Approved by Faculty Senate October 20, 2003

Approved by Faculty Senate October 20, 2003

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

PROPOSAL FOR UNIVERSITY STUDIES COURSES

Department ___Communication Studies______Date __9/23/2003______

Course No. 371Course NameDiscussion and Small Group DynamicsCredits 3

This proposal is for a(n)__x____ Undergraduate Course

Applies to:___x___ Major___x___ Minor

___x__ Required___x__ Required

_____ Elective_____ Elective

University Studies (A course may be approved to satisfy only one set of outcomes.):

Course Requirements:

Basic Skills:Arts & Science Core:Unity and Diversity:

_____ 1. College Reading and Writing_____ 1. Humanities_____ 1. Critical Analysis

_____ 2. Oral Communication_____ 2. Natural Science _____ 2. Science and Social Policy

_____ 3. Mathematics_____ 3. Social Science_____ 3. a. Global Perspectives

_____ 4. Physical Development & Wellness_____ 4. Fine & Performing Arts_____ b. Multicultural Perspectives

_____ 4. a. Contemporary Citizenship

_____ b. Democratic Institutions

Flagged Courses:__x___ 1. Writing

_____ 2. Oral Communication

_____ 3. a. Mathematics/Statistics

_____ b. Critical Analysis

Prerequisites __ENG 111, CMST 191, CMST 282, or instructor’s permission

______

Provide the following information (attach materials to this proposal):

Please see “Directions for the Department” on previous page for material to be submitted.

Attach a University Studies Approval Form.

Department Contact Person for this Proposal:

______

Name (please print)Phonee-mail address

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY STUDIES APPROVAL FORM

Routing form for University Studies Course approval. Course______

Department Recommendation_____ Approved_____ Disapproved
______
Department Chair Datee-mail address
Dean’s Recommendation_____ Approved_____ Disapproved*
______
Dean of College Date
*In the case of a dean’s recommendation to disapprove a proposal, a written rationale for the recommendation to disapprove shall be provided to the University Studies Subcommittee.
USS Recommendation_____ Approved_____ Disapproved_____ No recommendation
______
University Studies Director Date
A2C2 Recommendation_____ Approved_____ Disapproved
______
Chair of A2C2 Date
Faculty Senate Recommendation_____ Approved_____ Disapproved
______
President of Faculty Senate Date
Academic Vice President Recommendation_____ Approved_____ Disapproved
______
Academic Vice President Date
Decision of President_____ Approved_____ Disapproved
______
President Date
Please forward to Registrar.
Registrar ______Please notify department chair via e-mail that curricular change has been recorded.
Date entered

University Studies Course Approval Proposal

Department/Program:Communication Studies

Course Number:371

Semester Hours:3

Frequency of Offering:Each Semester

Course Title:Discussion and Small Group Dynamics

Catalog Description:Use of discussion, participation, and leadership to study interaction patterns and networks while gaining practical and theoretical perspectives upon small-group theory.

Existing Course Approved by A2C2: Yes

New Course Proposal: No

Department contact person: Dr. Dan Lintin, 457-5531 Dlintin@edu

Proposed course is designed to satisfy requirements in: Writing flag

General Course Outcomes:

This course aims to explain and evaluate theories of small group communication, constructively critique observed communication dynamics in small groups, and master techniques of group discussion. The course is designed to enhance students’ abilities to read, understand, and model their writing from the professional publications in our field; to design and implement a

research study based on extensive literature reviews; provide peer review of rough drafts

of the final research project; and conduct analysis and critique of a contemporary research study.

Special emphasis is placed on improving the students’ development of cognitive complexity,

critical thinking, and awareness of correct disciplinary and grammatical format for professional-

level research submissions. Prerequisite: ENG 111, CMST 191, CMST 282, or permission of

instructor

12. Course Outcomes

1. practice the processes and procedures for creating and completing successful writing in their fields;

The course includes a major research project as a significant part of the

final grade.

The project is presented and evaluated in three stages/steps, including

a research proposal, rough draft, and final draft. Rough drafts which

specify the justification of their study and a literature review of current

research in the discipline. These rough drafts are refined in this course

based on instructor and peer feedback.

1. understand the main features and uses of writing in their fields;

While composing literature reviews and research proposals, students pore over journal articles in, and outside, of their field. This exposes them to a variety of research writing styles, both qualitative and quantitative.

1. adapt their writing to the general expectations of readers in their fields;

The general expectations of readers in the field are to write according to rules set forth by our major academic journals. Each journal might have its own writing style to which the students would have to adapt.

1. make use of technologies commonly used for research and writing in their fields; and

As they research, students turn to internet cites such as ComAbstracts or CIOS or search CommSearch on CD. As they write their papers, they employ a word processing program.

1. learn the conventions of evidence, format, usage, and documentation in their fields

Students must write their papers according to the rules of an established writing handbook, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago. Students are graded on their consistent use of these guidelines. Papers include a formal title page, endnotes, appendices, and reference page. Throughout the class, students’ papers are edited for usage problems and, if not corrected in their final paper, receive a lower grade.

