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Social Work MSWI Reading & Writing Workshop Thursday, September 2, 2010 Dan Melzer, University Writing Coordinator Teiahsha Bankhead, PhD, LCSW Building on the work of Susan Eggman, PhD, MSW What are some of the values of social work? Equity-building Human rights diversity Increasing access social justice Challenging oppression, marginalization & disenfranchisement Freedom fighting Challenging stereotypes dignity welfare Writing as a tool to social justice Finding your voice Learning how to use literature to support your ideas Remaining open to having your ideas changed or challenged based on data A powerful vehicle for transformation Challenges for graduate-level reading? Challenges for Graduate-Level Reading Strategies for Reading Graduate-level Texts Creating Good Reading Habits Acknowledge different types of reading for different purposes and genres Use active reading strategies Allocate time for the process of reading Reread Expect to struggle with difficult texts Seek out help when you’re struggling The Graduate-level Writing Process Understanding the assignment Finding topics Researching, researching, researching Drafting Revising, revising, revising, revising Editing Understanding the Assignment Finding Topics Researching Drafting Revising Editing What is a Literature Review? What does a literature review do? Provides background to a problem & explains the relationship between previous & current studies Places research in historical & theoretical context Identifies risk factors, problems, current trends & debates in field Gives direction to the project (recent work cited) Allows author to contribute new knowledge by analysis and synthesis of primary works Requires use of libraries Critically analyzing the literature What is the research problem addressed in this article? Is the design (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed) appropriate for the question? What are the variables in this study? How are they operationally defined? Are these definitions sensible and appropriate? What is the population of interest in this study? What is the sampling frame? Are the subjects used in the study representative of the population of interest? What, if any, are the potential problems with the data collection and analysis procedures used? Does the research problem apply to diverse groups of people and populations at risk? Were the methods used ethical and sensitive to the inclusion of disenfranchised populations? What conclusions does the author make on the basis of the study? Does the author discuss implications for social work practice? Are the conclusions and implications reasonable, based on the findings of the study? Why or why not? Common Pitfalls in Literature Review Writing Taking on too much at once – (i.e. you can do anything but not everything at once) Poor organization Too broad, too general and lacking depth Formulaic writing Fragmented flow of ideas Colloquial vs. scholarly language Poor use of references or poor references Inaccurate or biased assumptions used as facts Keys to Successful Writing in Graduate School Write and rewrite – walk away from your work and reread it at a later time to assess clarity, logic and perspective Be organized and clearly articulate the position for which you are advocating Make sure your positions are grounded in data Let your clear vision be your guide Your ideas, beliefs and values may be transformed in graduate school, so expect this to be true as well for your writing Leave enough time for the assignment You can get to “good enough” in your writing but a piece of serious intellectual work is never really finished References & Guides APA Publication Manual Endnote Student Writing Handbook Elements of Style University Reading and Writing Center: www.csus.edu/writingcenter Division of Social Work – tutors Student peers Core faculty