establishing competency on course exams and assignments.
11. Make useful and meaningful contributions to the small group to which you belong.
Student’s Expectations of Instructor:
1. Attend class.
2. Be punctual.
2. Knowledge of contents of syllabus.
3. Treat all students equally.
4. Value your inquiries.
5. Answer your questions respectfully.
6. Provide you meaningful class content, including lecture material, in-class exercises and class discussions.
7. Display an understanding of the concepts, theories, and principles of small group communication.
8. Share with you in examining current problems and issues relative to small group interaction.
9. Remain open to your suggestions and input.
10. To the extent that it is humanly possible, grade all students with the same standard.
11. Respond to your email in a timely manner.
Note: For the purposes of class discussion, I will often assume the role of “devil’s advocate.” This role is not meant to point out your failure or mistakes, but to further class discussion by encouraging you to examine issues from all points of view. This is crucial to learning how to develop a sound argument and becoming a critical thinker.
People with Disabilities: The Pennsylvania State University encourages qualified people with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities and is committed to the policy that all people shall have equal access to programs, facilities, and admissions without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation in this course or have questions about physical access, please tell me as soon as possible.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Attendance & Tardiness: Regular attendance is a must! Because of the nature of this class and the type of subject matter we will cover, it is important to your learning process that you be here—and be here on time. Habitual absences and tardiness will not be tolerated and will have a serious detrimental impact on your final grade. For any absence to be considered “excused” (i.e., not a “cut”) you must provide supporting documentation (e.g., doctor’s excuse). Any absence that is not properly documented with be considered “unexcused.” Excessive unexcused absences (2 or more) will drop your grade to the next lowest grade (e.g. from a B- to a C+).
Also, please do not construe a day when you are not speaking as a class that is appropriate for you to be absent. It is just as important for you to be a member of the audience, as it is for you to present your symposium. Certainly, there are times when we are late thru no fault of our own. However, consistent tardiness is not acceptable. It is rude and disruptive. Should you arrive late on a Symposium Day, please be courteous to your classmates and wait in the hallway until the group is finished before entering the room.
2. Due Dates: Tentative due dates for assignments and exams are noted later in this syllabus. As we move through the term it may become necessary for us to adjust our schedule. However, the need to make changes is infrequent. Therefore, please take note of the due dates and make sure that you amend your personal schedule accordingly. Please understand that it is your responsibility to keep track of any changes we might make in the course schedule.
► Reading assignments are to be completed BEFORE coming to class.
►If you are absent or unprepared on a day on which a symposium is assigned, you will receive a ZERO for that assignment. This is a firm and enforced policy. So, please, do not make any assumptions about your absences—they will cost you! Documented emergencies will, of course, be exempt from this policy. However, in this instance, I direct you to the following point.
3. Communication: If and when unforeseen and extenuating circumstances arise that impede your performance in this class it is up to you to notify me in a timely manner so that we can make satisfactory arrangements for you to successfully complete your work. Remember, the key here is your timely communication with me!
You may use email to contact me outside of class. However, please do not rely solely on this method of communication. Neither should you assume that you will receive a prompt reply to your email messages to me. Any email that you send me after my Virtual Office Hours will likely not be read or responded to until I next hold Virtual Office Hours. Further, because email is not a very secure means of communication, there are only certain topics that I will address via email. For instance, I will not discuss grades via email at any time, under any circumstances! Grades are not an appropriate topic for email. If you wish to discuss your grades, or other issues of a personal nature, you must see me in person. There will be no exceptions.
4. Responsibilities: Please remember that it is YOUR responsibility to:
o keep track of your own grades for this course;
o keep up with any changes in scheduling, assignments, and so forth that may be made throughout this term;
o thoroughly read this syllabus so that you are familiar with and knowledgeable about its contents;
o keep me informed and/or aware of any difficulties you may encounter that hinder your performance in this class;
o be educated about what constitutes plagiarism, and other breaches of academic integrity, as well as the penalties that may result from such offenses.
5. Examinations: There will be three examinations in this course. The first will cover Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 16. The second exam will cover Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The last exam will cover Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. Please refer to Study Guides on Angel.
