Department of English | University of Washington



Pre-Collaborative Writing Worksheet

1) Discuss which word you would like to research on for your SP 2.2. For now, think of a few options.

2) Brainstorm what you think your paper will look like

a. Go through Gross’ article (AI p. 486). Take notes of how she develops her claim, what types of evidence does she use, how does she display her data, how does she introduce and conclude her article etc.

b. Refer to the SP 2.2 handout- Fill in the Outcomes Rubric and determine which specific outcomes are you targeting with this paper?

3) Now this is important: Delegate tasks. This is a collaborative writing project so you must both equally carry the responsibility of producing the best paper possible. How will you split the workload? Write down your plan.

4) So, we discussed the merits of working collaboratively, but do you have any concerns about working collaboratively? This is a good chance to discuss any concerns you have and how you can both overcome them.

5) Do you know how to set up a Google Doc.? If not, please tell me and I will inform you of all the essentials. This is crucial for next Monday’s class where you will be working simultaneously on your paper- each on his/her computer screen. Have you shared your email addresses?

Note: Individually write notes on your experiences during this collaborative writing, as I will assign a short journal assignment next week (2-3 paragraphs). Please view the last section of this handout.

Pre-surveying Worksheet

1. Which word do you plan to research? You need to talk through this as you will both be working on the same word, and need to be invested in the topic. Think of what stakes you have.

2. Remember each group needs to survey at least 20 people. Do you have an idea about the people you may survey? Talk about this, and decide on a definite timeline (before Monday) where you will have these results ready. How will you keep track of this information?

3. SP 2.2 requires that you survey at least 20 people for their definitions of your word of choice. Ask people to describe the word in their own words. Are there any additional questions you would like to ask? Write them down. This data must be turned in with the paper. Refer to pages 107-115 for some tips. For SP 2.2 you are only doing a survey with a few questions, however, I still require that you refer to the guidelines offered in Chapter 6.

4.

On Thursday, May 12th I will need every one of you to submit in class a paper based 2-3 paragraph reflection on this collaborative writing project. Reflect on which aspects of this collaborative writing experience worked for you, which aspects didn't, and why. What would you do differently next time you work on a collaborative writing project? Also, did it in anyway prompt you to see your own writing choices in a different light? If yes, then how so? What was different from your usual way of individually writing a paper?

The Power of Words SP 2.2

A Collaborative Writing Project

In her essay, “Bitch,” Beverly Gross explores the shades of meaning for the word “bitch”

through a mix of personal experience, observation, and informal survey data.

For this paper:

• Choose a word or phrase that has a negative connotation and several ways of being defined and used. During today’s we will work together on providing a word bank for you to choose from, though you are definitely not limited to these words.

• Next, examine the ways in which you've experienced this word. Where has it been used, and how? Analyze the meanings behind the word based upon the ways you've seen it. Gross does this at the beginning of her essay, as well as at the end with her anecdotes.

• You must also survey at least 20 people for their definitions of the word. This data must be turned in with the paper. Ask them to describe the word in their own words. This will give you qualitative data—data that is descriptive and specific, but not necessarily factual. You cannot generalize your results, but they will provide you with interesting detail to fuel your writing.

• You must also include several different definitions of the word gathered from different sources. Different dictionaries are likely to have different definitions—which will provide you with more to think about. What do the subtle differences in definitions suggest?

Through the data you've collected (your observations of the word, and the adaptations of the word you've gathered through survey data)--try to come up with an overall definition.

Your paper should follow this line of inquiry: What is the status of this word in our daily lives (is it readily used by many, is it seen as taboo)? What does the use of this word, and our reactions to it, say about us and our society? Has the word undergone “linguistic reclamation” in recent years? If yes, then how so?

Technical issues:

• Have a claim. Your claim must depict the status of the word in society today. This will provide a road map for what you'll explore throughout the paper. For example, we could say that Gross paves the way for the rest of her essay with this claim, “The meaning of bitch has changed over the centuries but it remains the word that comes immediately to the tongue, still 'the most offensive appellation' the English language provides to hurl at a woman.”

• When you provide a definition from a dictionary, introduce it. For example, “Webster's Online Dictionary defines...” etc. Also be sure to introduce your survey data. Gross introduces hers by saying, “The informal questionnaire that I administered...” You must also have a works cited page in MLA format to cite the survey and dictionaries you used.

• The paper should be 3-4 pages in length.

Word Bank of Negatively Perceived Words and Phrases (Brainstorming time!)

Collaborative Writing Workshop & First Draft due: Monday, 04/09 in MGH lab 082

For this collaborative writing workshop each group must already have their first draft set up in a

Google doc. Both members of each group must have access to the same file and editing privileges. If you need help with setting up a joint Google doc. please tell me as soon as possible. You will both need either a Gmail account or a UW Google account.

And Finally…

It's likely that you'll be using online dictionaries to gather information. Here's how you'd cite it on your works cited page if you were using the word “bitch” for your paper from this specific dictionary. Note: the “10 April 2008” is the date that the definition and website was accessed.

“Bitch.” Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008. Merriam-Webster. 10 April 2008.

If you get a definition from a print dictionary, it would appear on your works cited page like this:

“Bitch.” The New American Webster Handy College Dictionary. 3rd ed. 1995.

There's no need to use page numbers for something with entries that are in alphabetical order.

Also, if it wasn't clear that this publication was the “third edition,” it would have been cited as

“1995 ed.”

To cite the survey data:

Your last name, Your first name. “Name of Survey.” Survey. 10 April 2008.

Give your survey a name—something simple like, “Definitions of 'Bitch.'” The date on the

citation is the day that the survey was administered. If you do your survey over a course of a few

days, just put “May 2011.”

Outcomes Targeted: 1, 2, 3 & 4( (collaborative writing and peer editing!)

|Criteria |Outstanding |Great |Good |Acceptable |Unacceptable |

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Draft 1: 5/9

Final Draft: 5/12 in Drop Box at 5 pm. 3-4 double-spaced pgs.

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