Team Anthologies

Student team compile, annotate, and print an anthology of course-related materials. This CoLT provides an organisational structure for students to investigate a topic, read and review the most valuable materials on that topic, and describe and print information in a useful collection of resources. Fundamentally, it allows students to experience the research process without writing a formal research paper.

1. The teacher organises students into base groups of four and guides groups as they determine an appropriate topic for research.
2. The group splits apart, and individual students each research and identify five to ten of the most important resources on the topic.
3. The team rejoins and compiles all four team members’ bibliographies and makes initial decisions as to the relevancy and currency of each entry, eliminating sources they deem to be of low value and aiming for a composite anthology of about ten citations.
4. The team subdivides into pairs and assigns half the bibliography to each pair.
5. Pairs divide their part of the bibliography, with each student taking half.
6. Individuals photocopy and write a brief reflective commentary on each source.
7. Pairs re-form and exchange, read, and reflect upon each other’s reviews, looking for divergent and convergent thinking and ideas, and together create a composite annotation for the sources in their half of their bibliography.
8. Pairs rejoin the base squad and prepare their work for submission by adding a cover sheet, introduction, and a conclusion.
9. Teams submit their anthologies to the instructor.

• http://writingcenter.utk.edu/files/2012/04/Team-Anthologies.pdf