TEAM WRITINGThere’s no I in TEAM, but there is an A!!!!

Let’s talk about your Team Writing experiences

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Chad writes:Jessica and Dave have not both shown up to class on the same day, much less on time, within the last two weeks. I am beginning to feel like a babysitter. I also feel like the weight of work has shifted onto me. Our presentation is only five days away. Dave is trying to work on a new survey, but this time for professors. Jessica doesn’t have a freakin’ clue what is going on. This has not been a fun week.

Resa writes. . .My biggest complaint is with Gene. All of the reprocessed information he brought to class was not usable. I think I spent more time making his contributions fit than he spent doing it the first time. I tried to get his input, but it took so long to get responses out of him and then they were worthless. . .I really do feel that the project they are taking credit for is about 90 percent mine.

• A teammate misses a meeting.• A teammate misses a deadline.• A teammate turns in incomplete work.• A teammate turns in poor-quality work.• A teammate disappears completely.• My team doesn’t trust me to do good work.• My team isn’t listening to me – or is taking a direction I

disagree with.• Other team members are not committed to a high-quality

product.• My teammates do and say thing I find disturbing or

demeaning.• My teammates criticize my work excessively.

• Team members are not open to revisions to their work – or team members ignore the suggestions I make for revision.

• My team is destroying my work.• Team members are not giving adequate feedback.• I’m not sure how to give good feedback to team members.

How many of us have had these experiences?

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Three Principles of Successful Teams

1. Effective teams works on the result before the process.

Don’t jump straight into action.Collectively define the process so you’re all on the same page.

2. Any method is better than no method.Some type of structure is needed for effective team writing.

3. Constructive conflict is appropriate and necessary.Conflicting opinions should be welcomed and encouraged.Focus on the issue and not the people presenting them.

Defining the ProcessConsider how the typical report is written. Sections are parceled out to team members, all of whom see themselves as responsible for their one section, rather than for the whole product. Each person writes their section for a different audience, in a different tone, and probably in a different font in a different software package. Sections often overlap in coverage, not always treating the same topic in the same fashion. The different parts of the report – each of which is likely a first draft – are slapped together the night before the due date. Everyone scrambles to assemble the missing pieces (the executive summary, graphics, the cover) and edit the document. The product is turned in, and each member walks away from the process vowing to never again repeat that team process.

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FIRST: ASSESS THE PROJECT

DEFINING THE PROCESSWhat does the project entail? What is its purpose?

How long should the project take?How many group members are needed or required, and what should each one do?

What will be each group member’s role?

TEAM LEADERBreak down the project into tasks for the entire team.Help team members to understand their individual responsibility as well as his/her responsibility to the team.

Makes sure each team member takes a broad view of the entire report, not just their section.

Every phase of the report is planned and assigned.Assume responsibility for coordinating the entire report.

Keeps the team on schedule.

TEAM MEETING• Begin by reviewing the components of the assignment

and the project.• Determine how to best delegate the responsibilities to

each member. (What are each team members’ strengths?)

• Set up a timeline of the tasks and when they will be completed.

• Determine what technologies you and your group will need to facilitate the project collaboratively, and set deadlines for tasks.

Long-Form Proposal Due FEB 15th

Don’t leave compiling your assignment until the last minute!

Meeting with Me (Sign-up Sheet)

Tuesday February 11th (Ring)Wednesday February 12th (Butterfield)

E-mail your draft to amylinb@gmail.com by Sunday, February 9th.

We will meet together as a team for 10 minutes to troubleshoot any writing issues or team working issues.

GOOGLE DOCS• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8acnIYKJ9g

TIPS FOR GOOGLE DOCS:

Strategy 1: Assign different color fonts or highlight colors.

Strategy 2: Use Folders

Strategy 3: Insert comments or footnotes

Strategy 4: Notify your collaborators using the SHARE option.

Strategy 5: See revision history

Other ideas for collaborative tech?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=841FgLrc-zQ