SWK 3710 Writing for the Social Sciences, Fall 2009
Professor:
Stephen M. Marson, Ph.D., ACSW
Office: D. F. Sampson 221; Phone: 521-6475
Inclement weather: (910) 521-6888
Office Hours:
Monday 11-12; Tuesday
3:30 – 4:30; Wednesday: by appointment; Thursday 11-12; Friday 8-9:30
11:30 12:30
Course Corequisite: SWK 2000
Course Description: This course is an introduction to writing for
the social sciences, with an emphasis on using the APA style (American
Psychological Association). It is designed to help student master competencies
in the area of manuscript development and literature review.
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Program Objectives |
- Apply critical thinking skills within the context of
professional social work practice.
- Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical
standards and principles, and practice accordingly.
- Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge,
and skills related to clients’ age, class, color, culture, disability,
ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race,
religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
- Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and
discrimination and the strategies of change that advance social and economic
justice.
- Understand and interpret the history of the social work
profession and its contemporary structures and issues.
- Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work
to practice with systems of all sizes.
- Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence
to understand individual development and behavior across the life span
and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families,
groups, organizations, and communities.
- Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies.
- Evaluate research studies and apply findings to practice,
and, under supervision, to evaluate their own practice interventions and
those of other relevant systems.
- Use communication skills differentially with a variety
of client populations, colleagues, and members of the community.
- Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social
work practice.
- Function within the structure of organizations and service
delivery systems, and under supervision, seek necessary organizational
change.
- Use social work skills, values and knowledge within
the context of our rural environment.
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Course Objectives
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| 1. Understand basic
generalist social work values and practice principles in application to
professional writing and use of resources. (program objective
2) |
| 2. Develop professional
writing skills for the purpose of presentation of ideas and current
research. (program objectives 6, 9,
10) |
| 3. Understand the
difference between documentation and professional writing unique to the
social work profession. (program objectives 5,
6, 9, 10) |
| 4, Understand the
ethical issues surrounding plagiarism and the impact of plagiarism on
the transition from student to practice professional. (program objective
2) |
| 5. Demonstrate how to
successfully complete a review of current literature, including how to
determine quality of information. (program objectives 9,
10) |
| 6. Become familiar with
writing guidelines unique to the APA style. (program objectives
1, 9, 10) |
Course Outline and Calendar |
|
DATE |
topic |
objectives |
activities
readings |
outcome
measures |
| Week 1 |
First day of class,
we will meet in the library.
Second day of class, we will get
instruction on Turnitin.
Introduction:
Why and how to use the text. |
1,
2, 3,
4, 5, 6 |
Read: Chapter 1
|
Exam
Assignments |
| Week
2 |
General information on
conventions of writing, how to refer to the work of others in the body
of the paper and tips for avoiding biased language. |
2, 5,
6 |
Read: Chapter 2 12 Articles due for
approval
Resume writing (use hot link as a model)
Library visit September 3 |
Exam
Homework |
| Week
3 |
We become good writers by
reading good writing. We examine the structure of reviews of
literatures. Library Instruction KEY
Search tools
Journal Finder
Inter
Library Loan |
4, 5, 6 |
Read: Chapter 3
Review of Literature Assessment from articles selected on first day of class. |
Exam and homework |
| Week
4 |
Writing an abstract.
Abstracts should be written after the completion of the report -- not
when one begins to write the report/ |
1, 2,
3,
4, 5, 6 |
Read Chapter 7 Present an outline for
your review of literature |
Exam and homework |
| Week
5 |
Writing APA citation style
APA
Writing APA citation style (ppt)
The OWL at
Purdue
APA Style at
Chapel Hill
|
2, 3,
4, 5, 6 |
Read Chapter 8 Write abstract read
abstracts aloud in class. |
Exam and homework |
| Week
6 |
Writing about the details of
sample collection and scientific procedures; Providing clear writing to
enable a reader to judge the reliability and validity of your
experiment. |
2, 3,
4, 6 |
Read Chapter 4 Write abstract read
abstracts aloud in class. Test |
Exam and homework |
| Week
7 |
Preparing the results section |
2, 3,
4, 6 |
Read Chapter 5 Write abstract read
abstracts aloud in class. |
Exam and homework |
| Week
8 |
Preparing a discussion section |
2, 3,
4, 6 |
Review of Literature
Assessment Due Read Chapter 6
Write abstract read
abstracts aloud in class. |
Exam and homework |
| Week
9 |
Word Processing, graphics, formatting
the title page |
1, 3,
6 |
Read Chapter 9
Write abstract read
abstracts aloud in class. Test |
Exam and homework Review of Literature (Term Paper) |
| Week
10 |
Proof reading and Grooming a
final draft |
1, 2,
3,
4, 5, 6 |
Read Chapter 10 Write abstract read
abstracts aloud in class. |
Exam and homework |
| Week
11 |
Oral presentation, |
1 |
Read Chapter 11 Short report about term
papers
Write abstract read
abstracts aloud in class. |
Exam and homework |
| Week
12 |
English Issue: Active vs.
