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Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 11
Essay WritingEssay Writing
A workshop for A workshop for ASW 3102: ASW 3102: Critical Social Work Critical Social Work TheoriesTheories
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 22
OutlineOutline
Why write an essay
A strategy
Note-taking tips
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 33
Why write an essayWhy write an essay
•You know what you are writing about
•You own the knowledge
•You can communicate clearly
•You can follow academic conventions
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 44
A strategyA strategy
•Getting started
•Analyse the topic
•Collect and group ideas
•Research
•Develop an outline
•Introduction and conclusion
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 55
Getting startedGetting startedCollect all the information you have about the assignment
•Presenting the essay
•The topic
•Specific requirements
•Additional guidance
•Ask
•Already known and the unknown
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 66
Analyse the topicAnalyse the topicThe ‘D, C, A’ model
• ‘D’ words
Tell you what to do
• ‘C’ words
Tell you to do it about what
• ‘L’ words
Give you limits
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 77
Example 1Example 1Topic:Analyse the different perspectives that are expressed in the debate, in terms of the theoretical perspectives from which different parties are arguing.
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 88
Example 1Example 1Topic:Analyse the different perspectives that are expressed in the debate, in terms of the theoretical perspectives from which different parties are arguing.
‘D’ WordAnalyse =•Separate into component parts•Understand the nature of it (the theory) – its parts, their relationships, relationships to environment•Evaluate
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 99
Example 1Example 1Topic:Analyse the different perspectives that are expressed in the debate, in terms of the theoretical perspectives from which different parties are arguing.
‘C ‘ Word(s)the debate(professionalism)
Questions•Which definition?•Who defines?•Why is definition important?•Why is professionalism
important?
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 1010
Example 1Example 1Topic:Analyse the different perspectives that are expressed in the debate, in terms of the theoretical perspectives from which different parties are arguing.
‘L ‘ Word(s)theoretical perspectivesdifferent parties
Questions•What parties ?•How do I recognise them?•What theories and with whom?
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 1111
Example 2Example 2Topic:What is social work?
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 1212
Example 2Example 2Topic:What is social work?
‘D’ Word – make oneDiscuss =•Identify and describe/define•Analyse•Compare and contrast•Evaluate•Paint your picture
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 1313
Example 2Example 2Topic:What is social work?
‘C ‘ Word(s)Social work
Questions•What different ways can I look at
social work?•Why are there different perspectives?•How do different perspectives
-help/hinder practice-influence policy/ funding…- ?
•Why is social work?
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 1414
Example 2Example 2Topic:What is social work?
‘l ‘ Word(s)What are the limits?(see notes on the topic)
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 1515
Collect and group Collect and group ideasideas
What do you already know about this topic?
•Brainstorm•Short, sharp burst of free association
•Review lecture notes•Extract key, relevant ideas (avoid detail)
•Group ideas•Identify themes and group ideas under themes
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 1616
ResearchResearch
Start at home
•Lectures and lecture notes
•Course reading collections•Reading lists and recommendations (particularly for relevant lectures)
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 1717
ResearchResearch
Shopping lists – what to look for
Key terms from:
•analysing the topic
•additional instructions
•collecting and grouping ideas
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 1818
ResearchResearch
Shopping – where to look
•Library catalogue
•Library database
•Internet search
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 1919
ResearchResearch
Shopping – Only what you want
•Be organised
•Record your searches
•Prioritise
•Notes
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 2020
Research – Be Research – Be organisedorganised
•Plan
•List of terms
•Record results
•Flexibility?
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 2121
Research – Keep Research – Keep recordsrecords
•Interesting references
•Additional expressions
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 2222
Research – PrioritiseResearch – Prioritise
Mark interesting or relevant sources
•A four level system•*** -check today
•** -check later
•* -maybe
• -what can I say?
•Find and refine
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 2323
Research – NotesResearch – Notes
Four parts in a nutshell and three columns
•1 – main ideas
• 2 – supporting ideas, details, quotes
•3 – comments
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 2424
Develop an outlineDevelop an outline
•Establish purpose
•Identify main ideas needed
•Organise support ideas
•Ask questions
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 2525
Outline –establish Outline –establish purposepurpose
•Who • Lecturer – educated layperson
• I know what I’m writing about
•Thesis statement
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 2626
OutlineOutline
– – main ideasmain ideas
– – support ideassupport ideas
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 2727
Outline – QuestionsOutline – Questions
Use questions to:
•Add detail
•Organise what you know
•Identify the unknown
•Evaluate your logic
Rob Walker, May 2008Rob Walker, May 2008 Student Learning Unit Victoria UniversityStudent Learning Unit Victoria University 2828
Some weblinksSome weblinks
•SLU CALM resources
•VU del.icio.us
•OWL at Purdue
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