Question: Group Report - Collaborative Writing

The group report contains two parts, these being the writing of a group literature review and a review of group processes.

1) Group task - The group is required to work collaboratively to produce a collated literature review on the selected topic. There are a number of tasks to complete and these are outlined below.

2) Individual task - Each member of the group is required write a report reviewing the performance of the group.

The group report is to be submitted via TurnItin. Further details regarding the use of TurnItIn will be provided during class.

Overview: 1) The group is to meet on a regular basis, both within and outside of class. Brief details of these meetings should be recorded including date and time of meetings, who attended, and a short paragraph detailing what was discussed. This information is to be included in the appendix of your group report.

2) The group is required to use at least one form of groupware technology to assist in the sharing of information. For example: a discussion forum within Moodle, Facebook, Google Docs, Drop box, Trello or any other suitable form of groupware. A review of the groupware used (2-3 paragraphs) should be included in the appendix of your group report.

3) The group is required to redevelop the initial mind map that was developed for the annotated bibliography. The new mind map should take into account the readings of all of the group members. A copy of the final mind map is to be included in the final report.

4) The group is required to write a literature review on the topic that they have selected and should be structured according to the outline below. The report should read as if it was written by one person, ie the fonts, formatting and tone of voice of the writing should all be the same. In order to complete the report the following tasks are required to be undertaken:

a) Each student is to write a1000 to 1500 wordliterature review on their section of the mind map. This piece of writing may be based upon the reading undertaken to complete the annotated bibliography and/or on any extra resources that have been sourced.

b) Each group member's writing should be proof-read for use of reference material, typing, spelling and grammatical errors by another member of the group and the writing generally reviewed in a constructive manner. The review can take a number of forms including:

i) A marked-up copy of the commentary with suggested changes to be made; and/or

ii) Two to three paragraphs indicating the suggested changes and improvements.

iii) A review done by each member of the group is to be include in the final report.

c) Each student should revise their writing using the review provided by the group member. Note: only if the feedback is appropriate.

d) Each student should include a discussion of their selection, organisation and association or materials based on the S.O.A.R model.

i) Selection: why you selected those particular materials

ii) Organisation: how you organised the information from your resources in your report and why.

iii) Association: how your resources relate to each other and if there were gaps in the information you found

iv) Regulate: reflect on how using this methodology impacted on your research and writing experience.

e) Each student should review the time estimation exercise done for the second assignment as part of assignment 1 and write 1 -2 paragraphs on the impact of the exercise on your research and writing experience.

5) The group should collate their final pieces of writing into a single report. Each individual literature review should have a heading indicating the topic and author.

6) The group is to write an introduction and a conclusion for the report

Required Structure of Group Report

1. A Report Cover page - giving group members names, date and the title of assignment.

2. Table of Contents

3. List of Figures (if required)

4. List of Tables (if required)

5. Introduction of the overall topic

6. Individual literature reviews on the selected topics/branches of the mind map.

7. Conclusion to the overall topic

8. References (completed using APA format)

9. Appendices -

• initial individual pieces of writing and reviews;

• final version of the group mind map;

• review of groupware used; and

• meeting records.

10. INDIVIDUAL REPORT:

• group processes and performance with reference to Tuckman's group development theory.

• discussion of S.O.A.R model

• reflection on time estimation exercise