Order Description
A familial group that challenges you to critique and analyze the composition of a small group
One of the first concepts students are introduced to in a basic communication course is that of the rhetorical situation, consisting of the speaker, the audience, and the message situated within the context. The factors of the speaker, the audience, and the message are all stressed to students as being vitally important to understand their impact on the success of the message. This assignment will rectify the gap between learning and application of context while at the same time providing a new way to engage with interpersonal messages.
Directions
1. Choose a TV family (Connors, Golden Girls, Bradys, Flinstones, Gilmores, etc.) that represents the story of a small group. Many shows focus on relationship maintenance and conflict through cohesion.
2. Analyze a TV family of your choice based on the use of verbal communication (language), nonverbal communication (behavior/actions), as well as utilizing the concepts of critical listening covered in the course.
3. Address the following and present examples if applicable (remember to focus on Cohesion):
• Characteristics of Groups
• Power in Groups
• Group Roles
• Leadership in Groups
• Decision Making in Groups
• Six Steps in Problem Solving
4. The goal is to identify the small group communication concepts, using the vocabulary from the chapters. Provide a strong analysis of how the show conveyed represents a modern or traditional family. How is the message interpreted and shared by an audience? Also what meaning is conveyed within the culture? You may include ways that the show connects to who you are and how you identify as relating to the story of the family represented in the characterization and representation.
NOTE: You will need to be specific when referencing the characters and dialogue- use names and direct quotes as example. Utilize the placement in a show (beginning/ end) or scenes and episodes. Assume that I have seen the show and am familiar with the characters. You do not need to include every detail of the show but focus on the analysis of the communication and relating terms and concepts from the reading.
5. After watching the show you chose, thoroughly read through Chapters 5 & 8. Plan to organize and develop your paper using the following outline:
Introduction: Begin with an attention getting device or hook. Identify and cite the show title, writer and include a brief summary of the show, including the main characters and a brief description of each. In one sentence, sum up the thesis, or purpose, of your essay (i.e. what area or goal will you achieve using concepts from the chapters you be focusing on and exploring). Finally, preview the concepts or vocabulary terms from the chapter you will explain and discuss in the body of your essay.
Body: Choose 3-5 Communication concepts or vocabulary terms from Chapters 5 & 8. Each concept should be a paragraph of the body of your paper. Begin by providing the definition from the text (does not have to be a bold concept). Demonstrate your understanding of each concept by describing each concept in your own words, and then by giving a specific example found in the song. Consider adding any relevant interviews with the actors or writers that could help with interpreting the show- any outside sources must be cited. Use APA documentation to cite the concepts from the text, quoted dialogue from the show, and any outside sources in the body of your essay and in the references at the end. Think about how the concepts you choose further connect to attitudes, beliefs, and values.
Conclusion: To conclude the paper, review the concepts you discussed in the Body of the essay in a sentence. Explain why this assignment and the concepts demonstrated in the show are important. In the last paragraph of the paper, you should include a personal reflection, describing an example that you have witnessed in your personal life of the concepts discussed in the paper to show the relevance of what you learned.
6. Use APA for referencing (internal text citations and a reference page). Papers must have correct spelling and grammar including sentence and paragraph structure, and use consistent case and tense throughout.
Length: Your paper must be between 500-1000 words + reference page.
Submission: The written assignment will be submitted online to Ivy Learn on the assigned due date.
Assessment
Cohesion Analysis 50 pts.
CATEGORY & POINTS EARNED EXCELLENT ACCOMPLISHED DEVELOPING BEGINNING
ORGANIZATION
_____/5 Information is organized with well-constructed sentences and paragraphs. Information is somewhat organized with well-constructed sentences and paragraphs. Information is somewhat disorganized. Paragraphs are not well constructed. Writing is hard to follow because of structure. The information appears to be completely disorganized.
MECHANICS
_____/5
No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. Readability not hindered by minor mistakes. A few grammatical spelling or punctuation errors. Portions of the writing are unclear because of mistakes. Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors. Readability severely hindered by excessive mistakes.
DEVELOPMENT
_____/10 Clearly addresses each example posed.
Allows for thoughtful reflection. Does not thoroughly address each example and provides superficial reflection. Examples are not thoroughly given; reflection is confusing or unclear. No part of the writing displays a thoughtful example or response to the material.
CONNECTION TO TEXT/CLASS DISCUSSION
_____/10 Focused, clear, accurate and specific connections to concepts discussed in class and/or text. Connections to course concepts may be clear, but somewhat unfocused, inaccurate or specific. Very few and/or unclear connections to course concepts. Ambiguous, inaccurate and/or lacks focus. Lacks focus, clarity, accuracy and specificity of connection to course concepts.
THOUGHTFUL REFLECTION
_____/10 Illustrates thorough understanding of course concepts through direct relation to personal examples/ descriptions using concrete language. Struggles to illustrate thorough understanding of course concepts due to unclear relation to personal examples/descriptions, using some ambiguous language. Inconclusive illustration of understanding of course concepts due to ambiguous language or weak or inaccurate relation to personal examples/ descriptions. Understanding of course concepts is not demonstrated. Language used is ambiguous. Incorrect connections of personal examples/descriptions to course concepts.
APA FORMATTING
_____/ 5 No errors in formatting. Almost no errors in formatting. A few errors in formatting. Portions of the formatting are missing or incomplete. Many errors in formatting. Excessive mistakes demonstrating a lack of use of the intended format.
INDIVIDUALITY
_____/5
Response and reflection shows personal touch with unique tone. Emotions, attitudes and beliefs are clearly displayed through the writing. Response and reflection show personal touch and unique tone. Response and reflection lack personal tone. No personal insight. Response and reflection are generic and transferable to any situation.
Materials and Technology Needed
________________________________________
• Word-process all submitted work using Microsoft Word.
• Outside research is not required but you need to cite the textbook and song that you refer to and use in writing your paper. For more information on APA formatting, please refer to Purdue’s Online Writing Lab (OWL)
