FURTHER INSTRUCTION ON THE ESSAY WRITING AND FORMATIVE ESSAY PLAN

FURTHER INSTRUCTION ON THE ESSAY WRITING AND FORMATIVE ESSAY PLAN

You should make sure that your essay:

• Develops a strong and coherent argument
• Uses academic social policy literature
• Is referenced fully and correctly
• Reflects your critical thinking about social need and policy responses
• Addresses the three themes of the module: the social construction of a social problem; the politics of social policy (political ideology); and the social policies relevant to the topic or service user group you wish to focus on.

You should write an essay plan with clear headings which indicate introduction, main argument and conclusions outlining how you will answer the question set.

• All your written work must be referenced citing appropriate literature (books, journals, newspaper articles) but do not draw non-peer reviewed material from the World Wide Web (Wikepedia, Google)
• Thoroughly proof-read your work and ensure consistency with grammar, sentence construction, punctuation and paragraphing before submission
• All work must be submitted on Turnitin
• Take care NOT to lift or reproduce verbatim material from published sources without proper attribution
• Harvard referencing throughout
• Please spell check using UK English on your MS word editing option 7 Formative Assignment Marking Criteria (While the formative assignment does not carry any marks, you will be given feedback based on the following assessment criteria) Social POLICY (Year 1): Marking Criteria for Assignment 1 – SO310 70+% Distinction 1st 60 – 69% Credit 2:1 50 – 59% Pass 2:2 40 – 49% 3rd Below 40% Fail.

Note that understanding of the theoretical debates about welfare (20%) Exceptionally well demonstrated – able to examine key welfare issues around need, well-being, risk, welfare provision, exclusion and citizenship Very well demonstrated understanding with very good application of theoretical knowledge of social policy and social welfare.  Reasonably well demonstrated with some good illustration of social policy issues. Some application of welfare issues.  Adequate demonstration of understanding and knowledge of social policy issues and arguments. There are some gaps in knowledge and application of welfare concepts Poorly demonstrated. Understanding of social policy issues and arguments are minimal. Lacks coherence and depth – lacks theoretical direction around welfare issues Knowledge and understanding of social policy topic to social work practice in relation to ethics. (20%) Excellent understanding of the relevance of the topic to the social work practice environment. Sophisticated application & excellent understanding of the ethical considerations to SW practice. Illustrates a very good grasp of the relevance of the topic to social work practice. Very good understanding of the ethical issues in relation to SW practice.

Generally, a sound grasp of the relevance of the assignment topic to social work practice.

Makes sufficient connection to the ethical issues of SW practice.

Adequate grasp of the relevance of the topic to social work practice.

There is a lack of analysis of social policy issues related to social work practice as well as a lack of ethical considerations Relevance of topic area to social work practice is not demonstrated.

Lacks awareness of contemporary social work issues as they are impacted by social policy and a lack of awareness of the ethical considerations. Illustration and coherence of argument.

Makes effective use of source material/research. (20%) Shows a confident and wide-ranging knowledge of core material.

Excellent research and coherent argument, reflecting consistency, awareness of limitations of evidence and analysis. Very good research.

Consistent analysis and very good argument and comprehensive use of evidence and theoretical knowledge.

Reasonable argument and draws from some good literature. Some evidence of developing argument and shows a reasonable overview. There is some critical evaluation. Research limited.

Largely descriptive in relation to argument – analysis is peripheral – lacking coherence and relevance to the topic. Does show some understanding

Descriptive – level of understanding is very limited – shows little or no analysis.

Lack of argument and lacks awareness of relevant social policy knowledge to topic area. Research extremely limited. 8 Ability to show the importance of the theoretical debates in social policy and to link to practice issues. (30%)

Excellent understanding of the relevance of social policy to practice. Shows by way of relevant illustrations and is able to connect with exceptional clarity

Shows a good understanding of the relevance of social policy to practice issues.

Demonstrates ability to connect to practice using appropriate examples.

Demonstrates a reasonable understanding of the relevance of social policy to practice. Less well integrated – links to practice are adequate Shows some understanding of practice issues to social policy – lacks clarity.

No demonstrated understanding of the links between social work practice and social policy theory. Lacks illustration and coherence.

Written Quality: (10%) Essay structure, coherence, organisation of ideas, grammar, spelling, punctuation, accurate referencing Excellent written skills, very few/ no errors in grammar and referencing, strong essay structure and organisation of ideas Very good written skills, very few errors in grammar and referencing, strong essay structure and organisation of ideas Good written skills, occasional errors in grammar and referencing, reasonable essay structure and organisation of ideas Reasonable written skills, several errors in grammar and referencing, weak essay structure and organisation of ideas Poor written skills, text punctuated with errors in grammar and referencing, confused essay structure and organisation of ideas 7 9

READING LIST

Your full reading list for this module can be found on the SO310 Moodle page where you will also find a link in the area for each week to the corresponding part of the reading list.

General background reading includes the following texts: Alcock P (2008) 3rd ed. Understanding Poverty. Palgrave Macmillan Alcock P, May M, Wright S (eds) (4th Ed) (2012) Students Companion to Social Policy Wiley Alcock P & May M (2014) Social Policy in Britain. Palgrave Macmillan Baldock J, Mitton, L., Manning W, Vickerstaff S (2012) (4th ed) Social Policy Oxford University Press Blackmore K & Griggs E (2007) (3rd Ed) Social Policy: An Introduction. OUP Byrne, D. (2005) Social Exclusion, Maidenhead: Open University Press Cunningham J & Cunningham S (2012) Social Policy & Social Work. Sage Dickens J (2010) Social Work & Social Policy: An Introduction. Routledge Glasby, J. (2007) Understanding Health & Social Care, Bristol: The Polity Press Jones M & Lowe R (2002) From Beveridge to Blair. Manchester University Press 16 16 Peckham, S. &Meerabeau, L. (2007) Social Policy for Nurses and the Helping Professions, Maidenhead: Open University Press Pierson C. 3rd ed. (2006) Beyond the Welfare State- The New Political Economy of Welfare: Polity Powell M (ed) (2007) Understanding The Mixed Economy of Welfare: The Polity Press Ribbens McCarthy J, Hooper C.A. & Gillies V. eds. (2014) Family Troubles? Exploring Changes & Challenges in the Family Lives of Children & Young People Ridge T & Wright S (2008) Understanding Inequality, Poverty & Wealth. The Policy Press Sheedy M (2013) Core Themes in Social Work: Power, Poverty, Politics & Values. Open University Press Spicker P (2014) 3rd Ed. Social Policy: Theory & Practice. Policy Press Taylor G (2007) Ideology & Welfare: Palgrave Macmillan Timmins N (2001) The Five Giants: A Biography of the Welfare State. Harper Collins Journals: To reflect the level of study you are at, it is expected that you will access the on line journals available to students through the library. These will give depth and specific clarity to issues discussed in the session and an essential aid to effective critical written work. The following journals are recommended. • British Journal of Social Work • Journal of Social Work Practice • Journal of Social Work • Journal of Social Work Education • Research Matters • International Social Work • Practice: Social Work in Action Useful links: Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT). http://www.kmpt.nhs.uk/ The College of Social Work http://www.tcsw.org.uk/policy/mental-health/ Community Care http://www.communitycare.co.uk/mental-health/ Social Care Institute for Excellence http://www.scie.org.uk/ The Guardian (Social Care) http://www.theguardian.com/society/social-care 1