Writing as Inquiry and Collaboration Norton’s Ch. 22 and 23 (21 and 22 in 2nd Edition) Writing as Inquiry and Collaboration

Writing as Inquiry This ties into what Essay 1, the LN is asking you to do. A good starting place to begin an “inquiry” is with questions

Starting with Questions Questions provide a good way of finding out more about a subject because it prompts us to get answers Answers though do not always come easy The text offers up some questions to help you get started in finding answers

How can it be DEFINED? How can it be DESCRIBED? How can it be EXPLAIINED? What can it be COMPARED with? What may have CAUSED it? What might be its EFFECTS? How can it be CLASSIFIED?

How can it be ANALYZED? How can it be INTERPRETED? What expectations does it raise? What are the different POSITIONS on it? What are your own feelings about it? Are there other ways to think about it?

Another way. If none of the example questions above really work for you, there is always the journalist approach: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

More suggestions The book also suggests the idea of keeping a journal, a blog or some other means of tracking your information as you gather it and providing yourself with a reference you can return to for that information at a later date.

Collaborating This is basically the act of, at any time, working with others to achieve a goal Peer reviews and group work require you to collaborate with classmates

Some Ground Rules Make sure everyone participates Be respectful and thoughtful, tact, with one another When you meet, have an agenda or plan Appoint a leader or put someone in charge Appoint someone to keep a record

Group Writing Projects Define the task as clearly as possible Divide the task into parts Assign each group member certain tasks Establish a deadline for the task Try to accommodate everyone’s different styles Work in consensus Make sure everyone performs

Online Collaboration Sometimes this is a necessity Be considerate and careful in the words you use to communicate in the written form Remember that your audience may be up to the entire group of different people Figure out best, easiest way of exchanging information and sharing drafts