Organizational Format for Brainstorming Session

Essay Subject: Excessive student loan debts

there are two parts of the Essay:

1. Group Project Brainstorming Report: When meeting in your problem-solving group, you will be discussing in detail the problem. After clearly identifying, defining, and clarifying the problem, your group will create one solution that helps to solve the problem you described. There will probably not be a solution that is a 100% fix, and that’s okay. Your group can talk about the strengths and the weaknesses of the solution to meeting the problem. Remember, take good notes while meeting with your group.

All of the steps in the organizational format below should be explained in great detail, not just notes. Brainstorming is all about the details, so help me to understand that your group talked in depth about your subject by clearly explaining the group’s thoughts on each of the four categories below.

Organizational Format for Brainstorming Session

1. Identify – clearly state the problem you are trying to solve.
2. Define – thoroughly describe the problem. Why does the problem exist? What are the cause and effects? Are there drawbacks to solving this problem?
3. Clarify – who is impacted by the problem? How are they impacted?
4. Solve – offer one solution to satisfy the problem. Include the strengths and weaknesses of this solution as it relates to the problem you described.

The Brainstorming Report should be at least 1 full single-spaced page in length. Remember, brainstorming is all about the details, so this report should explain in detail the four steps your group used to find a solution.

2. Group Project Reaction Essay: Once your group meeting is complete, you will analyze your experience in a reaction essay by answering the questions below. The essay should be 2-3 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman font.

Reaction Essay Questions

• Verbal/Nonverbal Analysis – Did each group member contribute to the problem-solving discussion? How did the group decide who would talk at a time? Did one group member talk more than others? Overall was the group effective with verbal communication? How did nonverbal messages contribute to the group process?
• Listening Analysis– How effective were the group members at listening to one another? Was there a member who exhibited good or poor listening skills? Why are listening skills important when working in a group?
• Conflict Analysis – Did your group experience any conflict or differing opinions? What type of conflict: pseudo conflict, simple conflict, or ego conflict? How did conflict impact the group problem-solving experience? If a conflict was not experienced, how did your group avoid conflict?
• What insights did you gain about the interpersonal communication process through working in this problem-solving group?