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I have had success doing a group synthesis essay. As a group, they had to read the prompt and create an outline. Each person was required to write one of the support paragraphs. It has to mostly be done in class. The pro is that they get to brainstorm together and see how others think and organize ideas. The con is that they don’t write as much.
This is not something you do all the time. It can be useful for you and you students. (Fewer essays to grade)
I do this as well. Students love and hate it, depending on their group. But I agree the collaboration is great and they are able to help each other on the writing aspect. I do a mandatory peer review for this as well, just in case I have a group that isn't as helpful as they should be.
I used Letter from Birmingham Jail. We analyzed as a group for weeks. Kids always cited it as the most useful assignment we did. When I attended AP training the instructor had told us if you have no other resources use the Letter; it is the quintessential example of rhetorical devices in an argument. I completely agree.