Beginning of Class Writing: “Writing Collaboratively”

For today’s class, you read Markel, “Writing Collaboratively” chapter, Chapter-4-Writing-Collaboratively-Markel-Technical-Communication-10th-edition. This is an important chapter for you to read, because it introduces strategies and behaviors that are needed for workplace collaboration. Most of the work that you will be doing in the workplace will involve collaboration in one form or another, and to one extent or another. If you can demonstrate how you work well with others, and more importantly, how you create good work cooperatively with others, you will have many more higher-end opportunities come your way than otherwise. That’s why we devote such a large part of the next phase of our class to collaboration. You each need to learn how to create the required documents, but you can do this while learning how to work well with others toward a common team-oriented goal. So, my first question to you today is, did you do the reading and what did you learn? If you didn’t do the reading, why not? Next, what kinds of team work have you done in the past in school or the workplace? Finally, what challenges do you see to working collaboratively with others? Write a memo in response to these questions during the first ten minutes of class and post it as a comment to this blog post in memo format.

10 thoughts on “Beginning of Class Writing: “Writing Collaboratively”

  1. Robert Smith

    To: Professor Jason Ellis

    From:Robert Smith

    Date:10/14/15

    Subject: Writing Collaboratively

    This week I had not done the reading. Over the weekend, I had attended a funeral in Delaware for my cousin, Mika, who had died after going into cardiac arrest 2 weeks ago. So with all the events that had taken place, and the time I had left the state, to the time I had come back, I had honestly forgotten about the reading. Though I can honestly say, this is one of the very few times I have not done a reading. In the past, some “teamwork” I have done consisted of me doing ALL of the work in the environment, or me doing little to no work. Rarely have I ever done the percentage of the work that was appropriate for the task I was given in an assignment. Some challenges that I have seen in the past include groups being too laid back, people in the group not wanting to do their work and forcing it on others in the group, or sometimes the group members have absolutely no idea what is even going on in the situation they are placed in. However, one of the biggest challenges most groups have is meeting up with one another for a group project, or, group members not being able to get in contact with other group members. For this reason, in all the recent groups I have been in, my team mates and I have exchanged information and contact each other if questions arise with a task, or if we simply need help with any matter.

  2. tbissoondial

    To Prof J. Ellis
    From Tajram Bissoondial
    10/14/15
    Subject: Writing Collaboratively
    No I did not read chapter 4 for today class because I was busy making the final touches to the project that was due today for class. In school I have done many group projects with my colleges whether it is in class or outside of class. Some of the teamwork consists of researching many articles, analyzing articles and creating a project. The last major project I did with a group of people was in my biology 1 class where we had to come up with a ways to help slow to rate of pollution. We went about this by organizing our thoughts, coming together with one topic and then build our project with online materials and use that material to create data. In a work setting I recently had to do a project within the store I currently work in. The challenges that I see working collaboratively with others is if they put the same amount of effort as you do and actually contribute to the project.

  3. Natasha95

    To:Prof J Ellis
    From:Narayani Armstrong
    Date:10/14/15
    Subject: Writing Collaboratively
    No I did not read the reading because I was so caught up with my classes and I forgot, well by the way the article is written out can tell that, it’s about how to act and portray yourself in your working space. My past group works we will all have a specific topic, and we as a group will share the tasks among the group and try to brainstorm your ideas as often as we meet. I have done presentation, to making something for the class, and persuading the class over a specific idea. The only challenge I find difficult while collaborating as a group, will be is that we are not sure if the other person will do their part for the project, so that can delay the entire team behind.

  4. Ryan

    TO: Professor Jason Ellis
    FROM: Ryan Doherty
    DATE: 10/14/15
    SUBJECT: “Writing Collaboratively”

    I did not do today’s reading assignment. Between putting the final touches on my Job portfolio and attending New York Comic Con over the weekend I completely forgot. In the past I have encountered many types of group projects both at school and in the workplace. Every type of project presents different challenges. One major problem that can show up in all group projects is having an unreliable group member. A person who is consistently absent or doesn’t complete the tasks assigned to them cause stress on the group. Another major challenge in workplace projects is balance special projects with everyday duties.

