Module: English and Communication: Writing Skills for Social Work

Transcription

1 Module: English and Communication: Writing Skills for Social Work Hanze University Groningen : Applied Sciences Drs. Marion Troia, m.troia@pl.hanze.nl Page 1 of 11

2 Introduction English & Communication is a foundational module that helps students to strengthen their study skills since the Masters programme is entirely in English. Students have an opportunity to improve skills needed to be able to carry out the assignments of other modules and courses, such as research papers or the final thesis. Social Workers at a senior level need to be able to write not only descriptive texts, such as case / client reports, they also need to write analytically. Analytical writing is not the same as narrative or descriptive writing in terms of both structure and language. It is important to note that English & Communication is not a remedial English language course. Students are expected to have a Common European Framework for Languages, (CEFL) level of higher B2 or low C1, that is, upper intermediate to advanced. The IELTS score expected is 6.5. Module aims Students will be prepared for the study of Social Work at a graduate level in English in this module. Writing tasks are similar to those that students will carry out for other modules and professional products. Students will practice APA Style for both in-text citations and end- of - text reference lists. The skills of English practiced in relation to these intercultural aspects of the module are both oral and written. Students will write and improve a report of an authentic case to bridge the messy reality of practice in the field with scientific and academic presentation of problems and solutions. On completion of the module students are able to. Design texts according to the commonly agreed features of academic / professional writing in Social Work Apply the appropriate forms of layout and APA Style for in-text citation and the final reference list Apply editing tools to revise student texts Appraise and analyse intercultural interactions in welfare work using incidents from their own work experience Competencies Although this course will build skills needed for all professional roles, the main one is Practitioner- Researcher. This module is particularly relevant for two generic competencies of the EMSW: Competency 7. Professionalize This module will provide students with chances to build up professionalization competencies for producing both academic and professional products such as Advisory Reports, Project Plans, Project Evaluation studies etc. Students will practice writing analytical reports to learn these skills. Competency 8. Cooperate Internationally A major element in international cooperation is competent communication. Students will use role plays and discussions to explore intercultural issues and values in working with migrants and to improve the capacity to bridge (inter) communication barriers sensitively. It is also highly relevant for two Dublin competencies: Communication Students will have opportunities to critically analyse with the intercultural communication skills and concepts central to transnational / multicultural welfare work. These will focus specifically on potential misunderstandings commonly experienced by social work practitioners in situations with clients from different cultural backgrounds. Page 2 of 11

3 Learning Skills By discussion of the principles and practice of academic writing for assignments, such as essays and/ or project reports and by carrying out peer editing, students will learn to improve their writing in English dialogically. Students use a case study approach to provide input for writing, and small group discussion to provide opportunities to express ideas in English before and after writing. They will learn to identify patterns in their own errors and to plan how to improve accuracy and rhetorical power. Professional Role - Practitioner Research By the end of this module students will use individual assignments, peer- feedback and participation in collaborative activities that will strengthen them in being practitioner researchers. They will have become familiar with the structural and linguistic requirements of research reports according to mainstream international standards. Students will also focus on the writing process connecting theories, concepts and models to practice. There will be a webpage in the EMSW home site with these and other links for academic and professional English. Organisation of the module Before Meeting Week Assignments The following assignments are expected to take the student approximately 9 hours. Task 1 is a short self assessment of each student s proficiency as a writer. The assessment form is on page 7of this Module Guide. The student must fill in the assessment form and send it digitally to the teacher one week before the meeting week. Task 2 is completion of an online diagnostic test of English (Dialang) with and an online diagnosis of their general level of English with an indicator of strengths and weaknesses and identification of an individual learning goal. The student should go to the website find the section on writing and take the writing test for English. They must save the results and feedback on the test digitally and send it to the teacher one week before the meeting week. Task 3 is the preparation of a professional text, that is a short analytical report that requires the use of primary (that is unpublished, internal documents) and secondary (that is published texts such as research articles by experts) sources. The report will describe a critical incident with intercultural aspects that they have experienced at their work. It will also attempt to carry out an analysis of this incident in terms of intercultural communication. The guidelines for writing the report on are page 10 of this Guide. Meeting Week Activitie In the meeting week a total of 16 hours will be used. This includes homework after day one. Day 1 (Monday of the Meeting week) During the e-learning session, 2 hours will be spent in a computer lab. This time will be shared with the blended learning instructor. Students will be introduced to the online learning sites and procedures of the module. They will focus on interactive sites for APA. Students will form smaller groups and pairs that will continue in the online environment. Day 2 (Thursday of the Meeting week) There will be a 5 hour face to face session on one day. This session will cover the content elements of English and give a small amount of exposure to intercultural communication concepts. English aspects include workshopping the reports written in advance with peer feedback. Included Page 3 of 11

