Group Discussion: A Practical Guide to Participation and Leadership

This affordable, concise guide to group discussion offers comprehensive coverage of the standard agenda, an approach that works for any problem-solving discussion. Readers learn a proven, relevant, practical approach to solving problems. The authors emphasize the creative potential of individuals and urge them to apply that creativity to their discussions, including imaginative ways to foster equal participation, inventive gathering of background information, rhetorically-sensitive handling of conflict, and critical assessment of potential solutions to a problem. Dynamic group discussion is a rewarding experience, and this book maps the route to effective communication in groups for participants and for leaders. As a collective effort, group discussion provides firsthand experience of the enhancement of individual abilities when working as part of a team, encouraging mutual respect and the synergies of collaborative efforts.

"I appreciate an inexpensive, concise text that applies the concepts in a practical manner. The Instructor s Manual cemented my opinion regarding the text. The well-established philosophy of helping students understand the importance of becoming a well-informed, responsible group member resonates with my own thinking." Deborah Silva, Walla Walla College

"I liked the fact that the text was very generic, without a lot of extraneous material that students receive in other courses. It appears to allow instructors the freedom to teach the course as they see fit without being overly hamstrung by an author s preferences." Michael Putnam, University of Texas at Arlington

"I used this text to supplement other readings in a group facilitation class. It was especially helpful for the students coming to class without a group communication background." Tess Marino, Portland State University

"This book is organized in an easy-to-follow format. A good overview of group interaction is followed by agenda setting and reporting." Jill W. Hall, Jefferson Community College