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Social Work Essay Examples

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Theories of Human Development and Their Application to Social Work Practice

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Bringing The Meaning in Life: Why I Want to Be a Social Worker

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Career Profile Research Assignment: a Career of Social Worker

Applications of statistics in social work research, reflection on my placement in ingle farm primary school, the lessons i've learned as a social worker with an occupational therapist and nurses, a study on the social impact of jane addams, life and legacy of jane addams, documentation of previous learning experience: social worker, analysis of the dead goldfinch by george elgar hicks in relation to social work, jane addams and her contributions to social work, a study on jane addams’ philanthropic nature, how technology assisted social work aids various social work roles, systemic problems in the social services on the example of kyla and david, the sssc codes of practice for social workers, meeting with a social worker: a radical change of life, empowerment theory in social work, social work field education: self-assessment, social functioning in social work, social work application, my intrinsic motivation - that's why i want to be a social worker, social work internship experience: a reflection.

Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being.

Females account for around 83% of all social workers. Healthcare social workers and family, child, and school social workers are the highest paying social work jobs. Social workers helped decrease the number of juvenile arrests by 68% between 1996 and 2015. Social workers provide over 60% of mental health services.

Mahatma Gandhi, Jane Addams, Alfred Neumann, Frances Feldman, Ida B. Wells, Harriett Rinaldo, etc.

Relevant topics

• Career Goals
• Dream Career
• Community Service
• Work Experience
• Administration
• Overcoming Challenges

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Why I Became a Social Worker: 8 Inspiring Social Worker Stories

March is a month when many in the social work profession take time to reflect, recalling the stories and experiences and reflecting on “why I became a social worker.”

As community-focused professionals who may spend their days connecting with children who are struggling in school or coming alongside older adults as they transition into late-in-life care, social workers deserve to have such moments of reflection and celebration throughout the year.

But in March, we get to especially thank and honor them, because March is National Social Work Month, and additionally, March 15th is World Social Work Day.

Whether you are a veteran member of the profession or considering becoming a social worker, both of these special occasions present the opportunity to reflect on social work and its impact on the world. At the individual, family, community, and national levels, social workers have been making a positive impact in society.

At Keuka College, we would like to take this month to remember social workers of the past and celebrate the social workers of the present. We invite those who are interested in becoming social workers to read on and find inspiration, motivation, and next steps toward their career in this important field.

The Difference Social Workers Make: How Five Social Workers in History Have Changed the World

American history is full of stories of people who saw injustice in their communities and decided to do something about it. In doing so, they became the first known social workers in the United States. While there are many names that deserve to be remembered and honored for their contributions to their communities, the five described here represent some of the most prominent early Americans who took to social work to become change agents in their societies.

Jane Addams (1860–1935)

In the early 1900s, Jane Addams set out to make a difference in the lives of poor immigrants in Chicago. Addams founded Hull House, the first American settlement house with her friend Ellen Gates Starr. An advocate for the impoverished, women’s suffrage, and labor reform, Addams was the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Due to her remarkable achievements on behalf of communities in need, Addams became known as “The Mother of Social Work.”

Ida B. Wells (1862–1931)

Born into slavery in Holly Springs, Mississippi, Ida B. Wells dedicated her life to social justice. As the first person to document the lynching of African Americans, Wells took to writing to advocate for social change. Wells helped to found the Alpha Suffrage League, The Negro Fellowship League, and the NAACP. A few more examples of her many achievements include opening settlement houses for African Americans migrating from the South to the North and advocating for women’s rights. Wells also worked with Jane Addams to oppose segregated schools in Chicago.

Frances Perkins (1880–1965)

Frances Perkins was inspired to work on behalf of her community when she witnessed the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire in 1911. Just under 150 workers, including children, died in the fire because they were unable to escape due to locked doors. Perkins set out to lobby for industrial reform, which would ultimately lead to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt appointing Perkins as Secretary of Labor. In that position, Perkins was instrumental in changing the workweek for women from 58 hours to 48, advocating for a minimum wage law, and drafting several acts including the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Social Security Act.

