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Writing Together Alone: Digitally Connected 'Snack Writing' for Progressing Academic Writing

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Title: Writing Together Alone: Digitally Connected 'Snack Writing' for Progressing Academic Writing
Language: English
Authors: Winberg, Christine (ORCID 0000-0001-6234-7358), Dippenaar, Hanlie (ORCID 0000-0001-6876-9826), Engel-Hills, Penelope (ORCID 0000-0002-1084-769X), Phillips, Heather (ORCID 0000-0001-6397-4329)
Source: Reading & Writing: Journal of the Literacy Association of South Africa. 2023 14(1).
Availability: AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://rw.org.za/index.php/rw
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2023
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: College Students, Writing (Composition), Computer Mediated Communication, Writing Processes, Goal Orientation, Reflection, Task Analysis, Collaborative Writing, Time Management, Social Theories, Communities of Practice
ISSN: 2079-8245
2308-1422
Abstract: Background: 'Snack writing' is a term coined to describe regular short bursts of writing on a larger academic writing task. There is extensive research on academic writing, but research on 'snack writing' is limited. Moreover, the idea of 'snack writing' in an online environment is not evident in the literature. Objectives: The study objectives were: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of an online 'snack writing' group; and (2) to identify what might enable or constrain productive academic writing amongst group members. Method: A reflective evaluation approach was used, in which participant researchers studied online chat data over a 6-month period. The study was framed by Activity Theory, in which digitally connected writing is understood as a new mediational means within an academic writing system. Results: 'Snack writing' in a digital environment was found to be effective when the writing task was focused, appropriate to the time available, and connected to a larger writing task. Goal setting, debriefing, and reflecting kept writers focused, while seeing a writing task develop over time enhanced confidence. Including writers with different levels of experience was effective for developing and sharing writing practices. Conclusion: Regular participation in digitally connected 'snack writing' is effective as it builds a supportive writing culture. Contribution: The study contributes to an understanding of how short bursts of writing in a digitally connected space could benefit academic tasks. The findings are therefore of use to postgraduate scholars, academics, and all those who want to progress an academic writing task when time is limited.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2023
Accession Number: EJ1393185
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1393185
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PubType: Academic Journal
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IllustrationInfo
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Writing Together Alone: Digitally Connected 'Snack Writing' for Progressing Academic Writing
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Winberg%2C+Christine%22">Winberg, Christine</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6234-7358">0000-0001-6234-7358</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dippenaar%2C+Hanlie%22">Dippenaar, Hanlie</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6876-9826">0000-0001-6876-9826</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Engel-Hills%2C+Penelope%22">Engel-Hills, Penelope</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1084-769X">0000-0002-1084-769X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Phillips%2C+Heather%22">Phillips, Heather</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6397-4329">0000-0001-6397-4329</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Reading+%26+Writing%3A+Journal+of+the+Literacy+Association+of+South+Africa%22"><i>Reading & Writing: Journal of the Literacy Association of South Africa</i></searchLink>. 2023 14(1).
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  Label: Availability
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  Data: AOSIS. 15 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town, 7550 South Africa. Tel: +27-21-975-2602; Fax: +27-21-975-4635; e-mail: publishing@aosis.co.za; Web site: https://rw.org.za/index.php/rw
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 10
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  Data: 2023
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
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  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+%28Composition%29%22">Writing (Composition)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Mediated+Communication%22">Computer Mediated Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Processes%22">Writing Processes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Goal+Orientation%22">Goal Orientation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reflection%22">Reflection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Task+Analysis%22">Task Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Collaborative+Writing%22">Collaborative Writing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Time+Management%22">Time Management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Theories%22">Social Theories</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communities+of+Practice%22">Communities of Practice</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2079-8245<br />2308-1422
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: 'Snack writing' is a term coined to describe regular short bursts of writing on a larger academic writing task. There is extensive research on academic writing, but research on 'snack writing' is limited. Moreover, the idea of 'snack writing' in an online environment is not evident in the literature. Objectives: The study objectives were: (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of an online 'snack writing' group; and (2) to identify what might enable or constrain productive academic writing amongst group members. Method: A reflective evaluation approach was used, in which participant researchers studied online chat data over a 6-month period. The study was framed by Activity Theory, in which digitally connected writing is understood as a new mediational means within an academic writing system. Results: 'Snack writing' in a digital environment was found to be effective when the writing task was focused, appropriate to the time available, and connected to a larger writing task. Goal setting, debriefing, and reflecting kept writers focused, while seeing a writing task develop over time enhanced confidence. Including writers with different levels of experience was effective for developing and sharing writing practices. Conclusion: Regular participation in digitally connected 'snack writing' is effective as it builds a supportive writing culture. Contribution: The study contributes to an understanding of how short bursts of writing in a digitally connected space could benefit academic tasks. The findings are therefore of use to postgraduate scholars, academics, and all those who want to progress an academic writing task when time is limited.
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  Label: Abstractor
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  Data: As Provided
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  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2023
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1393185
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1393185
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 10
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Writing (Composition)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Mediated Communication
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Writing Processes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Goal Orientation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reflection
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Task Analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Collaborative Writing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Time Management
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Theories
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communities of Practice
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Writing Together Alone: Digitally Connected 'Snack Writing' for Progressing Academic Writing
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            NameFull: Winberg, Christine
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            NameFull: Dippenaar, Hanlie
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            NameFull: Engel-Hills, Penelope
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            NameFull: Phillips, Heather
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            – TitleFull: Reading & Writing: Journal of the Literacy Association of South Africa
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