Workshop+3


 * MEURG Writing Workshop **
 * Wednesday July 27th 10am – 1pm, Room T, Level 8, Worsley Bldg. **


 * Workshop: Writing for Publication **

1. **Introduction to session and each other**

2. **Round Robin** - What you’re working on, how it’s going; Review of activity and follow up from Session 2 – Understanding and adapting individual writing processes; ‘snacking’ and ‘bingeing’; continuing work begun last time.


 * 3. Activity: Writing Collaboratively **

Get into a group with two or three others and discuss these questions: = = = a. What collaborative writing experience have you had? = = b. What aspects of collaborative writing do you find helpful? = = c. What aspects of collaborative writing do you find troubling? = = d. Do you have a top tip to ensure collaborative writing is a positive experience? = = e. Do you have a question or concern about collaborative writing? =

We will share and discuss responses in the whole group.

See the article by Andrew Dillon, on the next page, for some ideas and questions about Collaborative Writing. Dillon is focussing on the role of computers in facilitating collaborative writing, but the issues he raises are interestign to consider in the context of any collaborative writing activity.


 * 4. The Next 3 Workshops: Dates and format **


 * 5. Activity: Giving and Receiving Feedback on Work-in-Progress **

I asked you to bring 2 copies of something you are currently working on. Take a few minutes to think, and talk to each other, about the kind of feedback that will be helpful to you **//at this stage//** of writing the piece you are going to swap.

Do you want to know if your main idea is clearly communicated? If so, ask your reader to tell you what they thought the piece was about, and what was distinctive and/or important about the piece.

Do you want feedback on the structure and style of the piece? Eg Sentences too long / short / similar? Sections not clearly differentiated? Tone too informal / formal etc

Too often people ask for too general a response to their work … “Is it okay?” “Where can I improve it?” “Is it publishable?” Tell your partner where you are planning to send this piece, what feedback you would like and swap pieces.

You have 20 minutes to read each other’s work, and 10 minutes each to exchange feedback.


 * 6. Activity: Writing time and review **

You have 30 minutes in which to write. You can use the time to revise and develop work based on your conversation in the previous activity or you can work on a separate piece - drafting out a plan or outlining a piece in more detail, using the Prompt Questions from last session – or do free writing on the topic you want to write about.

With your partner, take 5 – 7 minutes each to review how you got on with the writing activity. How, if at all, did the discussion on feedback affect the way you used the writing time? Do you know where you are going to take the writing next? Are you stuck on anything? Seek and give each other advice. Take a couple of minutes to write down what your next actions will be for this piece of writing.


 * Check out the Wiki MedWrite … ** If you did not receive an invitation to join the Wiki let me know.

Feel free to add work-in-progress for comment … and to add comments (constructive and respectful) to any work requesting feedback.

I will post a peer reviewer’s checklist for the journal I work on - feel free to add any for journals with which you are involved. Do not try to “write to” these checklists, but do bear them in mind when doing your final revisions and / or when reading a final draft for a writing buddy.