1. 501: Competing Perspectives Assignment A UW School of Social Work Writing Team Workshop

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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?

6. 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!

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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