Collaborative voices: Rhetorical and textual features of collaboratively written reports
Nancy Jane Allen
- School: Purdue University (0183)
- Degree: Ph.D.
- Date: 1991; pp: 246
- Advisor: Sullivan, Patricia
- Source: DAI-A 53/01, p. 135, Jul 1992
- Subjects: Language, Rhetoric And Composition (0681); Business Administration, Management (0454)
- ProQuest Document Number: 745943101
- ISBN:
- UMI Number: AAT 9215515
Abstract:
-
This research investigates whether rhetorical and textual features of collaboratively written
texts differ from those of individually written texts. Thirty-two reports written on the same
topic and for the same readers, sixteen of which were written collaboratively and sixteen
individually, were analyzed for reader/writer/community relationships established in the
reports, types of arguments and support used, kind and number of visual elements used, and
stylistic features. Comparison of the results for each set show that, while the collaboratively
and individually written texts differed little in their use of argument types, supports used,
visual elements, and style, they did differ in the relationships established between writer
and reader and in definition of the rhetorical problem. Collaboratively written texts were
more likely to include a wider variety of members of the rhetorical situation and to acknowledge
these members' opinions on the rhetorical problem. They were also more likely to develop a
complex view of the rhetorical problem focused on the specific context. Results are related
to claims for collaboration made by researchers and teachers.
Dissertations
We post the dissertation abstracts
our graduates enter into ProQuest's
database of Dissertations and Theses (and link to 24-page previews as available).
Those at Purdue can locate the full texts through the Purdue Library.