COMM 103

SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION

Fall 2023

Class Time: Tuesday, Thursday, 8:00 to 9:15 and 9:30 to 10:45

Room: 242 Sloan
Professor: Matthew Girton, Ph.D.
Office: 203 Sloan
Virtual Office: https://commonwealthu-edu.zoom.us/my/dr.gvirtualoffice
Office Hours: 9:30 to 11:00 Monday and Wednesday
11:00 to 12:00 Tuesday and Thursday
or by appointment
Office Phone: 484-2193
Home Phone: 893-6798
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web site: D2L (Brightspace)
Required Text: Communicating in Small Groups: Principles and Practices, Twelfth Edition, by
Beebe & Masterson

The Course

There are six objectives in this course. They are listed below.

 Demonstrate presentation skills using appropriate vocal and physical control.

 Construct a presentation using reliable and appropriate sources appropriate for the selected
audience.
 Construct a well-organized presentation that emphasizes a central idea.
 Apply small group perspectives or theories effectively to problem-solving and decision-making
opportunities.
 Explain the role of communication in small groups, their function and unique characteristics.

Policies

Responsibilities

For this course (and therefore you) to be successful, we all must do our part. For the student this
means you are required to prepare for and participate in each class. I am not big on long windy lectures
and therefore I will ask questions. It is imperative that you do the readings for us to have productive class
discussions on the material. Chapters should be read according to the schedule in the syllabus. For my part,
I will act as a facilitator to help you meet your objectives and responsibilities.

Attendance

This class, more than any other, requires the full involvement of every participant. Much of the
activity in this class takes place in groups. Therefore, out of respect for others in your group, your
attendance is required. While situations arise where it becomes impossible to make a class (e.g. family
emergencies, medical problems and so forth), these occurrences should be few. If you know you must miss
a class (excused absences will be made at my discretion), let me know in advance. For every absence over
two (2), a student’s class grade will drop to the next lowest. For example, four absences will result in a
student’s grade being lowered from an A to a B+.

Being late excessively is disruptive and unfair to the other members of this class. For every three
(3) tardies, a student’s grade will drop to the next lowest. For example, a class grade would drop from a B
to a C+ for seven tardies.
Late Work

Sometimes it is difficult to bring an assignment together as quickly as we would like. If you are
experiencing difficulty, speak with me before the assignment is due and I will see if I can get you back up
to speed. In other words, there is no reason for you to turn in an assignment that is late.

The midterms and final exam have been scheduled far enough in advance for everyone to make
their plans accordingly. The only excuses I will accept for missing either are a medical emergency, death
in the family, or absences approved by the university (e.g. athletic event, choral trip, etc.).

Office Hours

It has been shown in many cases that students who take advantage of office hours to speak with
the instructor do better in the class. GET TO KNOW ME! The more I see of you, the more I am
convinced of your concern for this class and your performance in it. To be certain that I will be available
for you, make an appointment with me. I will be available on a first come - first served basis but I will give
precedence to those who have made an appointment beforehand.

Plagiarism or Cheating

If cheating or plagiarism is suspected, there will be a conference with the student(s) involved. If it
is determined that either cheating or plagiarism has taken place, the student will receive a grade of zero for
the assignment or an “F” for the course depending on the severity of the infraction.

I do not expect that we will experience any problems in this class; however, I have prosecuted
such cases in the past. Consequences can be severe (e.g. expulsion from the university). It is never worth
it. If you are having problems, seeing me is a much saner course of action than throwing away your
academic (and possibly professional) career.

ADA Statement

The faculty of the Department of Communication desires that all our students fully participate in
classes, but we need your assistance. If you have a disability or condition that compromises your ability to
complete the requirements of this course, it is important that you inform me as soon as possible of your
individual needs so that I can make all reasonable efforts to accommodate them.

The University’s statement is below.

Disability Services for Students Office

The Office for Disability Services assists with a variety of academic needs. The office also assists students
with reasonable accommodations. Students with learning, visual, hearing, and mobility impairments and
other disabilities have used the office for the following: course selection, registration assistance,
counseling, liaison with state rehabilitation agencies, obtaining books on tape, note taker and reader
service, test accommodations, and advocacy.

Students in need of disability services are urged to make their needs known early since some services
require considerable advance planning and coordination. Students must be registered with the Office for
Disability Services for Students to request and receive accommodations. If you are a student with a
documented disability who believes that you will need accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact
your instructor at the beginning of the semester and to contact the Office of Disability Services (Ulmer Hall
114 and 137, 570-484-2665/2454).

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Classroom Behavior

Note the University’s policy below.

Students and faculty share responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment in the
classroom. Civility and respect create a safe and productive atmosphere in which students can achieve.
Disruptive behavior hinders the educational process and is unacceptable at Lock Haven University.

The definition of disruptive behavior is at the reasonable discretion of the faculty member teaching the
class, and determination of whether a specific behavior is disruptive resides within the authority of the
faculty member. Examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:
Showing disrespect for and displaying poor manners toward any faculty member or other students.