4 in the exercises will be some practice in in-text citation. Homework will include finishing an online tutorial for APA and rewriting their texts. After Meeting Week Assignments Students will use the remaining 40 to carry out tasks in the EMSW virtual learning environment (VLE). The main task is to take an essay or report written for another module and rewrite it using what the student has learnt about professional English. Several sub-tasks are carried out to help the student complete this main task. One of these is to exchange texts with a partner student. The tasks are set out on the following page but to be clear they are also given here: A revised / rewritten essay or report accompanied by: - the original essay or report submitted in another module - a completed Improvement Plan (page 8) - copies of 6 exercises from the site UEfAP : 2 functional, 2 grammar, 2 vocabulary - a completed Peer Feedback Form from a fellow student (page 11) Study load 2 ECTS which represents a total of 56 hour work load for the student. Assessment: (weighting and compulsory information) The assessment consists of a completed Portfolio including: (nos. 1,2, & 3 are prepared in advance) 1. Self-assessment: What kind of writer are you? (page 9) 2. Intercultural incident report (page 10 for guidelines) 3. Dialang writing test score 4. Outcome APA tutorial (score or reflection) 5. Revised / rewritten essay or report accompanied by: 6. Original essay or report submitted in another module 7. Completed Improvement Plan (page 8) 8. Copies of 6 exercises from the site UEfAP : 2 functional, 2 grammar, 2 vocabulary 9. Completed Peer Feedback Form from a fellow student (page 11) Requirements All assignments must be submitted in order for the mark to be awarded. Any missing assignments will result in a fail. For the essay or report a 10 point rating scale is used. See page 7 for criteria. The minimum pass mark is for the re-written essay or report text is 5.5. Students awarded between a 4.9 and 5.5 can improve their tasks within a month. Students who have failed through incompletion of the portfolio (or who had a mark of 4.8 or lower) will not be allowed to improve their texts. They will have to attend some sessions again in year two and /or choose a new text to re-write. Page 4 of 11

5 Assignment & Procedures 3 Pre-meeting tasks: a)self assessment b)report based on a critical case with intercultural aspects c) results of Dialang writing test (only) Selected exercises on writing: at least two functions- exercises from at least two vocabulary exercises at least two grammar exercises Peer text exchange and feedback online: Send an original text of an essay or report to another student and Edit / give feedback on one essay or report of another student in terms of Quality of Structure and Quality of Language (see form page 11) Receive and use feedback from another student to rewrite an essay or report etc. required for another module + analysis of patterns of error and plan for improvements (See Improvement Plan in this Guide) Rewritten Essay or Report / Assessment Sheet type of mark & teacher support Pass/ fail mark Pass = completed task Teacher can be asked to help with feedback giving and will give a general evaluation of feedback task of the group 100 %Graded :see criteria page 7 Teacher will look at drafts if requested Deadlines One week before Meeting Week Week 10 semester Week 14 of semester to send own text to partner Week 16 to send feedback form to partner Week 20 for submission of: 1.original text with feedback 2.rewritten essay/ report 3.improvement plan Introduction lead-in ( background, etc.) statement of purpose, going from general to specific includes problem statement or main issue and main points or research questions (if applicable) preview of the contents of the paper Body paragraphs clear sections with introduction/link in each section sufficient support (examples, statistics, expert opinions, etc.) ideas from outside sources are relevant, sufficiently elaborated, and synthesised all point develop the topic (no irrelevancies) /15 /25 Page 5 of 11

