Modules 17 and 18 for June 10th

Module 17 is about listening.  I think that listening is extremely important.  I think listening is important because by listening to other people, and not just hearing them, you're exposed to many new ideas.  Good listening I think also improves your writing.  Good listeners pay attention, focus on other speakers in a generous way, avoid making assumptions, and listen for feelings as well as facts.  You can hear something someone says and maybe even comprehend it, but good listening allows to to make a connection with the person you're listening to.  Active listening means that you are actively demonstrating that you've heard the message and you give feedback.  To show you are an active listener you can give feedback by paraphrasing the content, mirroring the speaker's feelings, state your own feelings, ask for information or clarification, and offer to help solve the problem.  You can let people know you're listening to them through non-verbal communication and actions.  "Nods" and "uh huhs" are good!  When we really disagree with someone our listening can often be hampered by our emotional frustration.  If you can listen to someone you disagree with then you are a good listener!  In Module 18 we learned about working and writing in teams.  I think this module is also very important.  In this class, especially, it is important to learn about teams because we are always in them.  The types of messages that groups should discuss are informational, procedural, and interpersonal.  During a teams orientation, members of the team form social cohesiveness.  During formation, conflicts may arise and a leader usually stands out.  In coordination, which is the longest phase, the group work is done.  And lastly, formalization deals with the group seeking consensus.  There are many roles that group members may play, but I want to talk about some.  There are some negative roles that we should avoid like blocking, dominating, clowning, and withdrawing.  There are also different types of leaders in groups.  Informational leaders generate and evaluate text.  Interpersonal leaders monitor the group's feelings and resolve conflicts.  Procedural leaders set the agenda.  Do you wonder if you are a successful student group? There are characteristics, so see if you match them!  The leader will set regular meetings and lay all the plans out, that way everyone knows what's going on.  The group memebers listen to criticism and make changes accordingly, and the group works together as a whole.  Also, most of the members should work on the project.  Peer pressure and group think are bad! This deals with having a majority influence, and what certain members think is okay with everyone else.  Also, there are steps to handle conflict.  These include making sure there is a disagreement, check if information is correct, discover needs of person's involved, search for alternatives, and repair bad feelings.  There are also ways in which we can respond to criticism.  We can paraphrase, check for feelings, check for interferences, and buying time with a limited agreement.  Also, not only in writing is it good to use you-attitude, but it is also useful when dealing with situations within a group.  Also, and most importantly, how can we create great documents with our group?  Firstly, we have to plan the work.  Then, together as a group we work on the document while allowing everyone an opinion.  Thirdly, we revise the document collectively.  Fourthly, edit and proofread.  Lastly, we make the group process work.  It's easy to form a document all on your own by following these steps, but when other people are involved you have to respect others in your group.  Group work may have its negatives, but it can make for a diverse and creative document.