 Disruptive or inappropriate use of technology and electronic devices in the classroom, such as cell
phones, computers, pagers, and MP3 players.
 Persistent speaking without being recognized or interrupting other speakers.
 Persistently entering class late or leaving early without an excuse or the faculty member’s
permission.
 Threats, harassment, or personal insults of any kind directed toward any faculty member and other
students.

A faculty member has the discretion to impose sanctions for disruptive behavior in their classrooms. Some
of the sanctions may include: a formal apology, dismissal from the class in which the disruptive behavior
occurs, and/or referral to Student Affairs for resolution of the situation, which action could result in
dismissal from the University.

Grading

Group presentation/portfolio 35% Quizzes (5) 10%

Progress Report #1 5% Exam I 10%
Progress Report #2 5% Exam II 15%
Participation 5% Final 15%

Scale
A = 100-93 B+ = 89-87 C+ = 79-77 D+ = 69-67 F= 59-0
A- = 92-90 B = 86-83 C = 76-73 D = 66-63
B- = 82-80 C- = 72-70 D- = 62-60

Assignments

Group project

This is your group project. Therefore, within certain guidelines, I will allow you to be creative in
how it is presented to the class. Your presentation may include role-plays involving members of your
group, videos produced by the group, PowerPoint presentations, and so on. Each presentation should last
AT LEAST 30 minutes; however, you may use the entire class period. Each group should make an
innovative presentation of a concept, theory, or practice of small group communication. The group may
want to combine the experience with a project (e.g. some type of service in the community). Come to me if
this is an option you wish to pursue.

All portfolios are due the same day (see the tentative schedule). It should contain the minutes of
your group’s meetings, evaluations from each member of the other members (these should be handed in
stapled or in envelopes so that comments are kept confidential), the assessment instrument your group

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came up with to evaluate each other, agendas for each meeting, an outline of the presentation, and any
materials used in the presentation. This portfolio should be neatly typed and submitted in bound form (e.g.
ring binder, spiral binding, etc.)

Do not think that freeloading is an option for this project. If I notice that the confidential
evaluations mark an individual as providing little, if any, contributions, that person will receive a grade that
is lower than the group. Also, DO NOT miss your group’s presentation day. Doing so will result in your
grade for the project being lowered by two full grades unless it is an emergency as defined in the
attendance section.

Progress Reports

Written and oral reports will be due twice during the semester. They should include what you
have accomplished up to that point, what still needs to be accomplished, and any issues your group has
encountered. Further requirements will be discussed prior to the due dates.

Quizzes

There will be five quizzes during the semester. They will be multiple choice. They will occur
approximately after every two to three chapters and will include the chapter that should be read for that
day, so stay up with the reading and you will be fine! Quizzes that are missed may not be made up.

Midterm and Final Examinations

These exams will be in two formats – multiple choice and short answer. Do not miss an exam day
unless you have an approved reason as outlined in the attendance policy.

Participation

This is a course where participation is vital. If I see that you are contributing in class discussions
and exercises, you will receive the full five percent. Don’t think you can just sit there and look pretty.
That’s my job.

Recreational use of electronic devices (e.g. cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) in the classroom will
also whack your participation grade. It shows indifference to those who are speaking, an egregious offense
in my (and many other professionals) book. If the use continues after I have notified the class OR the
individual, I will dismiss that person from the class (see the University behavior policy above). I promise I
won’t text while you’re speaking, so please return the favor for anyone else that speaks.
.

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 Tentative Class Schedule

Day Date Topic Reading Due

T 8/22 Introductions, Syllabus, & Orientation
Th 8/24 Discussion/Activities 1
T 8/29 Discussion/Activities (Guest Lecture) 2
Th 8/31 Discussion/Activities 3
T 9/5 Lecture on minutes, agendas, parliamentary procedure
Th 9/7 Discussion/Activities/Exam Review 5
T 9/12 Discussion/Activities 6
Th 9/14 Exam I (ON D2L) Covers 1,2,3, & 5
T 9/19 Discussion/Activities 7
Th 9/21 Lecture on delivery
T 9/26 Discussion/Activities 8
Th 9/28 Discussion/Activities 4
T 10/3 Discussion/Activities/Exam Review 10
Th 10/5 Discussion/Activities Progress Rep #1
T 10/10 Exam II (ON D2L) Covers 4,6,7,8, & 10
Th 10/12 Discussion/Activities 11
T 10/17 Discussion/Activities 12
Th 10/19 Discussion/Activities 9
T 10/24 Meetings with individual groups to discuss progress
Th 10/26 Meetings with individual groups to discuss progress
T 10/31 Discussion/Activities Progress Rep #2
Th 11/2 Work Day
T 11/7 Presentation from Group 1
Th 11/9 Presentation from Group 2
T 11/14 Presentation from Group 3
Th 11/16 Presentation from Group 4
T 11/21 NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING BREAK
Th 11/23 NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING BREAK Gorge self/Nap
T 11/28 Presentation from Group 5 Portfolios
Th 12/1 Presentation from Group 6

T 12/5 Final Exam from 8:00 to 9:50 for 9:30 class (ON D2L) Covers 9,11, &12
Th 12/7 Final Exam from 8:00 to 9:50 for 8:00 class (ON D2L) Covers 9,11, &12