Chapter Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to do the following:
- Define successful and effective collaborative writing.
- Explain and employ strategies for effective collaboration.
- Explain and employ strategies for dealing with differences and conflict.
Perhaps you are just beginning your collegiate career, or you may be finishing it up. Either way, whether you’re someone new to college or someone who has been around the block for a period of time, you’ve probably had some experience working in a group or on a team of some sort. You’ve probably been a part of an athletic or academic team. Perhaps not. Perhaps you have some group experience from being a cheerleader, a boy scout or girl scout or a member of the 4H Club. Either way, I’m sure you’re familiar with the inner workings of a team or group environment.
But have you been fortunate enough to work collaboratively in a writing capacity? Whether your answer is “yes” or “no,” this chapter is designed to help you look more closely at what it means to write collaboratively.
In this chapter, we will focus on writing in groups or teams. Specifically, we will discuss collaborative writing, which differs slightly from team and group writing.
- Collaborative writing defined
- Successful collaborative writing
- Ineffective collaborative writing
- Pulling together your team
- Strategies for effective collaboration
- Tools for collaboration
- Dealing with differences
- Dealing with conflict
- Finalizing the project
- Reflecting for future projects
- Activities and discussion