Passive Voice |
1, 2, |
10 to 12 page
Term Paper due November 24 |
Exam |
| Week
13 |
English Issue: Spelling &
Punctuation |
1, 2, |
Write abstract read abstracts aloud in
class. |
Exam |
| Week
14 |
Proof Reading |
1, 2,
3,
4, 5, 6 |
Students will be given a manuscript to
edit and discuss in class.
Write abstract read abstracts aloud in
class. |
Exam |
| Week
15 |
|
1, 2,
3,
4, 5, 6 |
Write abstract read abstracts aloud in
class. |
Exam |
| Week
16 |
Wrapping it up |
1, 2,
3,
4, 5, 6 |
Posttest |
|
Final Exam:Go
to
http://www.uncp.edu/registrar/calendars/exam_fall.htm for exam schedule
Required Texts:
About Computer Usage: Social work majors are
required to have an email account to submit and receive assignments.
Students may apply for an account on Snappy (name of our computer) at no cost.
Merely complete the "New User Account" form found at
http://www.uncp.edu/ucis/accounts/.
To use and check email, go to http://webmail.uncp.edu/.
You must use your university account during this class. Make sure that if you
have changed your email to another server ( e.g. AOL, Yahoo) you must change
it back to the university account.
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Assignments
|
- Select three "reviews of literature." These can be
selected from the
Review of Literature Option and
Review of Literature Options for Child Welfare Scholar on this syllabus or
students may find their own. All citations that have not be taken from the links
must be approved by professor. Students may need to use the
Library's Document Delivery System (or Interlibrary Loan). Read the three articles. Word process your
analysis of each article on a separate sheet of paper. Your analysis will
include two single spaced paragraphs. In the first paragraph, compose an
abstract (summary). In the second paragraph, employ the class's typology to
categorize each of your three articles. Students must explain why the article
fits into the category selected. No quotes are permitted! On your cover sheet
include your name, date completed, and following statement: I have neither
given nor received unauthorized aid in the preparation or completion of this
manuscript. ________________________________ Make a space to sign your name
for each draft you submit for class. Please read the
CASW Code of Ethics prior to
signing your name.
- Student will select 10 articles. Read them, write an original abstract and read
the abstract in class.
- Students will write a review of
literature. The topic must be approved by the
professor during the third week of class (when covering chapter
8). The paper must comply with APA standards. See
page 306 of the APA manual
and click on this hot link to see the how the title page is
written. As stated in the APA manual, all papers
must have a title page followed by an abstract page. The
review of literature must be a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 12
pages long (This excludes the title and abstract
page). Students are required to have a maximum of
one long quote and one short quote. This requirement
exists to demonstrate compliance the APA quoting rules.
Students are not permitted to include any additional quotation. With their term papers, students must print and submit
their "Turnitin"
analysis. On your cover sheet
include your name, date completed, and following
statement: I have neither
given nor received unauthorized aid in the preparation or completion of this
manuscript. ________________________________ Make a space to sign your name
for each draft you submit for class. Please read the
CASW Code of Ethics prior to
signing your name.
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Cell Phone Policy: Students are not permitted
to conduct phone conversations during class time. Students are not
permitted to have cell ring during class time. Students who
use conduct a phone conversation or allow their phones to ring during class
time will be drop 10 points on the next quiz or 5 points for their final
exam.
Attendance Policy: Attendance
and class participation are critical to the learning and integration of
materials. Therefore, the Social Work Department has implemented the following
policy. There are no excused absences. A student will fail the class
upon the seventh absence for day classes and the fourth absence for evening
class (for three hours courses). Students are therefore encouraged to be
mindful of absences and make every effort to be in attendance. Students
are expected to have read assigned material prior to the class. Students
are also expected to participate in class discussion, exercises, “minute”
papers, and any Blackboard discussions that may be announced. Students
are considered in attendance only if present for the entire class. Arriving
late or leaving early is disruptive will be dealt with by the instructor.
Attendance will be used as a criterion in determining the final grade.