  5. Mereoni

    TO: Professor Jason Ellis
    FROM: Mereoni Rabukawaqa
    DATE: 14 October, 2015
    SUBJECT: Writing Collaboratively

    Today’s reading introduced collaborative writing (or working in groups), going on to highlight the pros, cons and general etiquette and advice for how to efficiently work in a group. The main things I learned are to be respectful of your group members by doing your part in the group work as assigned, communicating in a timely fashion if/when problems come up, and giving honest, helpful opinions on each other’s contributions without being rude or dismissive. Through all four years of high school I participated in various sports teams all year round. This experience in addition to joining various clubs, such as the school newspaper, yearbook, and student government in high school and the music, crew, and robotics clubs in college, has given me a great appreciation and a lot of experience in working on and contributing to a team. Working on various school group projects, such as designing a crankshaft assembly part from scratch for a solids modeling class, writing group reports on the methods undertaken in a Manufacturing Processes class and a Physics Lab class have also given me experience with working collaboratively in a classroom setting. The challenges I foresee are that I might procrastinate on doing work or not be critical enough of each other’s work and fall into group thinking. There is also the danger of others not handing in work or failing to communicate about scheduling or deadline problems in time.

  6. Naveeda Akhtar

    TO: Professor Jason Ellis

    FROM: Naveeda Akhtar

    DATE: October 14, 2015

    SUBJECT: “Writing Collaboratively”

    In Chapter 4-Writing Collaboratively Markel Technical Communication-10th edition, it is discussed that the ways in which collaboration in teams is performed is effective to the learning process. When working in a team towards a specific project or document, group members can disagree on certain topics to make the document more effective. The group can also choose a team leader, divide the work to make it more easier on all the members but even if that is done, some people are often not motivated to do the work or choose to do very little of it. Also, when working collaboratively, everyone must listen to one another, offer feedback, ask for clarification if necessary, etc.

    The kind of teamwork I have done in the past has been when working on a project with my classmates and having to decide on a topic as well as who will do what job on the project. I have also worked collaboratively with my co-workers at work, mainly with other supervisors, as to which supervisors should train which associate along with what tasks to give to the associates. Last but not least, the challenges that I see working collaboratively with others is not being able to agree on what the topic should be about, as well as how some members of the group felt like they were doing more work than others.

  7. ThaerT

    To: Dr. Jason W. Ellis

    From: Thaer Tayeh

    Date: October 14, 2015

    Subject: Writing Collaboratively

    Markel’s “Writing Collaboratively” discusses the advantages and disadvantages of working collaboratively. Markel lists some good points on both sides of a collaborative project. Some of the points he makes on the advantages of working on a collaboration are drawing a greater knowledge base, drawing out greater skills, improving communication and help acclimate new employees to an organization. As far as disadvantages go, some points Markel makes are taking more time with documents, leading to “group think” which is when collaborates value getting along more than working on the project, reduced motivation to work hard and interpersonal conflict. Markel breaks down guidelines for key aspects when working on a collaboration which include managing your project, listening effectively, and setting your team agenda.

  8. simone216

    TO: Professor Jason Ellis
    FROM: Anika Aarons
    DATE: October 14, 2015
    SUBJECT: “Writing Collaboratively”
    The reading of Chapter #4 “Writing Collaboratively” discusses and advises the best way to work with a group. Highlighting that it is important for each member of the group pull their own weight, by completing and handling their own individual responsibility. This reading specifies that the ultimate goal of working with a group is to be a team player. Firstly as a whole all members of the group must always agree on the decisions of the ultimate responsibilities. All members must respect, and value the other team members as well as help each other in oppose to competing with each other. I have work in a team on many occasions. At times working in teams are sometimes challenging but once all members of the group agree on the responsibility at hand , and do the work that their suppose to the work of the team will always result in success. Working in a team does not just mean only being responsible for your work , but responsible for the work of everyone so it is important that you help the members of your team with their work too if they are unable to mainly because as a group it reflects everyone.

  9. Yulduz Saidinova

    TO: Dr. Jason W. Ellis

    FROM: Yulduz Saidinova

    DATE: October 14, 2015

    SUBJECT: “ Writing Collaboratively”

    I am submitting this in class writing so late and it is obvious I did not read the article at that time. The reason why I did not read because I was getting ready for my calculus test at that time and I was spending more time on it since I struggle with math always. I did miss two week in class writings. I do apologize for not being able to manage my timing.
    I have done a lot of team works in my work place. Our whole working system was based on the team work. I use to work in eye doctors office and often we had to deal with front desk and patients. We use to help each other and finish their job if they could not finish it and had to move on to next customer. Also whoever was doing the eye test, if they were not busy we would come out to front desk and help with glasses or anything else. One of the main challenge that I faced in my job is that your coworkers will start taking advantage of you. Becoming lazy seeing your help and leaving their job unfinished even if they had plenty of time. I would not mind helping but it becomes every day habit. Also by finishing their job that was left un purposely you may fall behind of your own job. In my opinion I think that when you working in environment that based on team work, your favors may become everyday habit for some people. It may cause a some problems in future.

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