Collaborative Learning and Writing: Essays on Using Small Groups in Teaching English and Composition

Although most writing instructors know the benefits of collaborative learning and writing in college writing classes, many remain unsure how to implement collaborative techniques successfully in the classroom. This collection provides a diversity of voices that address the ""how tos"" of collaborative learning and writing by addressing key concerns about the process. Essays consider the importance of collaborative work and peer review, the best ways to select groups in classes, integration of collaborative learning techniques into electronic environments, whether group learning and writing are appropriate for all writing classes, and ways special populations can benefit from collaborative activities. Despite its challenges, collaborative learning can prove remarkably effective and this study provides the advice and answers to make this amazingly productive pedagogy work smoothly and successfully.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Acknowledgments      Preface KATHLEEN M. HUNZER      Part I: Why are collaborative learning and peer review important? Writing Courses Live and Die by the Quality of Peer Review JASON WIRTZ      Bringing New Perspectives to a Common Practice: A Plan for Peer Review ANTHONY EDGINGTON      Reinventing Peer Review Using Writing Center Techniques: Teaching Students to Use Peer-Tutorial Methodology CATHERINE SIMPSON KALISH, JENNIFER L. J. HEINERT, and VALERIE MURRENUS PILMAIER      “It’s just too nicey-nicey around here”: Teaching Dissensus in Research and Collaborative Groups JACOB STRATMAN      Part II: How do I best select groups in my classes? Increasing Student Participation and Accountability in Group Production of Text through Speed Interviews MIALISA A. MOLINE      Connecting Writing Process with Personality: Creating Long-Lasting Trust Circles in Writing Classes KATHLEEN M. HUNZER      Forming Peer Critique Groups Through Personality Preferences MIALISA A. MOLINE      Part III: How do I integrate collaborative learning techniques into electronic environments? Collaborative Learning and Writing in Digital Environments CINDY TEKOBBE, YAZMIN LAZCANO-PRY, and DUANE ROEN      Keeping Up with the Future: Using Technology to Facilitate Small-Group Collaboration in the Writing Classroom KELLY A. SHEA      Cooperative and Collaborative Writing with Google Docs DONNA J. EVANS and BEN S. BUNTING, JR.      Working with Groups Online: Collaborating with Web Conferencing CHERYL HAWKINSON MELKUN      Part IV: Can collaborative learning and writing work in all writing classes? Blending Collaboration and Competition: A Model for Small Group Learning in Business Writing Classes RANDI BROWNING      Revisiting Collaborative Writing and Electronic Dialogues in Business Communication FLORENCE ELIZABETH BACABAC      Collaborative Composing: Practices and Strategies for Implementing Team Projects into Writing Classrooms KARA POE ALEXANDER      Part V: Can special populations benefit from collaborative activities? Working Together Towards Greatness: The Cumulative Writing Model and English Language Learners ROBB MARK MCCOLLUM      Anxiety Disorders and the Collaborative Classroom KATHLEEN M. HUNZER      About the Contributors      Index