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Department: COMM

Course No.: 225W

Credits: 3

Title: Small Group Communication

WQ: W

Contact: Ross Buck

Catalog Copy: COMM 225W. Small Group Communication (Formerly offered as COMS 216W.) Either semester. Three Credits. Prerequisite: COMM 220 or COMS 205 or instructor consent; ENGL 105 or 110 or 111 or 250. Recommended preparation: COMM 210 or COMS 210. VanLear Approaches, theories, and research findings in small group communication and development of an ability to engage effectively in small group situations.

W Criteria: Students form small groups and work on a group project. In addition to a "group report" students individually write multiple revised versions of (a) an analysis of their groups' communication, and/or (b) a research paper on some aspect or principle of group communication. In either case written work will amount to over 15 pages of writing.

Specific details of these assignments may vary with instructor, but in all cases these papers are evaluated and edited by the instructor for writing style as well as content and then the students revise them. The instructor covers certain basics of writing style in class. However, typically writing instruction is accomplished primarily through written commentary and individual conference. The most recent version of the APA style manual is the standard for writing style. The syllabus will state that the "W" component of the course must be passed in order to pass the course.

Role of Grad Students: Senior TAs in our Ph.D. program often teach sections of this course. These students have been screened for their knowledge of Small Group Communication and their writing ability. In almost all cases these TAs have taught other courses at UConn and are recommended to teach Comm 225W by their former supervisor. All TAs teaching Comm 225w will receive additional W training at the University Writing Center. A full time faculty member supervises the course. He/she reviews the syllabus, all assignments, and grades (before they are awarded). She/he also observes TAs in class each semester. The supervisor reviews teacher evaluations each semester to check for problems and to suggest improvements.