How do you write a group paper?
I'm in an mba program that's majority group work. I'm halfway through and none of us have figured it out yet.
We'll get criticized that our paper sounds like it has multiple authors.
If everyone breaks up the project, but then one person will rewrite all the author parts, it's not possible by just reading what others wrote. You for the most part have to go back to their references and read the research yourself before you can write it. Then it's no longer a group project, it's an individual paper with a group of people giving suggestions on the direction.
Comments
Group work can be very valuable. The group discusses the project comes up with points that have to be discussed in the paper. If research has to be done, certain parts may be assigned to various group members. After more discussions, the various issues are organized in an outline, then a member may be designated to write the first draft of the paper. The group then reads the draft, meets and each member offers suggestions for improvement and revision. Usually the person who wrote the first draft then writes a new draft for approval by the group. A final draft may have to be written.
A major problem that groups have is not meeting deadlines. Writing a good paper takes time, and when it is a group project each group member has to provide the input in time to allow for writing time, discussion time, and rewriting. If the first draft is ready the day before the project is due, you will not have a good paper. Budgeting the time for the group is a major task of any group project. A single member not meeting the time obligations can ruin the entire group's grades. This is where a goo group leader is needed.