Sample Syllabus

Communication Studies 371Discussion and Small Group Dynamics

Professor:Staff

Office:PAC 209Office Phone:(507) 457-2362

E-mail:Staff

Office Hours:MWF 10-11 a.m. (also 2-3 p.m. MW only)

T TH10-11 a.m.; 2-3:30 p.m.; all other times by appointment only

Required Course Text: Brilhart, J.K., Galanes, G.J., & Adams, K. (2001). Effective group discussion: Theory and practice (10th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.

Course Description and Objectives: Use of discussion, participation and leadership to study interaction patterns and networks while gaining practical and theoretical perspectives on small-group theory. ENG 111, CMST 191, CMST 282, or instructor’s permission are course prerequisites. As a course in communication studies, this class is designed to make you not only a competent practitioner/user of small group communication techniques, but also a critical thinker and more skilled writer. You will learn how to explain and evaluate theories of small group communication, constructively critique observed communication dynamics in small groups, and master techniques of group discussion for your own benefit at home, school, and in the workplace.

Attendance: I treat this course as a mutual contract. Your part of the contract is to attend class and to turn in assignments on time. If you are prevented from fulfilling either aspect of your contract, please do not present excuses. I do not have to know why you are absent, or why an assignment is late, as long as you understand that you in turn accept responsibility for 1) getting all class materials from your colleagues for dates you are absent; and 2) receiving penalties for work turned in after a due date.

You may miss class three times over the course of this semester without any point penalty, regardless of rationale. After three absences, you will have 10 course points deducted for each class missed.

Late projects will be assessed as follows:

 Late the same day assignment is due (after the end of the class period) – Minus 2 points

 Late the next day– Minus 3 points

 You continue to lose 1 point each subsequent day after the assignment due date.

Writing: I expect all assignments in this course to be word-processed, spell-checked, logically written, and coherent. Two reference books might be helpful to you: John Bourhis’s Style manual for communication studies (available in the CMST section of the WSU bookstore) or Diana Hacker’s A writer’s reference (available online from Amazon.com). APA, not MLA, style is required in this course.

Plagiarism: This, and other forms of academic misconduct as specified by established University policy, will not be tolerated, and will be handled in accordance with formal University policy as outlined in the undergraduate catalog.

This is a University Studies Flag course. It satisfies one part of the writing flag requirement. As such, the goals of this course enhance students’ abilities to:

A. Practice the processes & procedures for creating and completing successful writing in their fields;
B. Understand the main features and uses of writing in their fields;
C. Adapt their writing to the general expectations of readers in their fields;
D. make use of technologies commonly used for research and writing in their fields; and
E. learn the conventions of evidence, format, usage, and documentation in their fields

Course Calendar

DateAgendaReadings/assignments due

T1/8Introduction to course

TH1/10Introduction to the study of small groupsChapter 1

T1/15Small groups—a systems perspectiveChapter 2

TH1/17Explanation of expectations for researchMeet in Library 102 (A, B, C, D, E)

paper and group teaching practicum; research

resources session

T1/22Listening and nonverbal communicationChapter 3

TH1/24Nonverbal communicationChapter 4

T1/29Culture and small groupsChapter 5; Article approval due for

group teaching practicum (C)

TH1/31Member competenciesChapter 6

T2/5Group rolesChapter 7; Proposal due for

Individual research paper

TH2/7Group cohesion and fantasy theme analysisChapter 8

T2/12University assessment dayTBD

TH2/14Leadership in small groupsChapter 9

T2/19Leadership, continuedChapter 10

TH2/21Group problem-solvingChapter 11

T2/26Midterm pre-exam review (Jeopardy)

TH2/28Midterm Exam

T3/12Midterm post-exam review; in-class group

teaching work session

TH3/14Group decision-makingChapter 12

T 3/19Peer critique/editing sessionRough draft due, individual

research paper (D, E)

TH3/21Group teaching sessions

T3/26Group teaching sessions

TH3/28Group teaching sessions

T4/2Conflict in small groups

TH4/4Conflict, continued

T4/9Discussion techniquesChapter 14

TH4/11Observing group discussionsChapter 15

T4/16Individual research work session on your own

TH4/18Individual research paper presentations

T4/23Individual research paper presentations

TH4/25Individual research paper presentations;All individual papers due

Final exam pre-exam review (Jeopardy)

Wednesday, May 1Final Exam, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Course Grading Scale

Exam #1 (Midterm):100 points

Exam #2 (Final; cumulative):100 points

Group training presentation:100 points

Group member assessment: 50 points

Individual research paper presentation: 50 points

Individual research paper:100 points

Total course points:500 points

485-500 A+435-449 B+385-399 C+335-349 D+

465-484 A415-434 B365-384 C315-334 D

450-464A- 400-414 B-350-364 C-300-314 D-

0-299 F

NOTE: Regardless of points earned, you will not pass this course without completing all assignments.