Harry L. Hopkins (1890–1946)

Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Harry L. Hopkins began his social work career by the age of 22. Named Executive Secretary of the Board of Child Welfare in 1914, Hopkins would go on to lead the Gulf Division of the American Red Cross and Department of Civilian Relief’s Red Cross mission to aid Mexico. Hopkins drew the attention of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt when he founded a Red Cross relief program during the Depression. Roosevelt established Hopkins as director of the Federal Emergency Relief Agency and appointed him to the President's Draught Committee, the National Resources Planning Board, and the National Emergency Council. Hopkins also served as Secretary of Commerce for Roosevelt.

Alfred Neumann (1910–2002)

Born in Austria and forced to flee Nazi-occupied Vienna, Alfred Neumann came to the United States and received his master’s degree in social work in 1941. Building on his experience of aiding Jewish families as they fled to Austria, Neumann’s American work took the form of working in Jewish family and children's services agencies. Neumann consulted for the Office of Economic Opportunity and Head Start. He served as the executive director of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Colorado for 28 years.

A Day in the Life of a Modern Social Worker

If you are thinking about becoming a certified social worker, you may be considering several potential roles. For example, you may be interested in working with children and families. Perhaps you have a passion for rehabilitation services provided to people struggling with addiction or substance abuse. Or maybe you want to embark on a career of service to veterans, the elderly, or people with disabilities. Whatever your specific interest is within the social work sector, learning about the day-to-day schedules of social workers can help you understand what current professionals in the field find most rewarding about their jobs and what it may be like to set foot on a social work career path.

Like the historical figures discussed earlier, these modern-day community workers personify the seven core principles of social work : service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. Their examples demonstrate what social workers are passionate about and what motivates them to do the often difficult but deeply rewarding work that they do.

The Road to Rebuilding: A Mass Casualty Mental Health Social Worker

Mental health social worker John Weaver grew up with a keen awareness of mental illness due to his father’s own struggles. As someone who was passionate about combating stigma both around social workers and mental illness, Weaver told The Guardian that he set out to “advocate and educate around those issues and try to change some of the public perceptions.” Weaver specifically works with mass casualty situations. His days may look like meeting with the grieving widow of a plane crash victim or supporting children whose parents have died.

“I think some of the best social work I’ve done has been in the aftermath of some of those horrible plane crashes,” says Weaver. “Just to support families and friends of folk who were lost in those kinds of events, and help them get started on the road to rebuilding their lives.”

Commitment to the Role: A Suicide Hotline Social Worker

When Cassie Mills Flagler , a graduate of the Keuka College Bachelor of Social Work degree program, began her field practicum, it turned out that she was beginning the next phase of her career as well. At Contact Hotline & TeleCare at Contact Community Services in East Syracuse, New York, Flagler spent her practicum building relationships with hundreds of people through telephone conversations. She stayed calm, shared resources, and provided support to callers who were in a suicidal crisis.

Her excellent work not only served hundreds of people—thousands if you include the families and friends those people have—it led to Flagler being named Contact Community Services’ 2020 Hotline Scholar.

“Cassie immediately rose to the top of our list of candidates,” said Contact Program Manager Kristine Knutson. “This recognition is given annually to a hotline volunteer or intern currently in school. Cassie was recognized for her positive attitude, commitment to the role, and strong telephone counseling skills. In fact, we loved her so much that we hired her after her internship ended.” 

Now a graduate of Keuka College, Flagler works at Contact full time as a training and data manager.

Providing a Small Space: A School Social Worker

Ericka Santiago-Diaz , a school social worker at College Achieve Greater Asbury Park Charter School in New Jersey, knows that the key to student success is empowering them both in and out of school hours. That is why she delivers school supplies, technology equipment, food, and donated clothing to students at their homes. Santiago-Diaz conducts in-person home visits on a daily basis, ensuring that families and students have what they need.

At school, Santiago-Diaz works hard to ensure that students know her office is a safe place to come, process their feelings, share their struggles, and even “break down.”

Santiago-Diaz checks on students who are enrolled in school virtually by occasionally attending virtual class sessions and then sending private Google Meet link to students who seem like they could use some extra support. That way, she can meet with them individually, provide counseling and resources, and help them get on with their day in a more productive and supported way. Santiago-Diaz has office hours where students can come—either physically or virtually—and take a break from their day.

