Written Communication Jul 1986

Do 1 and 1 Make 2?: Patterns of Influence by Collaborative Authors

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
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
collaborative writing qualitative research
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (5)

  1. FORMAN (1991)
    Novices Work on Group Reports: Problems in Group Writing and in Computer-Suppor…
    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: A Problem of Metacognitive Control
    Written Communication

References (31) · 1 in this index

  1. Becker, H.
    AERA
  2. Bereiter, C.
    Advances in instructional psychology
  3. Bridwell, L.
    Research in the Teaching of English
  4. Bruce, B. & Rubin, A. (1983). Report to N.I.E. on technology and written communication.
  5. Calkins, L.
    Lessons from a child on the teaching and learning of writing
Show all 31 →
  1. Daiute, C.
    Research in the Teaching of English
  2. Daiute, C.
    “The effects of automatic prompting on young writers”
  3. Daiute, C.
    The acquisition of written language
  4. Daiute, C.
    Writing and computers
  5. Daiute, C.
    Applied Psycholinguistics
  6. Dickensen, D.
    AERA
  7. Faigley, L.
    NCTE Annual Meeting
  8. Flavell, J. H.
    Perspectives on the development of memory and cognition
  9. 10.2307/356600
     ↗
  10. Freedman, S.
    The role of response in the acquisition of written language
  11. Freedman, S.
    The acquisition of written language
  12. Graves, D.
    Writing: Children and teachers at work
  13. Hartup, W.
    Handbook of child psychology
  14. 10.1037/0003-066X.39.10.1123
     ↗
  15. Kohlberg, L.
    Handbook of socialization theory and research
  16. Kroll, B.
    Research in the teaching of English
  17. Kuhn, D.
    Developmental trends from middle childhood to adulthood in utilization of belief and evid…
  18. Mugny, G.
    Progress in applied social psychology
  19. Perl (1979)
    The Composing Processes of Unskilled College Writers
    Research in the Teaching of English
  20. Perret-Clermont, A. N.
    Social interaction and cognitive development in children
  21. Piaget, J.
    The language and thought of the child
  22. Reil, M. (1983)
    The Quarterly, Newsletter of the Laboratory of Comparative Human Cognition
  23. Vygotsky, L.
    Mind in society
     ↗
  24. Welty, E.
    One writer's beginnings
  25. Wertsch, J.
    Fyseen Foundation Conference
  26. Witte, S.
    Collaborative Writing in college
CrossRef global citation count: 52 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Written Communication Mar 2026
    Faculty and Administrator Perceptions of Interdisciplinary Collaborative Writing: Practices, Challenges, and Support Structures ↗
    Stephen Carradini; Ed Nagelhout
    collaborative writing professional writing labor and working conditions qualitative research
  2. College Composition and Communication Feb 2026
    Research Brief: Community-Engaged Writing ↗
    Jessica Pauszek; Veronica House; Paula Mathieu
    service learning teacher development collaborative writing labor and working conditions archival research qualitative research literacy studies race and writing
  3. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly Dec 2025
    Bridging the Boundaries of Corporate Language Competence in Multinational Teams ↗
    Maria-Luisa Weinzierl
    collaborative writing qualitative research translingualism
  4. Writing and Pedagogy Dec 2025
    Supporting and Co-Constructing Texts with Peers: Children's Collaborative Writing Practices ↗
    Sarah McCarthey; Zhen Valerie Ren
    teacher development collaborative writing qualitative research
  5. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly Oct 2025
    Relational Realities of Readiness: What Managers Wish Colleges Knew About Business Communication ↗
    Laura Nicole Miller; Karen McCullough
    collaborative writing professional writing qualitative research disability studies