Writing Skills Inventory
Purpose: In preparation for writing up the team research report, it’s important to get to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses as writers. You may already have some idea of this from the work you’ve already done. This is just a more formal way to begin to divide up the writing work.
Directions: Peruse this list and place a check next to the aspects of writing that are your strengths. Then at the bottom of this form select 3 areas of writing that you would like to work on for the write-up of the team report. In the space provided, devise a plan for dividing up the writing work associated with the team report.
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Process
_____ 1. Generating ideas
_____ 2. Outline
_____ 3. Developing Thesis
_____ 4. Audience awareness
_____ 5. Proofreading/Revision
_____ 6. Proper formatting/
Paragraphs
_____ 1. Introduction
_____ 2. Writing problem statements
_____ 3. Stating reasons or analytical points
_____ 4 Supporting paragraphs
_____ 5. Topic sentences
_____ 6. Flow/transition
_____ 7. Coherence/Unity/Logic of paper
_____ 8. Developing arguments
_____ 9. Conclusion
Research Methods
_____ 1. Taking notes
_____ 2. Referring to sources
_____ 3. Works cited
_____ 4. Parenthetical citations
_____ 5. Quoting sources
_____ 6. Avoiding plagiarism
_____ 7. Incorporating sources into paragraphs
Types of Writing
_____ 1. Summaries
_____ 2. Problem Statements/Thesis Statements
_____ 3. Technical writing
_____ 4. Analysis/Discussions
_____ 5. Logic & argumentation
Grammar
_____ 1. Proofreading
_____ 2. Sentence flow and length
_____ 3. Parallelism
_____ 4. Word choice/vocab.
_____ 5. Sentence variety
Punctuation
_____ 1. Comma
_____ 2. Apostrophe/Possessive
_____ 3. Hyphen/dash
_____ 4. Colon
_____ 5. Semicolon
List 3 areas of the team report you would like to work on (see report sections below):
Delegating Responsibilities
Members who might have excellent research skills might do most of the research; those who are excellent at writing correctly might do most of the editing and proofreading. This model requires a high degree of group coordination. For some groups--but definitely not all--this model is most efficient. For others, (in which no even split of skill levels exists) it will be the least efficient. Consider the following:
- Be sure everyone, not just the final editor, has approved what will be passed in. Everyone needs to read and critique each draft.
- Be sure tasks are broken down equally. Proofing the final copy is not equivalent to writing the first draft.
- For this method to work, those doing the research must keep detailed, accurate notes that others who might not have seen the original source can understand and use.
- "Planning" meetings are essential; the people drafting must have a clear idea of the point, organization, and what sources are relevant to what parts of the paper or else much time can be wasted.
Dividing the Writing Tasks
When you divide the writing tasks, each member does research and writes a portion of the document. The group then reconvenes to suggest revisions, smooth over transitions, and even edit style inconsistencies. This model is the most efficient and quickest for most groups that have not worked together in the past. Consider the following:
- This only works if you spend a lot of time discussing organization before writing; otherwise, sections tend to digress and/or repeat each others.
- Plan to write the introduction, conclusion, and transitions between sections together to help the text "flow."
- Edit/revise the draft for coherence; is it obvious how each section supports/leads to your main point? Skipping this stage could lead to an incomprehensible paper. People's ideas about the main point, no matter how much discussion, aren't always going to be the same.
Devise a plan for dividing up the writing work for the team report:
______
Standard Team Research Report Outline
Executive Summary
Summarizes the entire Report, including statement of the problem and its importance, the major technological and ethical issues involved, and the solution or approach to a solution being recommended by the group. The idea of an Executive Summary is that a busy executive can read just this section and still get the essence of the whole project.
- Introduction
Describes the methodology followed in preparing the Report and the contributions of the Team Members
- Statement of the Problem/Background
Provides a more detailed description of the specific problem being analyzed. Describes previous work and/or analyses in the problem area.
- Technological Issues
Describes the technology or methodology associated with the problem area, including, as appropriate, the goals of the technology, the major options for achieving these goals and the costs or technical problems associated with these options.
- Ethical and Societal Issues
Describes how the technology raises issues of ethical and/or societal concern, including, as appropriate which groups are affected in which ways, conflicts among groups, etc. This is an important section.
- Recommended Solution
Presents one or more recommended solutions by the project team that take into account technological as well as ethical/societal factors, including the rationale and methodology used to achieve the solutions.
- Conclusion
Summarizes what the Report has achieved in terms of understanding the problem and pointing the way to a solution. Estimates what is likely to actually happen in the area being researched.
References
Lists of all Report references in accord with the Style Guide.