6 Correct APA Referencing Evidence of PLAGIARISM = 0 marks for the whole assignment = a high level of mistakes = an automatic rewrite in-text citation paraphrasing (clearly in student s own words) /10 direct quotations (no more than 10% of final copy) technique : citations fit into the text appropriately & grammatically effectively implements APA workshop material Reference list/ Works Cited list is correct according to APA /5 Style Formality (appropriate style of language for the assignment) written in an audience orientated way /5 balance between formal and informal Variety and accuracy of vocabulary /5 correct choice of words vocabulary has variety and interest (avoids using simplistic expressions &or repetition) Conciseness /5 direct and to the point (avoids using wordy phrases) Coherence /5 flow of sentences is smooth (avoids using awkward, ambiguous, confusing sentences) Grammar complete sentences (lack of fragments, run-on sentences) use of transitional words and phrases (linking or connectors) /20 correct word order correct use of tenses, verb/noun and singular/ plural agreement correct prepositions, correct word form (i.e. endings) Mechanics correct use of capitals, commas, /5 avoid overuse of bold font,!, semi-colon spelling / Improvement Plan First, evaluate for yourself. What did you do well? Where did you go wrong? How does this compare with your self - assessment of your writing proficiency? Second, read and absorb the feedback from your partner. Make a list of your structural and language errors, see if you can find any patterns of error. Check the in-text referencing using the websites and your set book (Swales & Feak) correct the citations in text and the reference list as required. Third, make a new plan for the essay/report; how are you going to solve the language problems, how are you going to make the content better and present your points with convincing support? Please submit the pattern of error list and the answer to the third question with your rewritten essay/report and the original essay/report. Page 6 of 11

7 Pre meeting week task no. 1: What kind of writer are you? Complete the questionnaire by ticking ( ) the appropriate column. Never Often Sometimes Always I am confident that my texts are convincing and will be evaluated the way I want them to be I do much of the research needed before I start to write. I make an outline before drafting. I know how to adapt my style to the intended audience. I write a draft first and review it. I proof-read and revise my work before handing it in. I know how to link ideas effectively. I am sure the reader understands my points. I understand the differences between academic English and non-academic English. I know how to make a reference list in APA. I understand what constitutes plagiarism. I know how to paraphrase complex ideas in my own words. I have an idea of my own patterns of error. I support my points with accepted forms of evidence. My writing is clear. My writing is concise. I know how to proofread and edit academic writing. I am confident that my grammar, punctuation and spelling are correct. Page 7 of 11

8 Pre meeting week task no. 2 Guidelines: Critical incident report I. INTRODUCTION Background information on the organisational where the incident took place II. DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT in DETAIL Choose a problem, confusing or tense situation or puzzle involving client (s) or colleague(s) who have some kind of cultural differences It can be a single incident or event but it can (also) be the result of a series of interactions that built up during a project or module Do not use general or vague descriptions - Be concrete; recount who, what, when, where, in sufficient detail A misunderstanding between people from the same country is possible too Identify as many context factors / elements as needed Give a chronology III. ANALYSIS Use concepts of intercultural (or intracultural) sensitivity/ communication to analyse what happened IV. CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS Go from specific to general; summarise the main points; consider what a practitioner could do to improve intercultural interaction in similar incidents/ situations in future LIST OF REFERENCES At least two academic sources must be used in the analysis Length : 2 to 3 pages Arial font 11 : 1.5 spacing Page 8 of 11