“I provide them that small space for them to just decompress if they need to,” Santiago-Diaz told The Hechinger Report. The same goes for the parents, Santiago-Diaz says. “They know I’m here for them.”

Write Your Own “Why I Became a Social Worker” Story with an Online Master of Social Work from Keuka College

If you find yourself saying “I want to become a social worker” after reading these inspiring accounts, the Online Master of Social Work (MSW) at Keuka College could be the ideal program for you.

Our clinically-focused MSW will prepare you to become a licensed clinical social worker with a fulfilling career and the skills necessary to meet critical needs in society. The curriculum is delivered through online courses providing the knowledge you need to become a social worker. Classes cover topics such as working with diverse groups, assessment, and treatment of trauma, professional ethics and examining social systems.

The Keuka online MSW features dedicated field placement services so that you will be supported in finding a local, hands-on setting to complete your practicum.

Our program offers two tracks: an advanced track for those with a BSW and a traditional track for those with a bachelor’s degree in another field.

If you already have a BSW degree, then you can complete your MSW degree program in less than two years, comprising 33 credit hours and 55 field placement hours.

If you earned a bachelor’s degree in another field, our traditional track is the best fit for you. Allowing students to continue working and study part-time, takes only three years from start to finish and includes 60 credit hours and 900 field placement hours.

Are you ready to find out if Keuka’s Online MSW is a fit for you? Download your digital guide.

Learn more about Keuka College’s online MSW program

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Why I Want to Be a Social Worker, Essay Sample

Essay about my passion and purpose as a social worker.

It has been a long journey for me, but I have finally accepted that I want to be a social worker. After much deep reflection and consideration, I have realized that this career path best suits my values and passions. This essay, which I have written using a custom essay writing service , will explore why I want to become a social worker, what skills and qualities make me well-suited for the profession, and how I plan to use my knowledge in the service of others. 

Why I Want to Be a Social Worker 

First and foremost, my passion for helping those in need is why I want to become a social worker. From a young age, I’ve always been passionate about helping people. I have always had an insatiable curiosity about the world and its people. As I grew older, my passion for helping others turned into a desire to pursue a career as a social worker. It perfectly combines my love for people, my compassionate nature, and my dedication to social justice. 

Whether it’s providing financial assistance or offering emotional support – it all matters. By becoming a social worker, I will be able to use my experience and education to directly help people who are struggling with various issues such as poverty or mental health problems. 

What is Social Work? 

Social work is a profession that focuses on improving the welfare of individuals and communities by providing counseling, advocacy, education, and other services. Trained professionals known as social workers provide assistance to individuals from diverse backgrounds such as children, families, immigrants, elderly persons, victims of abuse or neglect, veterans, and homeless individuals, to help them achieve their goals and live fulfilling lives. They provide support services such as case management; counseling; referrals; crisis intervention; advocacy; community outreach; and education. 

Skills Which a Social Worker Should Possess

There are many different jobs within the field of social work, but they all require knowledge of the law, psychology, and sociology. Social workers must be compassionate, caring individuals who can put themselves in another person’s shoes. They must be able to understand what it feels like not having food or shelter, or even just having someone to talk to when things get tough.

I have witnessed firsthand the struggles that some people face in their lives, including poverty, homelessness, and mental health issues. Seeing the impact of these issues on people’s lives has made me want to help in any way I can.

A Social Worker Plays a Really Crucial Role in Society

Social workers are essential parts of any community. They are always there when people need them most, and they always do what they can to ensure they get the care they need. Social workers also make sure that people have access to all kinds of services, such as mental health care or substance abuse treatment services if needed. By working in this position, you can help improve many people’s lives in your community!

Exploring My Calling to Become a Social Worker 

I want to be a social worker because I believe everyone has the potential to lead fulfilling lives regardless of their circumstances. By working with vulnerable populations – such as marginalized groups or those facing poverty or displacement – I can help empower them to make positive changes in their lives and create better futures for themselves. 

By the way, I am committed to advocating for social justice initiatives that combat racism and unequal access to resources throughout our society. Through my training as a social worker, I will be able to gain the skills necessary to advocate for these causes effectively. 

Why I am Appropriate for This Job

In addition to my passion for helping people, I want to become a social worker because of the qualities that make me an ideal candidate for the job. As someone with strong interpersonal skills and an innate ability to understand people from different backgrounds and life experiences, I believe that these traits will serve me well when it comes time to interact with clients individually. 

