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SWP 331: Social Work Theories of Practice Winter 2025
Assignment 1: Dominant Philosophy Assignment (20%)
Due: Week 5 class/Feb 12, 2025, before 11:59 p.m. uploaded to Brightspace, D2L
Instructions:
For this assignment, you must find a current example (from within the past two years) that clearly relates to one of the dominant philosophies influencing social work, as discussed in classes two and three (Modernism, Structuralism, or Post-conventionalism). You may select an example from various sources, such as a
short text (e.g., a journal article, website, song, poem, story) or a visual representation (e.g., a photo, video – 3 minutes or less, building, space, action, piece of art, or other forms of representation). Whatever you choose, the example should directly reflect the central ideas of the dominant philosophy selected.
For your paper, you should develop a clear and coherent argument that demonstrates how your chosen example embodies a particular philosophy. Ensure your argument is clear and thorough and supports the connection between your example and the dominant philosophy. Your paper should be organized with a logical flow and a clear and smooth transition between ideas.
Assignment Structure:
1. Written Argument (2 pages)
· A brief, clear explanation of the chosen dominant philosophy
· A brief, clear explanation of the example
· A clear, well-supported argument of why this example is directly connected to the philosophy discussed in class (web link, book citation, etc.)
2. Example Submission (1 page)
· A copy of, or link to, your example
Formatting Guidelines:
· Cover page with a title for your paper, your name, date, course number and section, and instructor’s name
· Double-space your work
· Use a 12-point Times New Roman font
· Word only
· Editing and proofreading are essential
· While
no additional references are required outside of the class lectures
, if you include them, ensure they enhance your argument and are correctly cited in APA format (7th edition). For guidance on APA style, please visit the Purdue OWL website: [
APA Formatting and Style Guide]
· Including the cover page, the submission should be four pages in total.
· This should be submitted to your course shell on D2L.
Assignment Checklist:
· Have I made it clear how my example links to the dominant philosophy?
· Is my argument detailed and well-supported?
· Is my example recent and directly connected to the philosophy?
· Does it clearly illustrate the central ideas discussed in class?
· Does my final submission still reflect my voice and understanding?
· Is my paper free of errors and easy to read?
· Have I followed all APA formatting rules correctly?
· Is my paper organized logically, with a clear beginning, middle, and end?
· Have I included all the required sections and formatted them correctly?
Rubric: Assignment 1 – Dominant Philosophy Assignment (20%)
|
Criteria |
Excellent |
Good |
Satisfactory |
Needs Improvement |
Weight 20 marks |
|
Understanding of Philosophy |
Demonstrates a thorough and accurate understanding of the chosen dominant philosophy. Explanation is insightful and detailed. |
Demonstrates a clear understanding of the chosen philosophy. Explanation is accurate but may lack depth. |
Demonstrates a basic understanding of the chosen philosophy. Explanation is somewhat unclear or incomplete. |
Demonstrates minimal or incorrect understanding of the chosen philosophy. Explanation is vague or inaccurate. |
5 |
|
Connection to Example |
Provides a compelling, well-supported argument linking the example to the dominant philosophy. Analysis is clear and thorough. |
Provides a clear and supported argument linking the example to the dominant philosophy. Some minor gaps in analysis. |
Provides a basic argument linking the example to the philosophy. Analysis lacks depth or sufficient support. |
Provides an unclear or unsupported argument. Connection between the example and philosophy is weak or absent. |
5 |
|
Selection of Example |
Example is highly relevant, recent, and clearly illustrates the central ideas of the chosen philosophy. |
Example is relevant and recent but may not fully illustrate the philosophy’s central ideas. |
Example is somewhat relevant but lacks strong alignment with the philosophy or is outdated. |
Example is irrelevant, outdated, or fails to reflect the central ideas of the philosophy. |
3 |
|
Organization and Clarity |
Argument is logically structured with clear transitions, a strong introduction, and a cohesive conclusion. Writing is concise and flows smoothly. |
Argument is well-structured but may lack seamless transitions or a fully cohesive conclusion. Writing is mostly clear. |
Argument is somewhat organized but lacks a logical flow. Writing may be unclear or repetitive in places. |
Argument is poorly organized, lacks logical flow, or is difficult to follow. Writing is unclear or disjointed. |
2 |
|
Formatting and APA Style |
Consistently follows APA 7th edition style and all formatting guidelines. Cover page and citations are correct. Submission is error-free. |
Mostly follows APA style and formatting guidelines. Minor errors in citations or formatting. Submission has minimal errors. |
APA style and formatting guidelines are inconsistently applied. Noticeable errors in citations or formatting. Submission has multiple errors. |
Does not follow APA style or formatting guidelines. Significant errors in citations, formatting, or editing. |
3 |
|
Grammar, Spelling, and Clarity |
Submission is free of grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. Paper is polished and professional. |
The submission has a few minor errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Paper is clear and professional overall. |
Submission has several noticeable errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Editing and proofreading are lacking. |
Submission has frequent errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation, making it difficult to read. |
2 |
|
Total |
20 |
Article: Health workers rally at Queen’s Park to demand province make changes to pandemic response.
The article
“Health workers rally at Queen’s Park to demand province make changes to pandemic response” from CBC News, published on April 25, 2021, aligns with modernist philosophy, particularly in its approach to addressing systemic issues during the pandemic.
Here’s how this article reflects modernist principles:
Modernist Characteristics in the Article
1.
Rationality and Evidence-Based Solutions
Health workers demanded systemic changes such as
paid sick leave,
vaccinations for essential workers, and an
end to policing in public health. These demands are rooted in evidence-based approaches to mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The focus on measurable and scientifically supported interventions reflects the modernist emphasis on rational problem-solving.
2.
Universal Solutions
The call for universal access to vaccines and standardized public health policies embodies the modernist belief in creating universally applicable solutions. These measures aim to address inequities while ensuring everyone benefits from structured public health systems.
3.
Structured System Reform
By advocating for legislative changes and improved workplace policies, health workers are supporting structural reforms. Modernism values organized systems that promote efficiency and predictability, attributes seen in the push for consistent public health responses across Ontario.
How This Article Fits Your Essay
In your paper, you can argue that the health workers’ rally embodies modernist philosophy by demonstrating how their demands focus on rational, data-driven changes to improve public health outcomes. You can also highlight how the solutions they propose align with the modernist pursuit of structured and universal reforms to address societal challenges.
