Written Communication Jul 1986

Do 1 and 1 Make 2?

COLETTE DAIUTE

Abstract

This article presents a rationale for studying collaborative writing and evidence that coauthors can learn about the writing process from each other. Collaborative writing is explored as an instructional activity that can help students expand their repertoire of writing strategies and their mastery of written communication skills. Collaborative writing activities also offer researchers new insights into the writing process. This discussion about collaborative writing is followed by a case study of two coauthors in the fourth grade who represent general findings from a larger study of 43 fourth- and fifth-grade writers. Detailed analyses of the composing sessions, individual texts, collaborative texts, and interviews indicate that coauthors share creative input, evaluative perspectives, composing strategies, and notions about “good writing” when they work together. Collaborative writing, thus, can complement instruction because it is a direct—albeit subtle—form of learning.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
1986-07-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088386003003006
Open Access
Closed
Topics
qualitative research

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (5)

  1. FORMAN (1991)
    Novices Work on Group Reports
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  2. JANDA (1990)
    Collaboration in a Traditional Classroom Environment
    Written Communication
  3. Thompson (1990)
    Electronic bulletin boards: A timeless place for collaborative writing projects
    Computers and Composition
  4. Mabrito (1990)
    Annotated bibliography of resources in computer networking
    Computers and Composition
  5. McCUTCHEN (1988)
    “Functional Automaticity” in Children's Writing
    Written Communication

Cites in this index (1)

  1. Perl (1979)
    The Composing Processes of Unskilled College Writers
    Research in the Teaching of English
Also cites 3 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.2307/356600
     ↗
  2. 10.1037/0003-066X.39.10.1123
     ↗
  3. Vygotsky, L.
    Mind in society
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 52 View in citation network →

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