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Essay WritingEssay Writing

A workshop for A workshop for ASW 3102: ASW 3102: Critical Social Work Critical Social Work TheoriesTheories

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OutlineOutline

Why write an essay

A strategy

Note-taking tips

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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

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A strategyA strategy

•Getting started

•Analyse the topic

•Collect and group ideas

•Research

•Develop an outline

•Introduction and conclusion

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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?

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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?

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Example 2Example 2Topic:What is social work?

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Example 2Example 2Topic:What is social work?

‘D’ Word – make oneDiscuss =•Identify and describe/define•Analyse•Compare and contrast•Evaluate•Paint your picture

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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?

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Example 2Example 2Topic:What is social work?

‘l ‘ Word(s)What are the limits?(see notes on the topic)

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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

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ResearchResearch

Start at home

•Lectures and lecture notes

•Course reading collections•Reading lists and recommendations (particularly for relevant lectures)

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ResearchResearch

Shopping lists – what to look for

Key terms from:

•analysing the topic

•additional instructions

•collecting and grouping ideas

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ResearchResearch

Shopping – where to look

•Library catalogue

•Library database

•Internet search

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ResearchResearch

Shopping – Only what you want

•Be organised

•Record your searches

•Prioritise

•Notes

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Research – Be Research – Be organisedorganised

•Plan

•List of terms

•Record results

•Flexibility?

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Research – Keep Research – Keep recordsrecords

•Interesting references

•Additional expressions

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Research – PrioritiseResearch – Prioritise

Mark interesting or relevant sources

•A four level system•*** -check today

•** -check later

•* -maybe

• -what can I say?

•Find and refine

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Research – NotesResearch – Notes

Four parts in a nutshell and three columns

•1 – main ideas

• 2 – supporting ideas, details, quotes

•3 – comments

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Develop an outlineDevelop an outline

•Establish purpose

•Identify main ideas needed

•Organise support ideas

•Ask questions

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Outline –establish Outline –establish purposepurpose

•Who • Lecturer – educated layperson

• I know what I’m writing about

•Thesis statement

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OutlineOutline

– – main ideasmain ideas

– – support ideassupport ideas

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Outline – QuestionsOutline – Questions

Use questions to:

•Add detail

•Organise what you know

•Identify the unknown

•Evaluate your logic

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Some weblinksSome weblinks

•SLU CALM resources

•VU del.icio.us

•OWL at Purdue