Conclusion                 

All in all, becoming a social worker has been one of my life-long aspirations because it allows me to combine my love for people with my commitment to advocating for social justice initiatives. With this essay, I have attempted to explain why being a social worker is essential and why this career path resonates deeply with me – my passion for helping others and the satisfaction of impacting someone’s life. If you share these values, perhaps you should consider becoming a social worker too!

Tips and Tricks on Writing an Essay About a Social Worker 

Writing an essay about a social worker is both a rewarding and challenging task. It can be difficult to capture the complexity of the social work profession in one essay, but it is definitely possible. Here are some tips to help you write a personal statement essay that accurately portrays the work of a social worker. 

Research Carefully 

Before you start writing, it’s important to do your research. Look into what social workers do on a daily basis, their roles, and their responsibilities. Understanding these aspects will ensure that your essay accurately reflects the work of a social worker. 

Organize Your Ideas 

Once you have done your research, it’s time to organize your ideas into a cohesive structure. Start by creating an outline that clearly states the main points you want to cover in your essay and also includes any relevant facts or quotes that may be useful for supporting information. This will help ensure that your essay flows logically from one point to another and allows for easy reading for your audience.  

Be Clear & Concise 

When writing about social work, there is no need for lengthy explanations or unnecessarily complicated language – stick with straightforward sentences that get the point across without being too verbose or convoluted. Be sure to edit your work carefully, too; even small spelling errors can detract from the overall quality of your essay.

Why Someone Might Want to Become a Social Worker

Social work is a profession dedicated to helping individuals, families, and communities improve their well-being and quality of life. Social workers play a critical role in advocating for vulnerable populations and providing support and resources to those in need. Here are some of the key reasons why someone might want to become a social worker:

Note that these are just some of the reasons why someone might want to become a social worker. Social work is a challenging but deeply rewarding profession that requires a strong commitment to helping others and promoting social justice.

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September 1

10 Focuses to a First in Social Work Essays

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Introduction

Before you start, this is a long article. You might prefer the pdf version here .

So… You want to write a great social work essay?

It’s deceptively difficult, isn’t it?

I remember the time I got back my first assignment from university. I was so excited.

How high would I get?

Then I saw the mark.

Was it out of 50? No, it wasn’t. it was out of a 100. That’s when I realised that I had

Sitting at the edge of the pool, I felt like crying. I couldn’t believe it. I had come all the way from Singapore to England… to fail?

That’s when I realised I truly needed to bring up my game. If I was not going to be serious, the 35 would not be an isolated event, but a continual series.

This short article covers the series of steps I took to move from failure to first. I hope it helps you on your own journey in social work too.

In this short book, the first 3 focuses cover what happens before your coursework has been assigned. It covers the basics of class-going, reading, and creating the right study environment.

Focuses 4 to 7 cover the writing process, from understanding the essay- writing process, to planning deadlines, to the actual writing itself.

Focuses 8 and 9 share about how you can polish up the essay before submitting, before 10 suggests how you might use the returned coursework as a springboard to your next A.

Note: Please bear in mind, this bears relation to academic papers we must write as part of the social work course and not the performance on placement.

Focus 1: Understand what tutors want

If you don’t know what your tutors want, they will never give you what you want – a high grade. Therefore, it’s important that you and I turn up for our classes. I know, I know, it’s a travesty when universities force you to turn up for class at 9am.

But there’s no excuse if a first is what you want. Appearing at lectures is essential to see what tutors are focusing on when they teach you something. It also helps to see what tutors know, and more importantly, do not know, when they teach.

Why do I say that?

When you write an essay, the thing that differentiates an average essay from an A+ essay is the number of unique insights you give. Rehashing what your tutors have said is simply not going to get you a high grade.

Therefore, when you appear at their lectures, see what they have focused on, you can start giving your own insightful take on what they have said.

To put it more simply,

Basic arguments + Unique Insights = Mark attained

Secondly, when you turn up for your lectures and seminars, you build a treasure trove of insights that other students give when they are in class.

It’s no use to appear at the last lecture, hoping that the tutor is going to give you all the essential tips for scoring an A+. It doesn’t work that way.

