Collaborative Writing

Collaborative writing has attracted much attention in the last 25 years, though it eludes clear definition. In its simplest sense, it is writing done by more than one person. But in a broader sense, even a work by one author involves collaboration. The author typically builds on the work of others and revises the writing in response to feedback. This feedback can come from a student's peers or teacher in a classroom setting, it can come from experts and editors who assess a scholar's writing, or it can come from colleagues and clients in the world of business. This bibliography is a guide to research on collaborative writing published from the early 1970s to 1997.

Included are nearly 1000 annotated entries for books, articles, reports, bibliographies, and other materials. These entries are clustered in two broad parts, each of which contains numerous topical sections. The first part of the book is devoted to collaborative writing in academic settings and covers such topics as classroom issues, peer review and tutoring, the role of computers and technology, particular types of classes, and ethical and gender concerns. The second looks at collaborative writing in nonacademic settings. Included are works on corporate acculturation, group dynamics, policies and procedures, industry-university collaboration, and technical reports. Entries are arranged alphabetically in each section, and detailed author and subject indexes provide easy access to the material.

BRUCE W. SPECK is Professor of English and Acting Director of the Center for Academic Excellence at the University of Memphis. His previous books include The Grading of Writing: An Annotated Bibliography (1998), Managing the Publishing Process: An Annotated Bibliography (1995), Publication Peer Review: An Annotated Bibliography (1993), and Editing: An Annotated Bibliography (1991), all available from Greenwood Press.

TERESA R. JOHNSON is Instructor of English at the University of Memphis. She has worked as a technical editor for various engineering firms and is secretary and newsletter editor for the Mid-South Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication.

CATHERINE P. DICE is Instructor of English at the University of Memphis. She has also worked as a writing center tutor and as a professional writer.

LEON B. HEATON is Instructor of English at the University of Memphis, where he teaches persuasive writing, engineering communication, composition, and professional/technical writing.