1C Formative Assessment #2 for Groupthink
The Assignment: Develop an Analytical Thesis for Groupthink Essay
For your thesis, you are not so much arguing that Groupthink affects the actions in one of the stories or the documentary you’re analyzing because the Groupthink is self-evident and does not require an argument.
What is required however is showing how the story or documentary fleshes out the distinguishing characteristics or symptoms of Groupthink. These characteristics will determine your body paragraphs.
It won’t be practical to address all 8 Groupthink symptoms in your essay. To be realistic and practical for a 1,200-word essay, focusing on 4 or 5 symptoms will be more appropriate for your purposes.
Instructions for This Assignment
Match 4 or 5 of the Groupthink symptoms with elements of the story you choose. Whether you’re analyzing “The Lottery,” “Country of the Blind” or the documentary FYRE, you’re essentially matching parts of one of those stories with 4 or 5 Groupthink symptoms.
For example, your body paragraphs might address the following:
One. The group feels invulnerable to the possibility of being wrong.
Two. The group ignores dissent and negative feedback to rationalize its stupid behavior.
Three. The group dismisses outside opinion as dissenters by painting them with negative stereotypes.
Four. The group has Mind Guards who block all dissent.
Five. People in the group are so terrified of being expelled that they engage in self-censorship.
Example of an Analytical Thesis That Addresses Groupthink in One Sentence:
Considered the ugliest car of all time, the Pontiac Aztec is a dumpster fire of design that owes its astonishing ugliness to corporate Groupthink, which prevailed in the Aztec’s design through the committee’s delusion of invulnerability, the committee’s suppression of dissent, the committee demeaning outside voices, the committee relying on Mind Guards to keep everyone in lockstep, and the committee terrifying everyone into a state of self-censorship.
Example of an Analytical Thesis That Addresses Groupthink in Two Sentences:
Considered the ugliest car of all time, the Pontiac Aztec is a dumpster fire of design that owes its astonishing ugliness to corporate Groupthink, which destroyed much needed critical thinking. The triumph of Groupthink over critical thinking was evident in the following: the committee’s delusion of invulnerability, the committee’s suppression of dissent, the committee demeaning outside voices, the committee relying on Mind Guards to keep everyone in lockstep, and the committee terrifying everyone into a state of self-censorship.
List of Requirements for This Assignment
One. Your thesis paragraph should show the clear link between Groupthink and your selected story or documentary.
Two. Your thesis paragraph should outline your body paragraphs.
Three. Your paragraph should have sufficient detail evidenced by a length of about 150-200.
Four. Your paragraph should be uploaded as an attachment to either turnitin or Unicheck, depending on which platform has a contract with the college.
Learning Objectives for Formative Assessment #2, Writing Analytical Thesis Paragraph for Your Groupthink Essay
One. Develop a deeper understanding of Groupthink and your selected story or documentary.
Two. Develop a deeper grasp of the consequences of Groupthink.
Three. Learn how an analytical thesis outlines your body paragraphs.
How I Break Down Your Grade for This Assignment of 25 Points
One. Clarity and usefulness of your thesis paragraph for framing your story or documentary analysis, 10 points.
Two. Have sufficient details to establish a meaningful, authentic approach to the subject. A writer never wants to just “go through the motions,” that is to say, deliver a perfunctory effort. Deliver the degree of authenticity and meaning this subject deserves, 10 points.
Three. Write full sentences and avoid sentence mechanics, spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Be especially mindful of avoiding comma splice and sentence fragments, 5 points.
Read Your Feedback on Assignment Comments
When you receive your score, you will be notified through Canvas, and the comments will be delivered on the Assignments Comments page through SpeedGrader.
Your Reources for This Assignment:
For Groupthink:
One. “Groupthink” in Psychology Today gives a succinct definition.
Two. “Groupthink” in Communication Theory elaborates on the important distinguishing characteristics (The 8 Symptoms of Groupthink), many of which you can use as paragraphs for your essay.
Three. YouTube video by Khan Academy: “Conformity and Groupthink”
For “The Lottery”
One. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson: This is a “horror story” about a town that follows an unquestioned tradition of sacrificing one of its citizens every year to encourage a healthy harvest. Groupthink prevents the citizens from questioning their barbaric practice.
Two. Zeynep Aydin article “Analysis of ‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson”
Three. Course Hero YouTube video: “The Lottery by Shirley Jackson”
“The Lottery by Shirley Jackson”
Four. SixMinuteVideo “Understanding ‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson”
Understanding the Lottery by Shirley Jackson
For “The Country of the Blind”:
“The Country of the Blind” by H.G. Wells. This is an “adventure story” about a man who discovers an underground city of blind people who have created what is in their minds a sort of utopia, and this explorer has an opportunity to spend the rest of his days in this utopia and marry the city’s most beautiful goddess, but under one condition that will change his life forever. Groupthink prevents the citizens from questioning the willed ignorance that girds their false utopia.
Alparslan Nas has written “‘The Country of the Blind’ by Wells: The Author Deconstruction.”
For Netflix documentary FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened:
One. The 97-minute Netflix documentary FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened. This documentary is about one of the most colossal flops in recent history in which the people behind a slick marketing campaign can’t execute a concert as promised, and Groupthink prevents key players from standing up and saying what they can see all along: “We got a trainwreck on our hands.”
Two. In the New York Times, Wesley Morris has written an insightful review, “‘Fyre and “Fyre Fraud’ Reviews: Behind the Scenes of a Music Festival Fiasco.”
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