Use of Observation Keys

by | Apr 11, 2025 | Analysis

 

• Identify and select a type of group to describe and analyze its forms of communication.
• To structure their writing, students will use the key questions for group observation presented in the module.
• Once their contribution is complete, they will comment on at least two of their classmates’ posts in one of the following ways:
o Pose a question to verify or expand information.
o Offer suggestions regarding the comment.

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Observation and Analysis of a Volunteer Community Garden Group

Group Selection: The group I observed is a volunteer-run community garden initiative. This particular group, “Green Roots,” consists of approximately 15 members, ranging in age from 25 to 60, with diverse backgrounds but a shared interest in sustainable gardening and community engagement. They meet weekly for two hours at the garden site.

Key Questions for Group Observation and Analysis:

1. What is the purpose of the group?

  • The primary purpose of Green Roots is to cultivate a shared community garden, providing fresh produce for local food banks and fostering a sense of community. Secondary purposes include educating members and the wider community about sustainable gardening practices and promoting environmental awareness.

2. What are the group’s communication patterns?

  • Verbal Communication:
    • Meetings are largely informal, with a mix of structured discussions (e.g., planning planting schedules, assigning tasks) and casual conversation.
    • Leadership is distributed, with different members taking on roles based on their expertise (e.g., composting, pest control).
    • Communication is generally direct and open, though occasional disagreements arise regarding gardening techniques or task assignments.
    • There is a high use of jargon relating to gardening.

Observation and Analysis of a Volunteer Community Garden Group

Group Selection: The group I observed is a volunteer-run community garden initiative. This particular group, “Green Roots,” consists of approximately 15 members, ranging in age from 25 to 60, with diverse backgrounds but a shared interest in sustainable gardening and community engagement. They meet weekly for two hours at the garden site.

Key Questions for Group Observation and Analysis:

1. What is the purpose of the group?

  • The primary purpose of Green Roots is to cultivate a shared community garden, providing fresh produce for local food banks and fostering a sense of community. Secondary purposes include educating members and the wider community about sustainable gardening practices and promoting environmental awareness.

2. What are the group’s communication patterns?

  • Verbal Communication:
    • Meetings are largely informal, with a mix of structured discussions (e.g., planning planting schedules, assigning tasks) and casual conversation.
    • Leadership is distributed, with different members taking on roles based on their expertise (e.g., composting, pest control).
    • Communication is generally direct and open, though occasional disagreements arise regarding gardening techniques or task assignments.
    • There is a high use of jargon relating to gardening.
  • Nonverbal Communication:
    • Physical proximity and shared work contribute to a sense of camaraderie.
    • Eye contact and active listening are prevalent during discussions.
    • Gestures and demonstrations are used to illustrate gardening techniques.
    • Body language is generally relaxed and collaborative.
  • Mediated Communication:
    • A shared online forum is used for announcements, task assignments, and information sharing.
    • Email is used for formal communication and coordination with external organizations.
    • Social media is used to publicize events, and recruit new members.

3. What are the group’s roles and norms?

  • Roles:
    • Coordinator: Facilitates meetings and manages overall garden operations.
    • Task Leaders: Oversee specific tasks (e.g., planting, weeding, composting).
    • Educators: Share gardening knowledge and skills.
    • New members are often given less complex tasks, while they learn.
  • Norms:
    • Emphasis on collaboration and shared responsibility.
    • Respect for diverse opinions and gardening techniques.
    • Commitment to sustainable practices.
    • Punctuality and reliability for scheduled tasks.
    • Encouragement of participation from all members.

4. What are the group’s power dynamics?

  • Power is relatively distributed, based on expertise and experience.
  • The coordinator holds formal authority but encourages participatory decision-making.
  • Experienced gardeners often exert influence through their knowledge and skills.
  • There is a conscious effort to minimize power imbalances and promote inclusivity.

5. How does the group handle conflict?

  • Conflict is typically addressed through open discussion and negotiation.
  • The coordinator facilitates conflict resolution, ensuring all voices are heard.
  • Compromise and consensus-building are valued.
  • Occasionally, external mediation may be sought for persistent disagreements.

6. What are the group’s strengths and weaknesses in communication?

  • Strengths:
    • Open and direct communication.
    • Effective use of both verbal and nonverbal cues.
    • Strong sense of shared purpose and collaboration.
    • Effective use of mediated communication for coordination.
  • Weaknesses:
    • Occasional disagreements stemming from differing gardening philosophies.
    • Potential for communication breakdowns due to informal meeting structures.
    • Jargon can exclude new members.

7. How does the group adapt to change?

  • The group demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in response to changing weather conditions, plant growth, and community needs.
  • New members bring fresh perspectives and ideas, which are generally welcomed.
  • The online forum facilitates rapid communication and coordination during unexpected events.
  • They are open to incorporating new technologies, and gardening techniques.

8. What are the groups goals, and are they being met?

  • Goals include providing produce, educating the community, and building community.
  • Produce goals are met through regular harvests.
  • Educational goals are met through workshops, and information sharing.
  • Community building is met through shared activity, and social events.

Comment Example for Classmate Post:

“Your observation of the book club’s communication patterns was insightful. I’m curious, how does the group handle situations where members have significantly different interpretations of a book? Does this lead to conflict, or are there established norms for respectful disagreement?”

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