Research Paper for MSW

Item

Outstanding5-4

Satisfactory3-2

Poor1-0

Insight and ideas

· Provide a detailed overview of the topic.

· Describe how the topic is relevant to social policy and services.

Excels in responding to assignment; central thesis and ideas are clearly communicated and well developed; demonstrates sophistication of thought; understands and critically evaluates outside sources; appropriately and accurately defines terms.

Responds appropriately to assignment; clearly states central thesis but supporting ideas may not be well developed; shows careful reading of outside sources but may not evaluate them critically; defines terms but not always accurately.

Responds less well to assignment; presentation of central thesis is weak; supporting ideas are not well-developed; shows basic understanding of outside sources, perhaps with lapses in understanding; terms are not defined. No demonstration.

Evidence (support)

· Identify the historical impact of the issue on social policy and services.

· Present relevant discussion from 5 research sources on the selected topic.

· Demonstrate how the topic is a pressing issue in American and/or International social policy.

Uses evidence appropriately and effectively, providing sufficient explanation and interpretation to present a convincing argument.

Begins to offer reasons to support its points, perhaps using varied kinds of evidence; begins to interpret the evidence and explain connections between evidence and main ideas; examples bear some relevance.

Offers little evidence or may use examples that are not obvious or relevant; summarizes rather analyzes; brief and underdeveloped. No demonstration.

Integration of Course Material

· Apply the 6 Stages of Policy Change to the issue.

· Identify ideological differences in how to develop social policies and services that address the social issue.

Applies course material accurately throughout paper; demonstrates critical thinking skills in applications.

Applies course material in some sections; demonstrates accurate understanding in applications with some evidence of critical thinking.

Attempts to apply course material; some applications are inaccurate; no evidence of critical thinking. No demonstration.

Application and Advocacy

· Develop at least 2 policy recommendations to address the social issue.

· Develop at least 2 innovative social work service approaches/interventions, aligned with your policy recommendations, that could be implemented to meet the needs of the target groups.

· Identify and discuss the challenges the proposed policy and service recommendations would receive from liberals, conservatives and moderates.

· Discuss an advocacy strategy for the challenges presented to obtain support for the proposed policies.

Applies critical thinking and uses sound judgement in articulating strategies; plan is reasonable and achievable given the information provided.

Applies some critical thinking and uses judgement in articulating strategies; plan is somewhat reasonable and achievable given the information provided.

Limited evidence of critical thinking and lacks sound judgement in articulating strategies; plan is unreasonable given the information provided. No demonstration.

Item

Outstanding5-4

Satisfactory3-2

Poor1-0

Organization, Mechanics and APA style.

The research paper should range between 8-10 pages not including the title page or references. Less than 8 full pages, results in an automatic 5-point reduction.

Uses a logical and clear structure appropriate to paper's subject and purpose; includes sophisticated and logical transitional sentences; ideas are clearly and logically linked together to support paper’s central idea.

No errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation; content is easy to grasp; No APA errors.

Shows a logical progression of ideas with logical transitional sentences; some logical links may be faulty, but each paragraph clearly relates to paper's central idea.

No more than 2 errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation; errors do not impede reader’s ability to grasp content; No more than 2 APA Style errors.

May have random organization, lacking internal paragraph coherence; uses few or inappropriate transitions; some paragraphs lack topic sentences or main ideas; some paragraphs may not relate to paper's central idea.

More than 2 errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation; some errors impede reader’s ability to grasp content; More than 2 APA Style errors.