Consistency is key.

Focus 2: Read right

When I see students lug their 6 pack Red-Bulls to the library, bring the blanket, and prepare for an overnight stay at the library, I empathise with them.

Why? Because just 5 years ago, whilst I was studying for my A Levels, I was like them. I thought that doing well meant that you had to sacrifice on your sleep, spend long hours at the library, and down litres of caffeine.

When my A-Level results were released, I was deeply disappointed. All those hours of suffering at the hands of caffeine, worrying about work…all that hadn’t worked? What had I done wrongly?

Many things.

But for one, I realised I had not focused on consistent work. Instead, I had focused on bursts. I had failed to realise that the assessment started the day lessons started . This was a crucial insight.

This meant that lessons were no longer a joke, a chance to play with my friends, or to laugh at the homework I hadn’t completed.

It was when the assessment started .

Putting in effort during classes is vital for reducing the amount of work you do for your final assessment. But it does not mean doing everything that the tutor asks you to do.

Nor does it mean reading everything the tutor tells you to read.

When I was at university, everyone used to joke about how they never had to do readings, and yet still managed to survive.

I know readings are long and boring.

But they are important to build your understanding of the topic. In social work, this is vital.

For example, understanding the method of practice is important to help you choose the right method to write about. One that engages you enough to spend weeks researching, writing and editing. You cannot write about something you are not interested in.

There’s an important caveat though – you don’t have to read everything. With readings being hundreds of pages, you would not have enough time physically to read all.

To help you determine what to read, Newport developed a useful heuristic.

Readings that make an argument > Readings that describe an event > Readings that provide context

For example, a reading that explains why we use the relationship-based approach is more important than one describing Gillian Ruch, who brought it into prominence, which is more important than an article describing BASW’s 2019 theme of relationship- based practice.

This is not an excuse to skip readings, but to read the ones that truly matter.

Focus 3: Create the right study environment

When the deadline is close, we often bring along packs of Red-Bull to the library, hoping that the wings Red-Bull gives is going to help us to sail through this assignment.

It works when you want to turn in a mediocre assignment, but for a first, it doesn’t work very well.

That’s because your brain is on a sugary high, and is focused on getting the job done. Rather than trying to draw unique insights from the readings, you are focused on getting the essay out of the door.

To create the right study environment where this cramming does not need to happen, there are 3 essential tips that helped me.

Firstly, study alone.

When you are studying in a group, the tendency is for you to chat from time to time, go out for breaks, laugh together, and end up with little work done. But I’m a social person! Sure, that’s important. But you can always be sociable after the work is done.

This way, you focus entirely on the work that is in front of you, rather than the friend that is beside you. You face little distractions that will take you away from developing a great essay.

Secondly, study in a quiet area.

This is as clear as it gets. studying whilst lying on the bed, with Netflix in front of you, and trying to type out a great essay is not a great idea.

Cal Newport, founder of the famous Study Hacks website, calls it ‘pseudo-working’. Sure, you can complain about the hours you spent on your essay, but how much of it was quality time, instead of quantity time?

When you want to write your essay, take yourself to a library with few distractions around you, and focus.

Lastly, study smart. We are human. Expecting yourself to focus for 2 consecutive hours is impossible.

Rather, it becomes more productive when you focus for 25 minutes, rest for 5 minutes, focus again for 25 minutes, before resting again for 10 minutes.

Called the Pomodoro technique, this breaks work down into more manageable chunks rather than an impossible mountain.

Focus 4: Understand the writing process

Rather than seeing an essay as a whole process of writing, breaking it down into its sequential parts will make the job much more organised, and much, much, more effective.

In the first step of research, determine the necessary sources for your arguments.

Find at least 2 references for each argument before moving on. Reference those arguments correctly, indicating the page number. This makes it easy to put everything together later.

Then, we move onto the writing section. In this section, before you even start writing, construct a proper topic level outline for your essay.

Discuss this outline with your tutor, and get their feedback. Most tutors can’t give direct feedback on written drafts, but they can give feedback on written outlines.

This is important to ensure that your essay is moving on the right track and not going into potential dead-ends. This process of consulting your tutor is explained in the next section.

Then, start writing!

