MixedInk

 Collaborative  Writing  Project  Sample  Lesson  Plan  

 
Teacher  materials  &  preparation:  
• Set  up  class  and  project  on  MixedInk’s  website  in  advance  
• One  computer  with  internet  connection  per  student  
• At  least  one  of  the  following:  
o Display  project’s  web  address  on  blackboard/screen  
o Share  project’s  web  address  with  students  via  email  (preferable,  if  
students  have  email  addresses  and  can  access  them  in  school)  
• Optional:  
o Projector  and  screen  for    
o Student  usernames  and  temporary  passwords  printed  on  separate  
slips  of  paper  
 
Tasks:  
1.  Rough  Draft  
• Direct  students  to  the  project  web  address  at  MixedInk  and  introduce  
the  collaborative  writing  project.    
• Students  watch  the  demo  video  provided  in  the  left  column  on  the  
project’s  info  tab*  
• Each  student  completes  a  rough  draft  individually  on  MixedInk.*  
 
2. Rating  &  Commenting:  Round  1*  
• Students  rate  at  least  6  of  their  peers’  essays.  
• Students  leave  thoughtful  comments  on  at  least  2  texts.  
 
3. Review    (optional)  
• Spend  10-­‐20  minutes  reviewing  the  highest  rated  texts  and  
addressing  some  of  the  students’  comments  with  the  class.    
 
4. Remixing  
• Each  student  creates  a  new  version  of  the  essay  (1)  weaving  text  from  
at  least  3  of  their  peers,  and  (2)  including  at  least  3  sentences  that  
were  mostly  written  by  others.  
 
5. Rating  &  Commenting:  Round  2*  
• Students  rate  at  least  6  new  (remixed)  texts.  
• Students  comment  on  2  new  texts.      
 
6. Top-­‐Version  Discussion  
• Discuss  the  top-­‐rated  version  with  the  class.    Review  the  strengths  
and  quality  of  the  top-­‐rated  version(s),  while  allowing  students  to  
discuss  aspects  of  the  text  that  especially  impressed  them.  

*  Can  be  completed  by  students  at  home  or  together  in  the  computer  lab  during  
class.