An Introduction to WAC

Why consider collaborative writing assignments?

Collaborative writing assignments across the curriculum can meet many of the theoretical and practical goals of WAC:

• Collaborative groups draw upon the strengths of all their members. Although one student may be stronger in critical thinking skills, another may excel in organizing. By working in groups, students learn from each other while they complete assigned tasks.
• More and more workplace activities involve project teams. Giving students opportunities to work collaboratively on academic projects can help prepare them for the advantages and pitfalls of collaborative work on the job.
• Students working in collaborative groups can take advantage of group members for built-in peer review as they complete writing projects.
• Not least important, collaborative writing assignments usually entail much less grading time for the instructor.

Not all writing assignments can be converted from individual writing tasks to group writing tasks, nor should they all. But at least some of the writing students do works best in collaborative groups.

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