ASSIGNMENT & INFORMATION SHEET
                             
  Group Panel Presentations  "an aspect about an aspect about..."}

       [[ This document contains the list of groups & the detailed assignment sheets for upcoming group activity]]          <<It is quite detailed and attempts to answer all questions you might have.  Read carefully. >>

RATIONALE:  This assignment gives you an opportunity to plan, prepare & present a group presentation of an Important Issue/Problem of the Day. You have probably already completed similar kinds of activities in other classes; however,  for this project, the emphasis is on learning more about the dynamics of small group communication. The goal is to help you become a more skilled group participant by understanding & applying the principles of Chapters 10 &  11.

• Out of the very  general topic area above,  each group should select an aspect of an aspect  to present.   {e.g. select an aspect of:  Corruption in corporations, Gun control, The SHU cafeteria, Which us better: being a resident or being a commuter? Cultural diversity, Interpersonal skills in the workplace, The effects of Mass Media on the way we think and behave, etc.}
•  
• Since each presentation will need to include some  discussion/debate/exploration of differing perspectives, it's best to choose a topic on which there is already some DISagreement among the group members.

PRESENTATION FORMAT:
When these discussions are presented in front of the class [see course syllabus for specific dates], each one will consist of three segments. The TOTAL  presentation time per group is only   15  minutes+2 minutes set-up time.  This means that the group members  will  need to plan very carefully in order to ensure that :   

• everyone has a chance to participate orally. (although everyone does not need to speak in each of the 3 segments)  sometime within the overall presentation-

•  all three segments of  group discussion are included within the 15 minute time limit-  [tip: as with constructing a speech,  the key to success will be in selecting a topic that is limited & focused & then developing a  well phrased CENTRAL IDEA [in the form of your Discussion Question] Avoid the temptation to cover a lot of ground &/or give your listeners a lot of background. You don't have that kind of time.

The three segments are:

  The presentation is structured in this way so that  you will  get a chance to experience the three basic  group discussion formats:  SYMPOSIUM (segment 1) , PANEL (segment 2) , FORUM (segment 3)  even though this will be our only opportunity this semester to do a group presentation, .  For business majors , this will also help you begin to work on the group/team competency skills as outlined by the School of Business.

PLANNING GUIDELINES:     ( also see procedural guidelines below)

1.  All group members should participate equally!  It is Everyone's responsibility to
          make sure that all of  the tasks get done.

2. Overall, your laptops will be very helpful for several aspects of the meeting & planning  process, including:
             > recording material during your brainstorming and planning sessions,
             > keeping a central location for the bibliography sources
             > communicating among the group members via chat & /or email, etc
             > supplementing the planning time you'll have in class
    If you use these opportunities efficiently, you should be able to easily complete the planning, research, and paperwork for this group project.

PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES: 

1 -> Choose a leader/moderator.  This person will be responsible for ensuring that  certain tasks get done both Before & During the presentation. These tasks include ( but are not limited to)           

                                                                                       
  2 -> All group members should participate equally.   Although the leader/moderator will double check on things, it is EVERYONE's responsibility to make sure all of the tasks  get done.

  3 -> On the next, linked page ... you will see a step-by-step review of the group
  organizational procedure  [click to go directly  to procedures sheet] .  It will help you put the text's guidelines to work.