Re: Query about study groups

[diepenbrock@UHCL4.CL.UH.EDU]

Hi James.  I don't know if this is exactly what you are looking for, but 
it is my version of the care and feeding of writing support groups.
Perhaps it can be adapted for other types of groups.


	Creating The Successful Writing Support Group

Dr. Chloe Diepenbrock

Basic Principles
No group lasts forever
All comments are not created equal
Members must be committed to providing quality feedback
Writers must maintain authority over their texts


Physical Set-Up
Establish the following before-hand and then be consistent:
¥ Number of members: 3-5 is optimal for intensive work.
¥ Consistent Agenda for meetings:  Will there be a brief social session 
before starting or will the group get right to work?  
¥ Meeting place: It should be comfortable and not distracting
¥ Method of reading work: Will writers read their work out loud, or will 
members read silently?  Will all essays be read first and then discussed 
or will each writer be read and discussed separately?
¥ Method of commenting: Will members discuss work out 
loud or make written comments.  Will authors be required to focus the 
discussion with questions before the reading?  After the reading?
¥ Critique style: How can the group members ensure that comments will be 
constructive, not harsh and criticizing and not empty and "nice."  


What Works
¥ Making copies for everyone.
¥ Making notes on comments.
¥ Establishing a rotating leader to arbitrate sessions.
¥ Ensuring equal time for all members.
¥ Pointing out strengths first.
¥ Refraining from personal criticism: knowing the difference between
critiquing the author and critiquing the work.
¥ Having the writer ask group members for specific types of comments 
before the discussion begins.(i.e. clarity of thesis, strength of 
organization, depth of development, quality of style) 
¥ Identifying the audience for the piece: commercial, literary, or 
academic field.
¥ Having writers make comments based on what they know about specific
genres and fields.



On Fri, 15 Nov 1996, User JWERCHAN wrote:

> Hi folks, I promised a student in my tutor-training class that I'd ask you
> folks, on his behalf, about whether any of you have ideas/materials for
> what seems like a crackerjack idea of his.  Here's his idea:  he wants to
> gather/prepare material that students could use to form autonomous study
> groups in various discipline areas and maintain those study groups for an
> extended time.  In other words, do any of you have a "Care & Feeding of
> Autonomous Study Groups" handout?  He's concerned with identifying the
> kinds of small group dynamics that can make or break an effective study
> group.  A classmate of his is trying to set up autonomous history study
> groups, and the two are partnering on their projects.  The first is
> looking for some theoretical underpinning and the second is just flinging
> himself at the job.  If the second keeps his eyes open, he should discover
> some important group dynamics that the first guy can use for his "Care and
> Feeding" handout.  Can anybody offer anything on the subject?  thanks in
> advance, James Werchan OSULIMA
> 
>