1. Academic writing skills: key to successful writing skills in social work and human services

2. Writing skills in social work and human services Who am I? Jo Mensinga Lecturer in Dept of Social Work and Human Services Social worker for 32 years – last17 as an academic Professionally, I know that communication is very important Personally, writing has also helped me ‘think’. Place image/s here

3. Writing skills in social work and human services Who are you? Say hello to the person next to you Discuss:  What your experience of writing has been  Why you are at this workshop and  Come up with a question you would like answered by the end of this session Share the question. Place image/s here

4. Writing skills in social work and human services Opportunity to learn: University provides opportunities to learn: The content of ‘stuff’– e.g., communication skills, theories of helping, ethics, organizational practice, social policy Processes of how to present the ‘stuff’- e.g., PowerPoint presentations, emails, essays, video-recordings, poster presentations, sometimes exams … most of these involve WRITING WRITING in some form!! Place image/s here

5. Writing skills in social work and human services KEY IDEA!!! How do you get your message across??? Need to be clear about what your message is Need to adhere to the rules of writing … formal vs. informal writing Place image/s here

6. Writing skills in social work and human services Healey, K. and Mulholland, J., (2007), Writing skills for social workers, Sage, London. Call Number: 808.066361 HEA Place image/s here

7. Writing skills in social work and human services Contextual approach to writing ( Healy & Mulholland ): Place image/s here Professional purpose Audience Institutional context

8. Writing skills in social work and human services Diversity: Are many different agency contexts in the human services work: Non-government counselling Hospital Centrelink – what’s it called now? Housing support Mental Health Child protection – Non-government and government Employment and training Place image/s here

9. Writing skills in social work and human services Diversity: Are many different domains of practice in the human services work: Work with indiv’s/families/partners Group work Community work Social Policy Research and evaluation Management, leadership and admin Education and training Place image/s here

10. Writing skills in social work and human services Diversity: Many different forms of writing in the human services sector: Emails, letters, newsletters Records, reports Funding applications, policy proposals Media reports Journal articles and conference presentations Place image/s here

11. Writing skills in social work and human services Diversity: Many different forms of domains of practice and writing in the subjects you will do at uni: Emails, letters, newsletters Records, reports, reflective journals Funding applications, policy proposals Journal articles … essays and Conference presentations … posters, presentations Place image/s here

13. Writing skills in social work and human services For all of these areas, remember: What When Why How Who With your partner, discuss how this applies in the uni context. G:\writing skills FORM.doc Place image/s here (Healy & Mulholland) Professional purpose Audience Institutional context Whatever!

14. Resources on line… http://www.jcu.edu.au/tldinfo/writingskills/d ocuments/RaoChanockVisualGuidetoEssayWri ting.pdf http://www.jcu.edu.au/tldinfo/writingskills/d ocuments/RaoChanockVisualGuidetoEssayWri ting.pdf http://www- public.jcu.edu.au/libcomp/index.htm http://www- public.jcu.edu.au/libcomp/index.htm

15. Writing skills in social work and human services What is the message you want to get across? Need to read what is being asked/required of you by the lecturer/organization Do the necessary research (remember to take notes and do an ongoing bibliography) http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/content.php?pid=97207&sid=728416http://libguides.jcu.edu.au/content.php?pid=97207&sid=728416 re googling Place image/s here

16. Wikipedia Wikipedia celebrates its 10 th (?) year and looks to the future Wikipedia is the most widely used reference work in the world. Originally Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger tried to create Nupedia but, after nearly a year of work, almost no articles had actually been published. So, they decided to try a wiki inviting collaborators, saying: "Humour me. Go there and add a little article. It will take all of five or ten minutes."

17. Writing skills in social work and human services What is the message you want to get across? Do a fast write, to get your ideas down on paper Revisit what is required of you Write a draft in the form required, including the right referencing style Read it out loud Revisit what is required of you Write the final draft Place image/s here

18. Writing skills in social work and human services Revisit the question you asked at the beginning Discuss what you have learnt at this workshop, review your question and decide whether it has been answered. Do you need to ask it in the larger group? Place image/s here

19. Writing skills in social work and human services REMINDER!!! Please complete the Feedback form!!! Place image/s here