6. Group Meetings: Although I will make every reasonable effort to allow for class time to be devoted to group meetings, you should not rely solely on these times. These opportunities will not only be limited in time, but in number. Therefore, you are required to meet outside of class. Your group responsibilities mandate that you attend all of your group meetings, and meaningfully contribute in those meetings. Further, you should consider them as essential and important to your success in this course as you would other issues such as exams, assignments and attendance. (See “Bail-Out Mechanism” later in this syllabus.)
7. Academic Integrity: The work you do in this class is to be of your own creation. The failure to make proper oral citations during your in-class presentations is known as plagiarism—and is an egregious error that will not be tolerated. Anyone who uses the work of another person, or who fails to properly acknowledge the source for an idea, will be cited for academic misconduct in accordance with The Pennsylvania State University and The College of Liberal Arts guidelines. When it comes to violations of academic integrity ignorance is no defense. Therefore, I strongly encourage you to visit the web sites posted on Angel for further information. If you have any questions about academic integrity contact Barbara Welshofer, Assistant Dean at . In short, making oral citations, where and when appropriate is imperative. Failure to do so will severely impact your grade. For more information about citations, see the links on Angel.
8. Group Member (Peer) Evaluations: As the term comes to a close, each of you will take some time to evaluate the members of your group in terms of their communication and participation in your group—both in and outside of class. These evaluations are confidential! The only two people who should know how you evaluated your group members are you and me. Although I am not going to be looking over your shoulder while you complete these evaluations, I ask that you take them seriously—not only as you evaluate others, but how others will evaluate you. The evaluations will be totaled and an average taken. NOTE: The due date for these evaluations is noted later in this syllabus. Failure to hand them in will mean that 25 points will be deducted from your final grade.
9. Respect: My role, in part, is to create a comfortable classroom atmosphere, and offer you constructive feedback that is designed to help you improve your ability to work in groups, but your skills in public speaking and critical thinking. I cannot create such an environment without your help and active participation. Therefore, a VERY IMPORTANT RULE in this class is respect—for me and for each other. A performance based class, like this one, is only successful to the degree that each of us contributes through class discussion, in-class exercises, performance of symposia, as well as active and respectful listening. If you are disrespectful to me, or to any of your classmates, you will be asked to leave the class for the remainder of the period, and will be considered absent for that day.
10. Classroom climate: In a university classroom you may hear class members express ideas and opinions that are very different from your own. You can listen to opposing viewpoints and respect other people’s rights to hold these viewpoints without compromising your own beliefs and values. It is imperative that you be polite and respectful in your responses to others’ ideas. As time permits, you will have the opportunity to provide constructive (i.e., helpful, beneficial, and practical) feedback for your classmates’ symposia. Please offer and take this feedback graciously and accept it non-defensively. The goal is to make this a learning experience for everyone.
11. Assignments:
►Speech – In order to help you become familiar with speaking in a public setting, early in the term you will prepare and deliver a 3-4 minute speech on your name. → NOTE: Please refer to Chapter 16 of the text in preparing for this speech. This speech will be critiqued, but not graded. Therefore, it will be to your advantage to do the best you can so that you can receive constructive feedback. The purpose of this speech is to:
ü help you learn how to present your ideas in front of a group of people by having you make an oral presentation without the pressure of worrying about a grade.
ü give you an opportunity to realize and understand what will be expected of you in the group symposia (see below).
ü offer you the chance for constructive feedback so that you can improve your public speaking skills.
→ The instructions for the completion of this assignment are as follows:
§ Time: 3 – 4 minutes
§ Topic: Your Name
o What is your full name?
o Why were your given this name?
o What, if any, special meaning or significance is attached to your (first, middle, and/or last) name?
o What is the ethnic origin of your name?
o What nick names to do have? What is their origin?
o If you had been able to choose your own name, what would it be? Why?
o Feel free to add any other information as time permits.
►Symposia – A SYMPOSIUM (plural is symposia) is a type of public discussion in which group members (usually between 5 and 7) present short, prepared speeches on a central question or topic of discussion.
THE AUDIENCE participates in a brief question and answer session following the formal presentation. AS AN AUDIENCE MEMBER you must be courteous to your classmates. This means paying the presenters the same courtesies you expect from them when you are presenting. This includes (but is not limited to) such things as asking one or two relevant questions that indicate your interest and desire to further your understanding of the topic. In addition, you must give your classmates your complete and total attention. Do not write notes to each other, do not study for an exam, do not read, and do not do the crossword puzzle, etc. In short, do not do anything but listen and pay attention.