How do you write reports and summaries as a team?

1 Define the purpose and scope

Before you start writing, you need to clarify the purpose and scope of your report or summary. What is the main message you want to convey? Who is your audience and what do they need to know? How much detail and background information do you need to provide? How long and formal should your document be? Answering these questions will help you set the tone, structure, and content of your report or summary.

2 Assign roles and responsibilities

Writing as a team requires clear roles and responsibilities for each member. You need to decide who will do what, when, and how. For example, you can assign someone to be the project manager, who will oversee the progress and quality of the work. You can also assign someone to be the editor, who will review and revise the document for clarity, consistency, and accuracy. You can also divide the writing tasks according to the sections or topics of your report or summary.

3 Use collaborative tools

To facilitate your teamwork, you need to use collaborative tools that allow you to share, edit, and comment on your document online. You can use platforms like Google Docs, Microsoft Teams, or Dropbox Paper to create and access your document from anywhere. You can also use tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, or ProWritingAid to check and improve your writing style and grammar. You can also use tools like Canva, Piktochart, or Infogram to create and insert visual elements like charts, graphs, or images.

4 Follow a common format and style

To ensure your report or summary is coherent and consistent, you need to follow a common format and style throughout your document. You need to agree on the layout, font, spacing, headings, and numbering of your document. You also need to follow the same citation and referencing style, whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard. You also need to use the same tone, voice, and vocabulary in your writing. You can create and follow a style guide or a template to help you with this.

5 Review and revise as a team

Before you submit or publish your report or summary, you need to review and revise it as a team. You need to check for any errors, inconsistencies, or gaps in your document. You also need to make sure your document is clear, concise, and compelling. You can use feedback tools like Peergrade, Peerceptiv, or PeerMark to exchange and evaluate your work with your teammates. You can also use revision tools like Revisely, Turnitin, or Copyscape to check for plagiarism, readability, or word count.

6 Celebrate your achievements

Writing reports and summaries as a team can be a rewarding experience. You can learn from each other, improve your skills, and create a high-quality document that reflects your collective efforts. You should celebrate your achievements as a team and acknowledge each other's contributions. You can also reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, and identify areas for improvement. You can use tools like Kudos, Bonusly, or Asana to recognize and reward your teammates, and to plan your next project.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?