Focus 5: Plan deadlines

After you get your assignment, the next step is to start planning!

It doesn’t matter where you are going if you don’t have a plan. If you don’t care about what grade you get, don’t bother planning! It will be a waste of your time.

But if you do, then plan. The point of planning is that it breaks up what you are doing so that you can know what exactly needs to be done to get to the end.

Here, I have developed a simple worksheet for you to keep track of your writing.

Write down the dates, and keep yourself accountable to them by showing them to a friend.

Focus 6: Consult your tribe

Whatever you are writing, I can guarantee that you will not do well if you keep your outline to yourself.

Why am I so sure?

As humans, we are subject to the confirmation bias.

Bestselling author Rolf Dobelli (2013:23) describes it as the:

‘mother of all misconceptions’, because it is the ‘tendency to interpret new information so that it becomes compatible with our existing theories, beliefs and convictions’. Rolf Dobelli, The Art of Thinking Clearly

This means that however bad the outline you plan is, it will look brilliant to you. Why? Because you are the one who planned it.

That’s why it’s important to give someone you trust, such as your tutor, another colleague, or even your placement supervisor, a quick read through to ensure that you are on the right track.

Tell them to be honest with you about the theories you are using, the arguments you are going to make, and if they have any suggestions for you. This way, you ensure that you are on the right track to success before spending too much time on it.

Even though it might look troublesome and embarrassing, consulting others is very is important.

During my last practice analysis, my mark dropped from a previous high of 85 to 65, simply because I was too arrogant to ask. Just because my first practice analysis had been an all-time high of 85, I thought this meant that I no longer needed any consultation.

Well, now I know.

It’s a little too late now, though.

But I hope that sharing this with you shows you the importance of sharing your outline with someone else, and having the humility to take their feedback into consideration when you craft your eventual essay.

Focus 7: Argue well

This is a distillation of the most useful tips I learnt from 24 years of arguing in school, as a debater, as a writer, and as a student. It is meant as a list of guidelines you should use as you write your essay.

Firstly, when writing your essay, you need to offer a roadmap to the marker. Don’t let them get lost. Where are you taking them on the journey through your essay? For me, it has been useful to write the introduction last , after I’ve been clear about the main arguments and conclusion I will make.

Secondly, always be clear about what your argument is.

Don’t assume that your marker is going to understand it without you stating it explicitly to them. I would suggest you state it within the first two sentences of your paragraph.

Use clear markers such as, ‘I would argue that…’, ‘This essay believes that…’.

Thirdly, connect the dots between each paragraph and your question. Remember to link your argument to the question with concluding words such as therefore, thus, in summary , to illustrate to your marker that you are drawing a link between what you have said to what the question has asked.

Fourthly, let your voice shine through.

During my last assignment, I made the mistake of referencing every other sentence I wrote. An example is shown below.

The social pedagogy approach guided how I related to A. The 3 key concepts involve ‘haltung, head-heart-hands, and the common third’ (Ruch et al. 2017:1016). ‘Haltung’ brings one’s whole self – ‘rational, emotional and practical’ to develop sincere relationships (Ruch et al. 2017:1016). With A, I brought the ‘haltung’ of authenticity. My practice analysis, 2018

Authenticity is not ‘hustling for acceptance and changing who we are to fit in’ (Brown 2018:25). It was embracing myself, and using my ‘self’ to influence A.

My marker commented that it felt quite turgid and stilted. She meant that it had felt unnatural. She had felt that whilst I had referenced well, my own voice had not come through. Therefore, whilst evidencing is good, I would argue that your own perspectives must first be explained before you start throwing in references. This brings me to my next point on referencing.

The best students understand how to question the evidence that is given to them, rather than copying the references wholly from the source. Thus, rather than using references in a descriptive manner, start using it in an analytical manner.

Descriptive

I used the relationship-based approach (Ruch et al. 2017) to work with X.

Ruch (et al. 2017) recommends bringing the authentic self into work with clients. However, with X, I found that this was not necessarily helpful as he tended to overstep boundaries, taking advantage of my kindness.

I hope these 5 tips help you to write better essays.

Focus 8: Work consistently

I like to think of essay-writing as something similar to chopping a tree. You can chop a tree in a day, but it’s difficult. Rather, taking small chops consistently ensures that you can give it a good ‘THWACK!’ each day, and come out alive.

