Academic Writing for Social Work Session 1 Making the step up: The transition to undergraduate writing. Viola Eidenbenz

How is academic writing different at university level? unstructured time + workload Independent study time management freedom + underlying expectations

Depth of analysis and critical approach reading challenging texts engaging with sources positioning yourself connecting theories + micro contexts

Depth of reflexivity Critical approach Different perspectives

Developing a more academic style. Structure Coherence Explicitness Formality Expression Terminology.

The first essay task You are required to write an individual assignment demonstrating an understanding of the historical and political context of social work provision. You are expected to choose one service user group on which to focus and to consider service user perspectives and anti-oppressive perspectives for this group. You should read and review some relevant literature in order to demonstrate knowledge of the context in which social work operates. You are encouraged to relate your reading to your personal and/or professional experience where relevant.

Unpacking the essay task What exactly does the title ask you to do? Why do you think you have been given this title? History of service-user group: Why? Understand the present condition How it relates to social/political context Reasons for change in provision: political? ideological? economic? new knowledge? technologies?

Essay task FAQS Which service user group should I choose?

How far back in history should I go?

How much of the essay should be devoted to the history part and how much to the service users?

Can I write in the first person ‘I’?

Can I draw on my own experience? Isn’t this ‘anecdote’?

What about research methods? Do I need to do original research / produce my own empirical evidence for this essay assignment?

Does it matter if I go over the word limit?

What does the word limit include?

How many items should the reference list include How many items should the reference list include? Should I include everything I’ve read or just everything that I’ve referred to in the essay?

How is the essay assessed? Presentation and Organisation Coverage and Use of the Literature and other available evidence Coverage of Issues and Discussion Anti-Discriminatory and Anti-Oppressive Practice Issues

Module overview 'Making the step up': The transition to undergraduate writing The essay writing process + paragraph structure Developing a critical argument + intro to referencing Using sources: Referencing and avoiding plagiarism 5 Introductions and conclusions 6 Paraphrasing + editing and proofreading 7+8 Review and tutorials by appointment Report writing or reflective writing / tutorials Project / tutorials In sessions 9 and 10 we will focus on your projects.

One-to-one tutorials with a Royal Literary Fellow 30 or 45 minutes Monday & Tuesday 10-4pm Thursday & Friday 10.30-4.30pm Register at the Centre for English & Academic Writing RHB204

Viola Eidenbenz v.eidenbenz@gold.ac.uk