One of the “Big Three” events in the WSC (along with Team Debate and Scholar’s Challenge), the Collaborative Writing event isn’t as collaborative as one might make it to be. Simply put, consider this event a rehash of the team debate, except individually and on paper. You and your teammates will be writing 3 separate persuasive pieces on 3 separate topics from a choice of 6. So what do you need to know about this event? Find out below!
Important Terms:
Writing Booklet: One of the first things you’re going to have to retrieve is a writing booklet for your team. This consists of an introductory page (with rules and places for writing your signatures and team topics) and about 2-3 double sided pages for writing. It will be inside this book that you plan, record research and write your final piece.
Topics Sheet: Like the question booklet in the Scholar’s Challenge, the topics sheet is the final thing to be distributed in the event. This sheet has all 6 topics on it (1 for each area of the WSC curriculum). Each member of your team needs to choose 1 unique topic to write about and whether they’re going to agree or disagree with the topic.
Stages: The writing is actually broken down into “stages” based on time:
So now that we’ve gotten that relatively short list of terms defined, let’s see what actually happens during the collaborative writing event.
Collaborative Writing Procedure
Important Terms:
Writing Booklet: One of the first things you’re going to have to retrieve is a writing booklet for your team. This consists of an introductory page (with rules and places for writing your signatures and team topics) and about 2-3 double sided pages for writing. It will be inside this book that you plan, record research and write your final piece.
Topics Sheet: Like the question booklet in the Scholar’s Challenge, the topics sheet is the final thing to be distributed in the event. This sheet has all 6 topics on it (1 for each area of the WSC curriculum). Each member of your team needs to choose 1 unique topic to write about and whether they’re going to agree or disagree with the topic.
Stages: The writing is actually broken down into “stages” based on time:
- Planning stage - 30 minutes: Once your team members have decided on their motions, you guys have half an hour to collaborate and help each other plan their persuasive pieces. This usually means reviewing possible points, finding evidence and giving a few suggestions here and there.
- Writing stage - 60 minutes: After the planning stage, the “collaborative” part of the writing stops and each person must write their piece in complete silence for the next hour. The occasional groan about poor grammar or “eureka” at an amazing point is permitted, though ideally not so it disturbs everyone.
- Peer-Reviewing stage - 15 minutes: Once the time is up, you can get back together with your team and for 1/4 of an hour, look over each other’s pieces and give some quick edits here and there. This is NOT a time to continue writing (though some daring scholars take the time to do so).
So now that we’ve gotten that relatively short list of terms defined, let’s see what actually happens during the collaborative writing event.
Collaborative Writing Procedure
- Find a spot: Usually there’s some sort of seating arrangement at the bigger rounds (based on team number) but generally, your team should find a nice spot to sit next to one another when you enter the room. Get out your writing utensil(s), ideally a blue or black ink pen.
- Retrieve Writing Booklet: If the writing booklets aren’t already on your table, you’ll need to send 1 member of your team to retrieve them for you (or go all together if that’s allowed). Just write your names on it and then leave them alone
- Choosing Topics: Once everyone has their writing booklets, the WSC staff will distribute topic sheets. You may then write down what topics your teammates are taking on the sheet along with yours.
- Planning stage - 30 minutes: Once your team members have decided on their motions, you guys have half an hour to collaborate and help each other plan their persuasive pieces. This usually means reviewing possible points, finding evidence and giving a few suggestions here and there.
- Writing stage - 60 minutes: After the planning stage, the “collaborative” part of the writing stops and each person must write their piece in complete silence for the next hour. The occasional groan about poor grammar or “eureka” at an amazing point is permitted, though ideally not so it disturbs everyone.
- Peer-Reviewing stage - 15 minutes: Once the time is up, you can get back together with your team and for 1/4 of an hour, look over each other’s pieces and give some quick edits here and there. This is NOT a time to continue writing (though some daring scholars take the time to do so).
- Submission of writing booklets: Once the time has truly ended, the staff will usually ask you to pass your writing booklets down to the end of your table, so that someone can just walk by and pick them all up. Other methods include actually getting up (exhausting, I know) and giving your team’s booklets at the front. Rejoice fellow scholar, for once that happens, your team is done with yet another academic event of the WSC!