9 Peer Feedback Form Name of feedback giver.. Name of writer.. I Quality of Structure the feedback giver should write out the answers on a separate page in Microsoft word. 1. Were all of the elements of an essay included, i.e., is there an introduction from general to specific, with a main topic or thesis sentence included? Are there body paragraphs and a conclusion from specific to general? Give examples. 2. Is there a clear pattern of logic in the structure? If not give examples of confusing parts. 3. Are the points consistent and convincing? Are there irrelevant points? If so identify them. 4. Are the paragraphs well developed, i.e. is there a topic sentence that expresses the controlling idea? Are the topics then explained or qualified? Is there sufficient support in order to prove the points through the use of examples, statistics, anecdotes, expert opinions? Give at least one example where support is insufficient. II Quality of Language -The feedback giver can use the editing tools of Microsoft for this section if desired and thus use red font, symbols in the text and comments in the margins of the text, renaming it revised version 1.What is the level of grammatical error? How many of the same type of errors are made? How serious are the errors, what type are they? Identify with examples from the writer s text. 1a. fragments or run on sentences 1b. problems with tenses 1c. problems with prepositions 1d. problems with word order 1 e problems with the form of words (i.e. confusion of Sing/plural or adj/adv) 1 f. problems with understanding due to the use of a completely wrong word 2. Are sentences linked coherently using linking words for referring back and phrases for signposting? Show where links are missing. 3. Is there sufficient richness and variety in the vocabulary or is there a lot of repetition? What level of interest does the vocabulary have, are similes or metaphors used? Is the appropriate level of formality used or is the language too personal/ informal etc?sow examples of repetition or language that is too informal. 4.Is the referencing correct according to APA rules? Where are the errors? 5.What is the level of mechanical error? How are commas used? How many mistakes are there in spelling? Are there formatting problems, etc.? Mask errors in yellow font. Page 9 of 11

10 References Set books and materials required for the module Mullavey-O Bryrne, C. (1994). Intercultural interactions in welfare work, in R.W. Brislin & T. Yoshida, (Eds.) Improving intercultural interactions: Modules for cross-cultural training programs. (Chapter 11 pp ). Multicultural Aspects of Counselling Series 3, Thousand Oaks: Sage. (will be provided in e-reader). Swales, J.M., & Feak, C. (2004). Academic writing for graduate students: essential tasks & skills (Second Edition). Michigan Series in English for Academic & Professional Purposes, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. (set book) Required for study support for the entire study Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 3rd Edition paperback (ISBN-13: ) or CD ROM (ISBN-13: ) Required for selected tasks during the module or study support throughout the entire study American Psychological Association (APA) Documentation (2010). The Writing Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Retrieved from APA Tutorial (n.d.). University Libraries, the University of Southern Mississippi, Retrieved from, APA Tutorial Test : Dialang English Tests (2010). Retrieved from Gillett, A. (2009). Speaking in academic contexts: Rhetorical Functions in Academic Speaking: in Using English for academic purposes Retrieved, 12 October, 2009, from, and Optional Cottrell, S. (2005). Critical thinking skills. London: Palgrave. Gillett, A., Hammond, A., & Martala, M. (2009). Inside track to successful academic writing. London: Pearson Longman. McCarthy, M. & O Dell, F. (2008). Academic Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Sanders, M. Tinglooo, A., & Verhulst, H. (second edition 1998). Advanced writing in English: a guide for Dutch authors. Leuven-Apeldoorn: Garant. Whittaker, A. (2009). Research skills for social work. Exeter, Learning Matters Page 10 of 11

11 Recommended websites European Master in Social Work Capital Community College Guide to Grammar & Writing, (n.d.) Retrieved from, Gardner, D. (n.d.) Online Research Programme, 1. Research Process, Proposals & Reports 2. The Hour glass Model for The Investigative Report and the Mirror Image, Chinese Hong Kong University English Language Centre, Retrieved 10/15/04, from, Gillett, A. (2010). Using English for Academic Purposes.(n.d.). Retrieved from, Page 11 of 11