(Present 1 point; Tardy 1/2 point; Not present 0 points) For more
details see “Class Attendance” in The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Grading: Two to Three
Quizzes -- 15%; 2) Final Exam -- 30%; 3) Review of Literature Assignment -- 10%;
Term paper 30%; 10 abstracts 10% 4) Class Attendance
5%
Grades are not negotiated. A grade will not be changed
after the grade is given to the student. On the other hand,
if the professor makes a calculation error, students are expected to immediately
report the error to the professor. The grading scale is outlined
below and is in the Student Social Work Handbook:
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A 92-100
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B 82-86
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C 72-76
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D 62-66
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|
A- 90-91
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B- 80-81
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C- 70-71
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D- 60-61
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B+ 87-89
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C+ 77-79
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D+ 67-69
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F 0-59
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Giving and Taking Help
The practice of social work includes two important concepts: “process”
and “outcome”. Outcome is the degree of success in achieving a goal. Process
includes the hard work and elf-discipline a social worker employs in achieving
a goal. The social work faculty feel that the “process” is as significant
as the “outcome”. When one student assists another by sharing projects,
term papers, book reports, reaction papers and other assignments, the benefit
of the “process” are usurped. The student who recycles the assignments
is denied the opportunity to enhance his/her self-discipline and work habits.
Simply stated, Don’t share your work with other students. The social work
faculty considers such behavior as cheating a violation of the NASW Code
of Ethics and a violation of the Student Honor Code. Students have the
responsibility to know and observe the UNCP Academic Honor Code..
Plagiarism
The Social Work Program does not permit plagiarism All
students enrolled in SWK courses are required to use the APA citation style,
anyone caught plagiarizing automatically receive an F. You will loose
points on assignments if you do not use APA citation style. APA manuals
can be purchased in the bookstore. There is a copy on closed reserve in
the library. Also refer to the Library resource for APA . You may also
get help from University Writing Center hours during the spring semester
are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
on Friday. For an appointment, stop by the Writing Center, Dial 131, call
910.521.6168, or email writing@uncp.edu.
Students With Disabilities
Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments
is requested to speak directly to Disability Support Services and the instructor,
as early in the semester (preferably within the first week) as possible.
All discussions will remain confidential. Please contact
Disability
Support Services, DF Lowry Building, 910-521-6695.
Child Welfare Waiver Students: Child welfare students are required to
use the
Child Welfare List for the "Review of Literature Assessment."
In addition, child welfare students are required to select a child welfare
topic for their term paper
Portfolio Assignment: The term paper is
the portfolio assignment. The portfolio is an effective
tool for measuring a student’s growth and celebrating accomplishments on the
continuum of beginning the social work major to the point of entry-level social
work employment. The portfolio assignment for this class is the review of
literature paper. Save a copy of it on Snappy.
Blackboard Usage: Although
SWK 3710 is not designated as a “Blackboard” course, Blackboard is used
under two circumstances. First, if the course is canceled or
the professor is unable to attend class and cannot find a replacement,
lectures and assignments will be posted on Blackboard. Second, depending
on the nature of the course, some quizzes will be posted on Blackboard.
Under most circumstances, students will be given a three day window of
opportunity to compete the quiz. If a student is kicked off Blackboard
during a quiz, he/she is required to immediately email (steve.marson@uncp.edu
or smarson@nc.rr.com) or call the
instructor (521-6475). All students are required to completed the
Blackboard
Orientation.
Bibliography: Frequently cited during
course
Alter, C., & Adkins, C.
(2001). Improving the writing skills of social work students. Journal of
Social Work Education, 37, 493.
Blau, T. H. (2004). The
Forensic Documentation Sourcebook: The Complete Paperwork Resource for Forensic
Mental Health Practice. NY: John Wiley.
Braaten, E. (2007). The
Child Clinician's Report-Writing Handbook. NY: Guilford Press.
Chan, C. L., & Ng, S.M.
(2004). The social work practitioner-researcher-educator: Encouraging
innovations and empowerment in the 21st century. International
Social Work, 47, 312-320.
Faith, K.E., & Muzzin, L. (2001). The importance of professional ethics
education to early social work practice. Canadian Social Work, 3, 21-27.
Fink, A. (1998). Conducting Research Literature Reviews. Thousand Oaks,
CA: Sage publications.
Healy,
K. &
Mulholland,
J. (2007).Writing
Skills for Social Workers.
Thousand Oaks, CAL: Sage Publications.
Heron, G., & Murray, R.
(2004). The place of writing in social work: Bridging the theory-practice
divide. Journal of Social Work, 4, 199-214.
Staudt, M.M., Dulmus, C. & Bennett, G.A. (2003). Facilitating writing by
practitioners: survey of practitioners who have published. Social Work, 48,
75.
Witkin, S.L. (2000). Writing social work. Social Work, 45,389-394.