Paper #3

Collaborative Writing Project
ENG 151–Winter 2006
Paper Expectations

The prompt at the end of James Gibson’s “Paintball as Combat Sport” asks you to:
Identify something you think would lend itself to a cultural study
or critique. Observe and take notes. Briefly interview at least one
person who is involved or touched in some way by the cultural item
you’ve chosen. How does this artifact or phenomenon seem to work
or engage in society? (314)
Collaborative writing has its advantages as well as its disadvantages, as we have discussed in class. In order to make the most of this project, I have included some guidelines for your group to follow. Foremost, keep the model Gibson provides in mind: remember to be very descriptive in the account you give of the cultural artifact/phenomenon, be sure to use at least two outside “authorities” from your research, and try to provide as much reflexive oscillation between the details of your project and the broader implications you find for society as possible.

Division of Tasks
___ Choose an Aspect of Culture to Study
___ Field Work/Gathering Interview Info
___ Article Researching
___ Compiling All the Info
___ Analyzing for Meaning
___ Brainstorming More Ideas
___ Synthesizing Ideas
___ Establishing a Thesis
___ Writing/Typing it Out
___ Revising for Meaning
___ Editing

Today’s Goals
#1 Understanding the Pros/Cons of Collaborative Writing

#2 Understanding Our Own
Strengths and Weaknesses

#3 Establish Groups
#4 Brainstorm Topics

#5 Portion Out Tasks
#6 Create a Specific Time Line
Time Line
F 02/24 [1 hour]
Weekend Assignments
T 02/27 [First hour]
[Second hour]
Th 03/02 [First hour]
[Second hour]
F 03/03 First Draft Due
Peer Critiques
M 03/06 Paper Due

Please note: After the paper is completed, each student will be asked privately to evaluate the performance of his/her colleagues at a +/- 5 point adjustment to the group average. If you have any questions about this paper, please don’t hesitate to ask.