4 feel proud and jointly celebrate when a group member is recognized for
achievement. We all congratulate you on your accomplishment http:edtech.kennesaw.eduintechcooperativelearning.htm
According to the opinion above, I can conclude that cooperative learning is an important strategy especially in teaching writing because of its difficulties. I
think that working together is more effective than working individually. In simple way, if we work together we unite ideas from some heads not only one.
I use cooperative learning because research has shown that cooperative learning techniques:
1 promote student learning and academic achievement;
2 increase student retention;
3 enhance student satisfaction with their learning experience;
4 help students develop skills in oral communication;
5 develop students social skills;
6 promote student self-esteem; and
7 help to promote positive race relations.
http:edtech.kennesaw.eduintechcooperativelearning.htm
2.2.7 One Stay Three Stray Strategy
One Stay Three Stray strategy was changed from the original Three Stay One Stray strategy in cooperative learning. Kagan also changed the original Three Stay
One Stray into One Stay, Two Stay. As stated by Kagan 1992: 66, “this technique was changed from the original One Stay, Three Stay. Such changes, to
fit circumstances and styles of teaching and lear ning, are to be encouraged”.
According to Kagan, teams of four are magic because of two of the four basic principles of cooperative learning.
1 The Simultaneity Principle
The Simultaneity Principle does not only tell us why cooperative learning is so much more powerful than traditional whole-class interaction, it also tells us
that teams of four are the best because when we divide the students in teams of four, in the same time-frame at least one of every four students is actively
engaged, articulating their thoughts. It is far better to have a quarter of the class overtly active than just one student.
2 The Equality Principle
The second basic principle of cooperative learning which applies to team size is the Equality Principle. In the traditional classroom the equality principle is
violated because the same subgroup of highly motivated students always has their hands up, while another subgroup of less motivated students almost never does.
The participation is very unequal. That is why in cooperative learning we use strategies carefully crafted to equalize participation. In teams of three or five,
these pair-based structures do not work nearly as well because the team breaks into a pair and a triad, creating unequal participation.
http:www.cooperativelearning.com From the statements above I conclude that teams of four are the best
choice to be applied in teaching by using cooperative learning because of its effectiveness. Therefore I absolutely agree with Kagan that teams of four are
magic.
Richards 2006: 193 states that in One Stay Three Stray strategy, groups share with other groups rather than with the entire class. The steps of using One
Stay Three Stray strategy are: 1
groups complete tasks, 2
three group members leave the group and stray individually to other groups,
3 the remaining group member, the stayer, explains what their group has
done to the visiting strayers, who ask questions and provide feedback, 4
strayers return to their home group and report what they have learned, while stayers report on feedback they received,
5 group can revise their work, and another round of Stay-Stray can take
place with new strayers if needed.
2.3 Framework of the Present Study
To evaluate the students‟ achievement in writing, I use rating scale. There are many types of rating scales from some experts. In this study, I use the
scheme of rating scale according to Brown and Bailey 1984 as quoted by Brown 2004: 244-245 in the book of Language Assessment because Brown and Bailey
design an analytical scoring scale that specifies five major categories of writing and a description of five different levels in each category, ranging from
“unacceptable” to “excellent”, thus enabling learners to home in on weaknesses and to capitalize on strengths.
