SOCIAL WORK 110 GCCCD Self Reflection on Social Work Career Essay

Social Work requires all students to write a 3-5 page paper exploring one’s personal opinion of Social Work as a profession, in the American Psychological Association (APA) format.

What are the Objectives of the Assignment (Student Learning Outcomes)?

1. To assure that each student by the end of the semester will be able to describe the major fields of social work practice and its ability to practice incorporating diversity and various social issues.

1. Identify and describe the impact of personal values as they relate to professional social work values and ethical issues.

1. Apply and communicate an understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro and macro levels

1. Present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences

1. Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies

What Are The Research Requirements?

1. Begin your research for appropriate and relevant reference materials. Use the topic headings to help you identify the areas of focus.

1. The essay must include at least two quotes or citations from relevant and appropriate sources.

1. Locating Your Research

1. Draw supporting information from the course textbook, class lectures, any of the resources used in the Research Paper, or any other quality resource.
2. The Topic Headings – Content of the Self Reflection Essay

• Using your own words, what is social work? (1 paragraph minimum)
• Why is social work important to you? (1 paragraph minimum)
• Why is being culturally humble a necessity for social workers?
• Why is it important for social workers to be lifelong learners?
• Why is it important for social workers to practice self-awareness?
• What are two personal strengths that you think will help you succeed as a social worker? Explain why for each strength.
• What is one personal challenge you believe you will have to overcome to be a successful social worker? How will you overcome it?

Guidelines for the Self Reflection Essay Assignment

1. General Information

• The reflection essay should be 3 to 5 pages in length.

• The bibliography and cover page are not included in the length of the paper.

• Content must be thoughtful and supported by at least two quotes or citations.

• Grammar and syntax: Sentences should convey meaning clearly and should be grammatically correct with appropriate punctuation in place. Spelling should be correct.

1. Use APA Formatting (American Psychological Association)
2. Please consult the APA Style Essentials for general document guidelines such as the title page, abstract, body of the paper, text citations and quotations, and references (located in Canvas under “Files”)
3. A sample APA Format paper is available in Canvas under “Files.”

1. The Bibliography or “References” Section
2. There will be one “References” section located at the end of the paper, in APA format.
3. Goals of the Self Reflection Essay
4. Gauge your understanding of the field of social work.
5. Assess the student’s working knowledge of several important components of what it is to be a social worker.
6. Assess if the student has taken time to self reflect and personalize the material covered in class.

1. Final Paper is the finished product that includes a college-level discussion of the topic with accompanying research and supporting evidence.

1. All required topics are covered.
2. At least two sources are used to support opinions.
3. The paper is written in APA format, including citations and the “References” page.
4. Grammar, organization, and writing are at a collegiate level.
5. Please refer to the term paper guidelines in this document for all requirements.

Assuring Academic Honesty and Avoiding Plagiarism

1. Always cite your sources in APA format. Failing to cite sources is considered plagiarism, which is a form of academic dishonesty.

1. What is Plagiarism?

1. Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty and will be treated seriously.
2. According to the 2016-2017 Cuyamaca College Catalogue, plagiarism is defined as “the act of taking ideas, words or specific substantive material of another and offering them as one’s own without giving credit to the source” (page 30). Writers give credit to sources by using citations.
3. According to Richard Nordquist, a citation is a source quoted in an essay, report or book to clarify, illustrate, or substantiate a point (About.com).
4. A detailed description of plagiarism and accompanying consequences are located on page 30 in the 2016-2017 Cuyamaca College Catalogue under “Academic Honesty/Dishonesty.

1. Common Examples of Plagiarism

1. Submitting a paper with someone else’s ideas, opinions, or research without citing the appropriate source
2. Paraphrasing without citing the appropriate source
3. Submitting the same paper in more than one class
4. Submitting a paper as your work that was written by another person
5. Submitting a paper that was purchased from the Internet or elsewhere