The google algorithm throws these random musings on negotiation up to me on a weekly basis because “negotiate” is one of my “google alerts.” (have I said god bless google recently?)
Almost all legal writing is collaborative, so I feel this English professor’s pain. I just didn’t know we shared this experience.
From Blog en Abyme, excuses excuses by Kim Middleton, Assistant Professor of English and Director of the American Studies Program at The College of Saint Rose.
What I’ve discovered is that when you’re writing with someone, you’re negotiating and discussing all the time. Which secondary sources to use and why; how much space a particular piece of the argument should occupy; the particular ways that data should be interpreted; style; etc. And that’s all the stuff that we actually articulate. I’d venture that there is also always a secondary level of negotiation going on non-verbally: should I just take the lead on this part?; am I slowing us down?; is my expertise relevant here?. Essentially, there are all of the interpersonal elements to negotiate as well. Is it any wonder that it takes longer than writing an article alone?
Meanwhile, note to self: next time I assign a group project to students (I’m looking at you, film class!), I need to give them ample time to work through not just content, but interpersonal stuff as well. It would probably also help if I could get them to move across the street from one another, and assign one person per group to be the baker who provides snacks for each meeting. And then someone to do the group’s laundry and grocery shopping while they get their article written—I mean project done.
And yes, Professor, it does take food, drink and clean laundry to accomplish anything worthwhile as a team! Thanks for the thoughts. Now get back to that article right now!
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