Collaborative Writing Process

Collaborative writing is fast becoming an integral part of most college curriculums. Whether or not more knowledge is gained from team writing as opposed to individual writing is undetermined. Analyzing the team writing process and how it differs from the individual process may help us to better see the benefits. Let us compare prewriting activities like brainstorming and topic selection. Writing as an individual you can pick a topic you are most interested in or one that you would enjoy learning about. As a team, you must consider everyone’s opinions. Each team member has to come up with a few ideas and present them to the team for discussion. Eventually, there would be a vote and a topic would be selected. In a team setting, it is best to select a leader. One person to help keep everything on task. In a team, you have several personalities and learning styles. “Personal conflict may arise because of agenda, status, power differences, lack of diplomacy, and sensitivity.” (Colen, K. & Petelin, R. 2004) In an individual setting, you have only yourself to answer to. When brainstorming within a team you have several thought processes converging on one another at the same time. Each member does his or her own brainstorming and brings his or her ideas together. The team, as a whole, has to weed through all the ideas and settle on the ones best suited for the writing. In an individual brainstorming session the only ideas you come up with are your own. All you have to do is take your ideas and apply them to the paper you are writing. Another difference between team writing and individu...

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