Group Speech

Group Speech

Decades of Communication

Your current group will choose a decade of communication to present to the class in the form of a group speech. The decades are open for your choosing beginning in 1900. This speech will be 20- 25 minutes in length. As a group, you are responsible for incorporating at least 10 concepts discussed over the course of the semester. In addition, you must provide at least 5 scholarly sources to develop your presentation.

There are many purposes of this project:

1. To identify the ways in which communication has evolved over time in terms of mass communication and interpersonal communication.
2. To identify and figure out the dynamics of working within a group with such a detailed and involved assignment.
3. To present a collaborative project to the class in which each member is equally represented and involved with the process.

I am allowing for creative thought with these presentations. Proposals of project ideas and status reports will be due periodically to ensure that each group is moving along productively and so that I may offer any suggestions.

Rubric: 75 points total
25- scholarly sources
15- proposal and status checks
25- presentation (equal representation -participation, time, and physical factors)
10- organization and preparation

Final Exam:
As I said before, the final exam will be included in this project. The final is worth 100 total points and/ or 10 % of your total grade for the class.
During the final weeks beginning now, I ask that each group keep a log of group progress and individual contributions. All significant information about interactions should be noted such as time spent and tasks planned and achieved. I will ask for these logs periodically as I meet with your groups. In addition, prior to giving your presentation, each group member will write a detailed account of the interactions over the course of the semester using the criteria listed below!


The log should include:

The roles each member has taken on and how they change or do not change

The group climate during interactions (ex: rushed, hostile, uninterested, eager, and excited)

Preparedness and organization of the group

Include interaction patterns, group norms

Organization of tasks and success rates of completion

Identification and application of group discussion (p. 275)

What are some of the roadblocks interpersonally and with the content and how do you deal with them?

What are some of the methods your group used that worked well concerning the content and interpersonally?

30 points
10- participation: minimum of 5 entries (one from each member)
10- thoroughness: completion and specificity of entry
10- organization: does it include the above criteria and is it done on time

The final report should:

Identify the Style of leadership (laissez faire, authoritarian, democratic)

Include the features of your group (cohesion, size, power structure) be specific.

Identify the kinds of group communication and use specific examples (task, procedural, and climate, egocentric)

Describe the decision making methods (consensus, compromise, voting etc.)

Include cultural influences on decision making (individualism, equality, assertiveness etc.)

Identify limitations and strengths of the group (conformity, time) (resources)

Identify and analyze the types of conflict you and your group faced and how your group dealt with these situations (constructive, disruptive)

70 points

50- content (did you follow the criteria, were you thorough and specific and use support from the text)
10- organization: APA format (reference page: text) at least 3 pages!!!
10- engagement, details, application