Description
a. Identify an urban social problem you would like to examine (i.e. child maltreatment, homelessness, poverty, teen-pregnancy, substance abuse, incarceration, school drop-out, domestic violence, etc.). b. Identify a population (i.e. race, gender, children, youth, young adults, middle adults, older adults, LBGT, prisoners/parolees, immigrants, homeless, foster care, etc.) c. Title of paper (i.e. make sure your title is condensed and reflect the variables you are examining). d. Thesis statement in the form of a question (i.e. pose as a question) e. Identify 8 peer-reviewed journal articles within the past 10 years (i.e. this is designed to help you with learning what is known and what gaps exists in the literature). Briefly write an annotated bibliography describing each article. Also, make sure that you include empirical articles too. Each journal article’s annotation should be a minimum of 4 to 5 sentences. f. Course Integration. In this section, you should discuss each of these competencies, first by demonstrating you understand each one, and then apply to your topical area. The competencies with the integration of your topical area should be a ½ page each. • Values and Ethics • Diversity • Population at Risk • Social and Economic Justice • Human Behavior and the Social Environment • Social Welfare and Policy • Research • Methods and Field (Generalist Practice Courses) 3. Integrative Paper (Dimensions: Knowledge, Values, Skills, Cognitive/Affective Processes): You will complete a 30-page paper that encompasses the following (please review APPENDIX 1, APPENDIX 2, and APPENDIX 3 located at in this syllabus): a. Choose an urban social problem. What is your paper about? Position the topic. Provide a broad description, explanation, and definition of your subject. Develop a very specific statement that outline/describe/define what you are interested in studying. Explain why this urban social problem is important? Who is affected by the problem (individuals, families, groups, communities, society)? b. A solid review of the literature on the social problem. Your review of the literature should examine what the experts are currently saying about your topic. What information currently exists? Describe both qualitative and quantitative studies in the literature. Does the literature answer your questions? What strengths/gaps exists in the literature? What are the limitations of the literature reviewed? c. Integrate your knowledge, skill and values from course work and field learning from the social work courses you have taken to demonstrate that you have attained a sound comprehensive BSW education and able to transfer what you have learned. d. Using the combined knowledge of social work courses and the intergenerational impact of the problem on the population, program or proposal. The intergenerational impact is not the major focus of your paper but must be included. e. Your paper must flow as one document with many connected parts. f. Be creative in writing your analysis. For example, you can use an individual, a family, a community, a person with a disability, an intervention, a prevention strategy or an innovative program, in presenting your analysis of a social problem. g. The paper must be no more than 30 pages in length, NOT including title page and references. APA style format and rules must be followed (7thth Ed.). h. The paper must contain 25 scholarly references, EIGHT of which must be articles that you used to complete the eight-page literature review section of the paper (i.e., on the social problem). The literature review must begin with an introduction to the literature review and what you reviewed.
