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As social workers, our words are our swords. We have specialized knowledge and f
As social workers, our words are our swords. We have specialized knowledge and first-hand experience working with vulnerable and marginalized communities often oppressed by the systems and structures in society that claim to be in place to help them. If we want to fight for true structural change that will impact the communities we work with, then we need to learn how to connect our writing, research, knowledge, and experiences to the broader world. Most local and national newspaper publications accept outside submissions for publication on their print and digital opinion pages. These outside submissions are usually between 500 and 700 words and include a strong, informed, and focused opinion of the writer on an issue of relevance to a targeted audience. Op-eds typically end with a strong call-to-action. NOTE: An op-ed may be known by other names such as an opinion piece, guest column, guest commentary, etc.,
Tips for writing an op-ed:
Closely follow the particular paper’s guidelines for submission.
Be clear and concise. Use short, simple sentences that avoid complicated jargon (make sure you are using vocabulary that non-social workers and un-informed readers can easily understand).
Explicitly support or oppose something.
Personalize the op-ed with an anecdote or link the op-ed to a current news story
Keep the focus local or approachable from a local perspective
Use facts, statistics and studies to support your arguments. Do not, however, be overly legal or academic.
Conclude with a paragraph that draws the piece together and links to your opening anecdote while including a call-to-action.
For the fourth assignment, students will continue to address the social problem addressed throughout the quarter. Students will write a newspaper-inspired op-ed that integrates critical analysis of social work’s role in the social problem, synthesizes the findings from previous assignments, and incorporates themes of power, privilege & oppression. The paper will finish with a passionate, well-thought out, and approachable call to action for readers.
While APA-style citations will not be required, students are expected to conduct research through academic articles and publications from organizational leaders in the field (e.g. CDC, WHO, Polaris Project, Coalition(s) of the Homeless, etc.) to support your argument throughout. All facts and figures in the op-ed need to include a nod to the source. For example, According to the UN…. According to the Polaris Project, a leading a social justice movement to prevent human trafficking and support survivors of trafficking… etc. Some newspaper publications may also require that you include an imbedded link to sources (URLs, not headlines or footnotes) to back up quotes and factual material.
Assignment 4 should be no more than 800 words (or less depending on the specifications listed for your local newspaper), double-spaced, default margins, and one of these accessible fonts – Times New Roman (12pt font) or Calibri (11pt font). All research should be properly paraphrased and include a title page with your social problem and name. There should also be an APA formatted reference page with a bibliography of sources listed in alphabetical order. While section headings are not required for this assignment, your instructor should be easily able to distinguish between the three required sections below.
The paper synthesizes not only the ideas from earlier papers, but also incorporates feedback to this point.
Your op-ed will include the following:
Page 1: Title page
APA style title page that includes your name and the name of your social problem
Page 2: Op Ed specifications
Research and list any specifications for submitting your op-ed to a local or national newspaper. This may include any style details, bio info, word/character limit, source citation specifications, etc.
Page 3+: Op-Ed
Section 1: Introduction and Critical Analysis (15 points)
Thoroughly and succinctly introduce the social problem and demonstrate why this problem exists despite various attempts to address it. In this section, it’s important to consider that despite existing responses to the problem, this social problem still exists. Why does this social problem still exist? How do these biases, gaps, evidence of continued marginalization perpetuate this social problem?
Introduce and define the problem including any of the following points to enhance your argument:
Briefly define the problem through the lens of the systemic root cause(s).
Briefly describe evidence of dominant bias or continued marginalization of affected populations in research, interventions, policies, etc.
Describe gaps in the response to the problem (E.g. What is missing in the response? What are current interventions lacking?)
Describe gaps in research of the problem.
Briefly stated the scope (size) and impacts (social and/or financial) of the problem.
Include how social workers are uniquely positioned to address this issue.
Justify recommendations based on research rather than opinion.
Section 2: Ideal Solution / Synthesis (20 points)
In this section, consider how we can creatively address this social problem. Can a number of interventions be combined to improve service to affected community? Do current/outdated interventions need to be replaced? Are there newer or more innovative interventions that will make a bigger impact? How does social work need to adapt or change to meet the ideal solution?
Discuss the ideal solution to this social problem and how, based on the gaps analyzed above, can social workers achieve this solution? Answers should consider social/systemic solutions that social workers can implement to reduce the flow of people experiencing this problem and not just address the symptoms or experience of individuals. Be proactive and not just reactive.
Answer considers how social workers can reduce the prevalence of people experiencing this problem and not just the symptoms or experience of individuals.
Answer addresses the systems that perpetuate this problem.
Justify recommendations based on research rather than opinion.
Section 3: Call to action (20 points)
Synthesized information from first two sections to create an appropriate and logical call to action for readers on how to positively impact communities affected by this social problem
The recommendations should consider evidence of existing practices and research or new ideas from successful grassroots efforts. The advocacy steps or recommendations should make a clear connection between the needs/root causes and the responses. This should address a root or systemic cause of the social problem.
Describe the rationale for recommending this call to action.
Include final reference to importance of social work to address this issue (you may reference the NASW Cultural Competence Standards, NASW position papers, or the Grand Challenges information).
Justify recommendations based on research rather than opinion.
This paper will be max 800 words, double spaced, with APA formatted citations and a reference page included.
This section synthesizes the ideas built from previous assignments, thus, it is expected that recommendations and feedback received prior to this point are integrated into the logic and formatting of this assignment. Please review Assignment #4 Op Ed rubric in the Appendix of the syllabus (and linked below) for further details on the grading criteria.
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