Writing@CSU

Writing Guides

Working in Groups

Introduction

Why Work in Groups?

Writing Tasks Suited to Group Work

Papers Requiring "Original" Research

Papers Requiring Library Research

Any Type of Argument

Interpretations

Cultural Analyses

Lab/Field Reports

Any Type of Evaluation

Fact and Fiction: Common Fears about Group Work

My individual ideas will be lost...

I could write it better myself...

My grade will depend on what others do...

Group work will take more time than if I did it myself...

My group members aren't as smart as I am...

We won't be able to agree...

I don't have time to meet out of class...

I would learn more doing it on my own...

I'll end up doing all the work...

What to Expect in Group Work

Agreement

Conflict

Socializing

Wrong Decisions

Unequal Commitments

Choosing Group Members

Time in Common to Meet

Individual Strengths and Weaknesses

Diversity

Commitment

Guidelines for Group Work

Rule One

Rule Two

Rule Three

Rule Four

Rule Five

Initial Decision-Making

Agree on a Meeting Format

Construct Rules for Discussions

Construct a Timeline

Agree on Penalities for Missing Meetings Deadlines

Discuss what Each Member Brings to the Group

Idea-Generating and Research Tasks

Library Research

Field Research

Evaluating Sources

Deciding on a Focus

Coming to Consensus on the Main Point and Organization

Writing the Paper Together

Determine What the Final Paper Should "Sound" Like

Divide the Writing Tasks

Gather to Write Together

Delegate Various Responsibilities

Using Group Time Profitably

Be Prepared

Set an Agenda

Appoint a Secretary

Negotiate

Disagree

Be Strict about Deadlines

Dealing With Problems in a Group

Clarify Your Expectations Early

Monitor the Group

Discuss Problems

Addtional Resources

Library Resources

Topic

Focus

Purpose

Organization

E-mail

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Interpretations

A paper that requires some type of interpretation--of literature, a design structure, a piece of art, etc.--always includes various perspectives, whether it be the historical perspective of the piece, the context of the city in which a landscape is designed, or the perspective of the interpreter. Given how important perspective is to this type of writing and thinking, reviewing or interpreting work from a variety of perspectives helps strengthen these papers. Such variety is a normal part of group work but much harder to get at individually.

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