501: Competing Perspectives Assignment A UW School of Social Work Writing Team Workshop

Assignment Summary Look at the data from Demographic Briefing Assignment: sum up the inequality in a sentence or two Connect this inequality to two distinct theories Breakdown those theories to their simplest terms Draw connections between those theories and inequality in data Discuss policy implications related to theory

Approaching the Assignment Look at your data Consider: why does this inequality exist? What are some theories or explanations that may justify policy around this matter? “Theory” = explanation for why something is the way it is

Let’s Review and Revise What is your topic? What does the data outline? What is the data saying? What did your teacher's feedback say? Make necessary changes per your professor

Sum It Up Break it down: how do you organize your data? Consider bullet pointing the main differences you see in the data The take away point: what is the main difference or discrepancy in your data that you want to discuss in the paper?

Picking Your Theories What is the inequality being shown? Off the top of your head, does it bring up any theory that explains this inequality? Consider theories of poverty and inequality you’ve discussed in class or with peers If you need help, check your syllabi for your classes!

Writing About Theories Other ways to think about theories: ideologies or assumptions to explain a phenomena Theories/Ideologies are used to describe potential roots/assumptions about inequality in data Describe, analyze, and integrate data with theory Your theories are looking for explanations, not about finding solutions

Writing About Theories Identify two underlying theories or ideologies that may explain the discrepancy/inequality in the data Breakdown the ideologies or theories to their basic bullet points / define them / use citations Interpret how theories or ideologies approach the inequality show in your data Make the theories interact like a discussion about the proposed inequalities - you are contrasting two theories about why inequality exists Try outlining or mind mapping

Policy Implications Solution Focused Policy Responses Based on assumptions made by each theory, which policies would be a response to the inequality? Look at existing or proposed policies that are informed by or match the theories you choose

Example: Policy Implications Data set displaying that women of color in the U.S. workforce have consistently made less annual income than white women over the past fifteen years (a comparative approach) Possible theory: Functions of Überdiscrimination resulting in less higher-paying job opportunities for women of color (Resken, 2012) Possible policy response tied to theory: Labor market shift hiring policies to promote WOC in higher paying job positions