TO: CMM 222 Groups
FROM: Dr. Kelly
RE: Assignment of Project #1
DATE:
*Materials complements of Professor Lynne Kelly, Communication
Your Task
Your task for the first group project is to (1) identify a movie in which, for at least some part of the movie, there is a group of people (15 members or less) who meet face-to-face for some purpose; (2) choose 3-4 of the group concepts listed below which are illustrated by the group in the movie; (3) study those concepts; and (4) explain how those concepts are illustrated by the group depicted in the movie.
Assignment Objectives
The purposes of this assignment are to (1) provide you with an interesting (maybe fun!) task so you can learn to work in a group; (2) help you to learn and understand course concepts in a hands-on, collaborative way.
Group Concepts
Choose 3-4 of the following concepts that your group thinks are well illustrated by the group depicted in the movie:
Group development
Group norms
Group roles
Leadership
The group as a system
Effective (or ineffective) listening
Effective (or ineffective) verbal exchanges
Critical thinking
Group fantasy
Groupthink
Group conflict
Managing group conflict
Group problem solving
The Outcomes
Each group will prepare an oral presentation and a written report. For the oral presentation all group members will be responsible for presenting some of the report. The due dates for this project are listed on the syllabus. Feel free to ask specific questions at any time.
Both reports should include the following sections:
1. Introduction: Identify the movie you selected and the group in that movie on which you will focus. Explain why you selected that movie and provide a bit of background about the group.
2. Concept and Application: Take each of the concepts, one at a time, and first explain the concept in some detail, citing sources. Then provide a detailed discussion of how that concept applies to the group in the movie. If you choose 4 concepts, you’ll have four sections like this. This is the main part of the paper and should be approximately 4-7 pages.
3. Conclusion and Recommendations: Discuss the main points from your previous section (concept and application). Then provide a list of specific recommendations you would make to the group in the movie regarding how they could improve their group process. Your recommendations should pertain to the concepts you’ve been focusing on, and you should justify each recommendation.
Further details regarding the oral report will be presented in class.
Evaluation
The oral and written reports will be evaluated separately. Each will be given a group grade based on the following criteria:
1. Demonstration of understanding of and ability to explain concepts.
2. Ability to apply the concepts to the fictitious group in the movie.
3. Organization of the reports.
4. Quality of writing/speaking.
5. Fulfilling the requirements of the assignment as specified in this memo.