Set roles and expectations
Begin by agreeing on who does what. Assign roles such as coordinator, editor, referencing lead and presenter, and divide the content by section or task. Make sure the split is balanced and matches each person's strengths and availability.
Write the agreement down in a shared message or document, including how you will communicate, how often you will meet and how decisions will be made. Check your course rules, because some lecturers require a group contract or contribution record.
Plan the timeline
Work backwards from the deadline. Set an internal deadline for individual drafts at least several days before submission, then leave time for merging, editing, referencing and a final check.
Put every date in a shared calendar and confirm it in your group chat. Build in slack for illness or delays, and hold short check-ins instead of waiting until the end to discover a missing section.
Shared document workflow
Use one shared file in Google Docs, Microsoft Word Online or a similar tool, so everyone works on the same version. Agree on a naming convention if you must send files, and keep a single master copy.
Turn on version history so you can recover earlier text. Use comments for feedback instead of rewriting each other's sections. Decide early who has final edit rights, and avoid several people formatting at once.
Handling free riders and conflict
If a member is not contributing, address it early and politely. Ask what is stopping them and whether the workload needs adjusting, and agree a specific task and deadline.
Keep a record of tasks and messages. If the problem continues, tell your lecturer according to your course's process, ideally before the deadline and with evidence of what was agreed. For disagreements within the group, focus on the task, listen to each side and look for a compromise that serves the assignment.
Merging sections into one voice
Separate sections often read as if they were written by different people. Choose one referencing style, spelling convention and tense, and agree key terms before writing.
Assign one person, or two, to edit the entire document for flow. They should check that the introduction matches the content, that transitions between sections work and that repeated points are removed. Re-read the final version aloud as a group where possible.
Final review checklist
Before submitting, confirm that:
- Every section is complete and meets the brief.
- Formatting, headings and fonts are consistent.
- Citations and references are correct and complete.
- Everyone has read the final version.
- The similarity or originality check has been run if required.
- Contribution forms or group declarations are signed.
- One person submits on time, and everyone gets a copy of the file.