Working together can be a way to deepen and test individual understanding. Collaborative writing or creating in other formats can also add complications. How can your activities strengthen collaborative skills? You may already do this, either informally or more explicitly -- for example, you might ask groups to choose roles (e.g. note-taker, facilitator, reporter).

The following table comes from Meg McGuire's technical writing textbook, Writing at Work. Though it is focused on professional writing, it outlines some approaches you could incorporate into group assignments.

Writing Strategy

When to Use

Pros

Cons

Single-Author
One member writes for the entire group.

For simple tasks; when little buy-in is needed; for small groups.

Efficient; consistent style

May not clearly represent group’s intentions; less consensus produced

Sequential
Each member is in charge of writing a specific part and write in sequence

For asynchronous work with poor coordination; when it’s hard to meet often; for straightforward writing tasks; small groups

Easy to organize; simplifies planning

Can lose sense of group; subsequent writers may invalidate previous work; lack of consensus; version control issues

Parallel Writing: Horizontal Division
Members are in charge of writing a specific part but write in parallel. Segments are distributed randomly.

For high volume, rapid output; with supporting software; for complicated, difficult-to-segment tasks; when people have different talents/skills; for groups with good structure and coordination; small to large groups

Efficient; high volume of quality output; better use of individual talent

Redundant work can be produced; writers can be blind to each other’s work; stylistic differences; potential information overload

Parallel Writing: Stratified Division Members are in charge of writing a specific part but write in parallel. Segments are distributed based on talents or skills.

For high volume rapid output; with supporting software; for complicated, difficult to segment tasks; when people have different talents/skills; for groups with good structure and coordination; small to large groups

Efficient; high volume of quality output; better use of individual talent

Redundant work can be produced; writers can be blind to each other’s work; stylistic differences; potential information overload

Reactive Writing
Members create a document in real time, while others review, react, and adjust to each other’s changes and additions without much preplanning or explicit coordination.

Small groups; high levels of creativity; high levels of consensus on process and content

Can build creativity and consensus

Very hard to coordinate; version control issues

Meg McGuire, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Thinking of past collaborative assignments you have asked students to complete, which strategies have you seen students use? Are there additional pros or cons from a pedagogical perspective?

Consider the scaffolding and staging of longer activities. Are there places where peer feedback and revisions can be included?