Group+Books+Project

Two-person groups will be assigned one of the following books to examine closely. These two-person groups will read the book, analyze its contents, and develop an oral presentation to be made to the class as a whole and a paper. The oral presentation will be done by the two-person groups, but each person will submit his or her own writing analysis of the book. The written paper will be at least 5 pages in length (up to 3,000 words). It will not just summarize the book, but will focus more on the groups and the group processes described within the book. __The assignment of books to groups will be done at random.__

1. Students will work in two-person teams, reading and reviewing the assigned book. All of the groups are focused on an intriguing group.

2. The students will, together, make a presentation to the class. They should take advantage of the Speech Center for suggestions on their presentation, which must (a) provide a clear understanding the group and its characteristics and (b) discuss (and highlight) key group-level processes that are depicted within the book. These two-person groups will receive the same grade for the classroom presentation. First presentations begin on October 23!

3. Students, working individually, will write a paper that "reviews" the book, but not in the traditional book review sense. A substantial portion of the paper should summarize the book’s content, but the book review should also examine group-level processes that are depicted within the book. These are separate, individual papers--students may wish to work with their partners in developing their paper, but they produce individualized reports.


 * Book || Link || Team || Date ||
 * Read, P. P. (1974). //Alive//. New York: Avon. || Alive || Chris Poff and Li Lai || Oct 28 ||
 * Krakauer, J. (1997). Into thin air. New York: Villard. || Into Thin Air || Jeremy Huang & Al Pena || Oct 28 ||
 * DeSantis, A. D. (2007). //Inside Greek U: Fraternities, sororities, and the pursuit of pleasure, power, and prestige.// Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky. || Inside Greek U || Sarah Flaherty & Joe Han || Oct 30 ||
 * Venkatesh, S. (2008). Gang leader for a day: A rogue sociologist takes to the streets. New York: Penguin. || Gang Leader for a Day || Mike Ray & Johnny Franceski || Oct 30 ||
 * Festinger, L., Riecken, H. W., & Schachter, S. (1956). //When prophecy fails//. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. || When Prophecy Fails || Lindsay Palmisano & Scott Shim || Nov 6 ||
 * Lois, J. (2003). //Heroic efforts: The emotional culture of search and rescue volunteers//. New York: New York University Press. || Heroic Efforts || Tyler Lipositz & Seung-Hwan Kim || Nov 6 ||
 * Sullenberger, C. B., with Zaslow, J. (2009). //Highest duty: My search for what really matters.// New York: Harper Collins. || Highest Duty || Sion Kim & Patrick Somers || Nov 11 ||
 * Thorsness, L. (2008). //Surviving hell.// New York: Encounter Books. || Surviving Hell || Carew Bartley & Ryan McEvoy || Nov 11 ||