The Call to Write, Third edition

1
The Call to Write, Third edition

• Chapter 18, Working Together Collaborative
  Writing Projects

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Chapter overview

• Looks at the way collaborative writing projects
  differ from solo projects
• Presents guidelines for collaboration
• Provides suggestions for organizing groups and
  the project
• Describes types of projects

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Collaborative projects

• Differ from individual projects in
  accountability aims for collective outcome
  produced jointly by a team of people with shared
  responsibility for the results (586).
• Called for when tasks are complex, when a great
  deal of time and effort are required, or when
  results speak for a group of people.

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Seven guidelines

• Groups take time to form.
• Clarify purpose and roles.
• Recognize that members bring different styles.
• Recognize that you may not play the same role in
  every group.
• Monitor group progress.
• Address problems in group dynamics.
• Encourage differences of opinion.

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Working together

• Organizing the group Discusses group size,
  composition, how work can be divided between
  members, and presents an agenda for the first
  meeting.
• Putting together the proposal Lists the
  components of a proposal
• Meetings, progress reports, and drafting

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Electronic communication

• Online collaborationgroup members can work
  together over distance
• Four ways to use technology
• Stay in touch
• Consult with people
• Share working drafts
• Confer on drafts

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Types of projects

• Reports and recommendations
• Proposals for grant funding
• Informative writing
• Other possibilities include briefings, multimedia
  exhibits, museum exhibits, guides, Web sites, or
  MUD environments.

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Student Companion Website

• Go to the student side of the Web site for
  exercises, chapter overviews, and links to
  writing resources for this chapter
• http//www.ablongman.com/trimbur
• Click on the textbook cover, and then select
  Student Resources.