Small Group Individual Analysis Paper

Details for Assignment 03: Small Group Individual Analysis Paper

This document focuses solely on the Small Group Individual Analysis Paper.

See Moodle > Graded Assignments > Small Group Project for the complete document that

includes all steps.

Step 7: Submit Assignment 03: Small Group Individual Analysis (40 points)

Within 48 hours following the presentation, each student will submit to Moodle a 3-4-page Small Group Individual

Analysis focused on the process of the group’s work—NOT on the topic.

OBJECTIVE: Writing a small group analysis paper is an excellent way to examine group processing. Over time,

observed behavior of participants begin to expose patterns, including communication concepts in action. By

recording and analyzing what you observe, you are demonstrating how to document "data." Additionally, writing an

analysis allows you to integrate small group concepts and theories with your own experiences in your group. Hence,

the need for maintaining a journal.

PROCEDURE for Small Group Individual Analysis:

1. During group meetings, face-to-face or virtual, observe members' interaction and how your group functions as

a whole. Record observations and any contributions you make in your GoogleDocs online journal. Make sure

to record entries immediately after each meeting. From time-to-time, the instructor will check on your progress

through the shared document. The more you record in the journal, the easier it will be to recall when writing

your analysis paper.

2. Your paper will include a cover page; not be less than three (3) nor exceed four (4) typewritten pages; double-

spaced, with 1" margins; using 12-pt. Times New Roman. The analysis is NOT a group assignment, but an

individual one. Thus, it will necessarily be different from papers written by other members of your group.

NOTE: Papers will not be shared with any other member of the class, which allows the writer to be open in

their analysis.

DO NOT FOCUS on your group’s topic. Instead, the paper should include terms and concepts with appropriate

applications and explanations as they relate to your group’s interactive process. You will need to cite specific

examples to substantiate the appropriateness and accuracy of your analysis. The paper should be able to reflect

that the writer had completed a unit in small group communication.

3. Your paper should be organized into three basic sections:

a. Introduction:

A short paragraph describing the general characteristics of your group; how you came together; when and

where you held your group meetings; an overview of your group process; what you intend to focus on in

your paper. A specific thesis/preview statement should be included that reflects the organization and

approach of your paper.

b. Body of the Analysis:

This section should be devoted to your analysis and the description of the behaviors observed in the group

process. This will involve specific examples of behaviors observed in the group and the application of

communication concepts to these observations. How were these significant? Why were they important to

the functioning of your group?

Consider discussion of the following items. For details and perspectives on each items, go to:

Moodle > Course Home >ASSG 03: Small Group Analysis > Small Group Resources

 Leadership - How did the group deal with leadership? Which style of leadership do you think best describes each member? How could each member be a more effective group member?

 Roles - Did roles emerge from the group’s pattern of interacting? Which group members were skilled in keeping the group on task? Which members were skilled at facilitating the flow of interaction? Which

members were skilled at maintaining or changing the climate or mood of the group? Which members

were skilled at helping relieve group tension? What task, maintenance, individualistic roles did group

members play? Was there role specialization, role fixation, etc.

 Communication Climate - How would you describe the communication climate of your group over time (from the first interaction to the most recent)? What factors contributed to the overall climate of your

group? (Remember Gibb’s supportive or defensive behaviors?) How did contextual and environmental

factors influence group communication and group productivity?

 Norms - Did norms emerge from the group's patterns of communicating? If so, how (explicitly stated, informally applied, etc.)? Which norms encouraged group effectiveness? Which norms hindered group

effectiveness?

 Constraints - What types of constraints did your group experience? How did those constraints influence group interaction? Describe how the group managed time during meetings. Describe the quality of

interaction during meetings.

 Decision-Making Methods – How did your group make decisions? (majority rule, by expert, consensus, etc.). Did they vary throughout the group’s tenure? Did groupthink occur? And, if so, how was it

handled? Where there any other “defective decision-making” instances? What helped your group make

good decisions?

 Phases of Group Development – How did your group proceed through the project? What caused you to form, how did you “storm,” etc.? What might have been effective ways to manage tension?

 Creative Problem-Solving – How did your group manage the problem-solving aspect of the assignment? How did you brainstorm? Did you try any of the other creative ways to problem-solve? What might have

been made problem-solving more effective?

Do not try to address all of these concepts. (In fact, you may decide to choose some different concepts.)

Trying to address all in a short paper would mean you would do very little analysis and application. Choose

one to three concepts and discuss in detail (oftentimes your detailed discussion will include incorporating

other concepts covered in the course.).

You should include your behaviors and contributions to the group as well. This should be a learning

process: What did you learn from your small group experience that you can apply to other small groups that

you will be a part of? How did this group differ from other groups that you have been in? What would have

been other ways to handle the issues?

c. Conclusion:

Integrate and summarize specific behavior patterns that illustrated your group process. What lessons did the

group learn about communicating in small groups? What factors contributed to your group working well

together? How could your group have been more effective?

4. Before uploading your analysis paper to Moodle, SAVE the document using the following file name format:

analysis_LastnameFirst-intiial Example: analysis_switzerd

5. Submit to Moodle > Course Home > ASSG 03: Small Group Analysis

6. The following rubric will be used when evaluating your paper.

Score Max Criterion

10 Paper is well-organized and the writing flows in a coherent/consistent manner.

15

Paper focuses on the process of small group communication and NOT on the topic used for

the group’s presentation.

Concepts explored beyond a superficial level. Evidence of insight into the nature of small

group communication; incorporation of small group communication concepts and terms (The

paper indicates that the author has a working understanding of small group communication.)

10 Adequate English skills (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, etc.).

PROOFREAD YOUR PAPER.

5

Adherence to technical criteria

(used required file-naming convention; Separate cover page; 3-4 page length; 1” margins;

12-pt Times New Roman)

40 TOTAL SCORE