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Group Lesson - (100 Points)

               

 

 

 

Objectives:
• Gain practical experience with small group communication.
• Practice presenting with multiple people.
• Appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of small group communication.
• Evaluate a small group communication experience.
• Construct a lesson that brings new insight and information to your audience.

General Description:
You and your group members will select a topic regarding the communication experience and plan a class in which you actively engage and teach us. The topic must be based on new information that has not been covered in class, or provide a significant extension to topics covered broadly by lecture or discussion. The presentation is not a 20 - 23 minute lecture, but an interactive lesson. Each group must address a different issue. This means you will have to communicate with other groups to make sure your group's topic is unique.

Specific Requirements:

1. The group is responsible for 20 - 23 minutes of class time. Be sure to stay within these time limits.
2. Each group must orally cite three sources of information during their presentation. A minimum of five sources is required in a works cited or references page to be submitted with your outline (See course calendar for outline due date). These sources should be of a scholarly nature (Communication Monographs, The Journal of Communication, The Western Journal of Communication, etc.) Although you may consult your textbook for ideas and check the reference lists at the end of each chapter for sources, you may not use your textbook as one of the five required sources.
3. Be sure to keep in mind the essential elements of any good presentation. Identify your general purpose, specific purpose, and central ideas. Connect the material to the audiences concerns; build a relationship with the audience by showing you know them and their needs. Your lesson should be organized and include an introduction, body and conclusion following the organizational structure from Chapter 15.
4. The group must use at least two visual aids. As always, your visual aids should be meaningful and add to the content of the speech.
5. The group must submit (typed) three possible exam questions (at least one true/false and one multiple choice) relevant to the material covered by their lesson, submitted as an attachment to the outline. Please include desired responses, particularly for short answer or essay questions, as the students will gain the knowledge from your lesson. Some of your questions will be incorporated into the second exam.

Recommended Approach:
1. Brainstorm and select the topic you will present to the class.
2. Write down your group member's name, phone number, e-mail, etc.
3. Decide on regular meeting times and group rules/procedures. Group cohesiveness will be enhanced with frequent, regularly scheduled meetings and interaction among members. Those groups that attempt to complete this assignment as individual projects clumped together will suffer from inconsistent or repetitive information and the lack of cohesiveness will be evident to the audience.
4. Everyone agree to come to the first scheduled meeting:
a. With additional research material.
b. With a list of ideas for teaching a lesson to the class.
5. Chapters 12 - 17 will be helpful in topic selection, organization and presentation techniques. Highlights of these chapters will be discussed during Public/Group work session. Utilize these chapters as a reference to assist your preparation, paying particular attention to the outline structure provided in chapter 15.

Grading for the Small Group Lesson will be based on Small Group Lesson Grading Criteria and all members of the group that participate in the presentation will receive the same grade. Inequities in participation in the research and development of the lesson will be accounted for by additional grading from your team members in the Peer Evaluation.

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