CRES 299: Racial Passing in African American Literature (Knight)

Group Project Etiquette 

Group projects can be a fun way to interact with your peers and gain new insight into class topics. They also help prepare you for employment - no matter what field you are in, you will need to be able to effectively work with your peers to delegate tasks and create a cohesive finished product. Overall, there are three general rules of decorum when it comes to working on a project with your peers:

1. Communication - Communicating clearly, respectfully, and positively from the beginning to end of your group project is essential for a supportive and productive group atmosphere. This means being clear with the expectations you have for yourself and for others. If you disagree with a direction that's being taken, or think you have been assigned too high of a workload, you MUST respectfully communicate this. It can feel uncomfortable to confront your peers, but ultimately clear and respectful communication is the only way to accomplish a task with positive working relationships still intact. Remember to also communicate when you think something is going well! Supporting other people's ideas and complimenting the direction of the project is a great way to build a positive group project atmosphere.
2. Proper Delegation - The equitable division of labor for a project is VITAL for an effective working relationship and successful work product. Ultimately there are two group project stereotypes - the bum who does nothing and skates by with an A, and the organized project "hero" who takes on 90% of the work and quietly resents everyone the entire time. Neither of these tropes are ones you want to fall into! Both are harmful and ultimately result in a subpar project. By delegating tasks into doable chunks for each group member early on, you avoid becoming one of these caricatures and get through the project relatively stress free. 
3. Accountability - As mentioned above, you want to avoid becoming either of two people - the one who does nothing and the one who does everything. This means being accountable to your group members and accountable to yourself. Do not bite off more than you can chew, and do not find yourself contributing nothing to the project. If you are worried about being one of these people, go back to rule one and communicate! 

Group Project Contract

One way to set clear objectives and expectations as a group is to create a group project contract. This document, created with every group member's input, lays out how group members will communicate, contribute, and handle any conflicts. It also serves as a way to organize and delegate your project tasks at the outset. 

A group contract typically includes the following elements:

• Names and contact information of group members.
• Expectations and ground rules for the group, such as how frequently you’ll meet.
• Roles and responsibilities of each of the group members.
• How you will handle any conflicts that come up.
• A description of your project.
• A timeline of how you’ll get it done.

Even if your group decides to not create a formal contract, it's a good idea to talk about these key areas before you start your project.