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This involves identifying suitable topics, allocating research activities to group members, distributing papers to the research group, moderating discussion on those papers, and publishing the final works. Step 1: Suggest research topics First, each participant takes a period of time to locate topics they'd like to do themselves or see covered by others. Each posts a list of three or four of their top topics, perhaps with a list of web resources. Participants might need to explain the problem in sufficient detail for others to decide whether it should be selected. Participants might also indicate which ones they'd be really interested in writing on, and which ones they know nothing about and want someone else to cover. Step 2: Moderator narrows the list of research topics The moderator selects a certain number of those questions, and gives participants the opportunity to choose one. Step 3: Participants write preliminary papers Each participant researches the topic he/she has selected and writes something NEW on the subject. At this stage, it might not be fully academic, just short (or maybe long) essays on the subject. They then post their essays to all group members. Step 4: Participants comment on papers. Every other participant can write comments on those essays that most interest them, although they may not respond immediately to all of them. The main requirement is that comments need to be rather carefully thought out and worded. They may take the form of brief responses (explained only enough for other participants to understand clearly), in-place quote-and-response comments, or longer essays in which the respondent selects themes and carefully writes a short essay. Step 5: Authors respond to comments. Essay writers collect the incoming comments and decide of these options they want:
Step 6: Publication on website. When the paper is complete and published on the website, anyone can go to it and post comments on it. But the discussion group moves on to different topics. |