I am aware that you might be reading this as another act of procrastination, telling yourself that you are going to go back to that essay after reading yet another article on how to write a good essay.

Well, it’s not going to work that way.

Working consistently helps. Period. If you like pulling all-nighters, rushing through your essay on the deadline, I cannot stop you. But I’m here to tell you that there is a better way.

To deal with procrastination, your mind needs to be assured that it is going to be able to rest. It hates the fact that you might put it through another all-nighter again, and it starts likening your early attempts to work to an all-nighter.

Thus, to start the ball rolling, building momentum, start with 5 minutes.

5 minutes is all it takes. If you can’t do 25 minutes of reading, just tell yourself, ‘I will do 5 minutes of studying today.’

Time yourself with a stopwatch. The probability is, after 5 minutes, your mind will start gathering momentum and will continue to work.

Use the Pomodoro technique described above to have regular work-rest cycles.

Here is another important tip.

When writing your essay, go offline. As we have discussed in Focus 3 – Understand the writing process , essay-writing is split into research, writing and editing. When you are researching, it’s fine to be online. But when you are writing, go offline.

This removes unnecessary distractions like email, social media, and notifications.

When you go offline, you find it much easier to go into the flow, rather than trying desperately to switch between your browser, your word processor, and your phone. It makes you less likely to procrastinate, because there is nothing to procrastinate on.

Rather than telling yourself that you are going to finish 3000 words on the final day, why not set yourself a more manageable goal of 300 words over the next 10 days? Consistency, not craziness is key to your excellence.

Focus 9: Review your paper

Someone once said, ‘it’s not about the plan, but about the planning.’ Similarly, in essay- writing, it’s not about the final essay, but it’s about the process of constantly reviewing what you have written. We have researched. We have written.

Finally, we come to the editing portion. In his book ‘How to be a Straight-A Student’, which I thoroughly recommend for every student, Cal Newport suggests three different edits.

• Read the paper carefully on the computer, ensuring clarity of argument.
• Fix obvious flaws.
• Rewrite when flow needs improving.
• Print out your essay and read it out loud.
• Highlight or mark any passages that seem unclear and edit it.
• Read over for the final time to fix any remaining flaws.

I don’t know about your tutors, but my tutors were very strict on things like referencing, naming of clients, and naming of organizations.

Editing ensures that these small chinks are ironed out, creating a beautifully crafted paper, ready for a first!

Focus 10: Ask for feedback

No matter how well or how badly you do, it’s vital to learn from it. Don’t simply let it go.

I would say that this is the most important factor in getting a first at social work. Reading the comments about your essay, and the markings on the essay are not particularly helpful in and of themselves. It’s only when you begin to have a conversation about them that it starts becoming helpful.

When you know the points you did well at, you can focus on including more of them in your next essay, so that you can get an even higher grade.

When you know the points you could even improve on, eliminating those pain points ensures that you make the marking process an easy one for your marker.

Arrange a call with your marker to review what you had done well or not so well over the course of your essay.

Many students forget that social work is a social science subject. This means that many of your assignments will be based on your writing capability, rather than your ability to write the CORRECT answer.

There is no correct answer in something subjective like social work. Instead, markers grade you on how well you argue your point, the unique insights you give, and the evidence you have combed through to get to your point.

Therefore, getting your tutor’s feedback on your writing ability, and the points you could improve on is helpful for your future essays. Look at it this way. your tutors do this for a living.

That means they have seen hundreds, if not thousands of essays. They have also probably written hundreds of essays themselves to get to where they are.

They know what qualifies as good writing. Teasing from them the principles of arguing was perhaps the most important lesson of my university experience.

Social work essays can be tough. But they are not that tough.

If you follow the steps here, I hope you find them a little easier.

• Appear at lectures and seminars.
• Ask questions.
• Store insights from classmates and tutors.
• Read right.

You don’t have to read everything!

• Study alone.
• Study in a quiet environment.
• Study smart.
• Have clear dates for significant milestones.
• We are guilty of the confirmation bias.
• Ask for feedback
• Offer a roadmap to the reader.
• Be clear about what your argument is.
• Link your paragraph to your question.
• Let your voice shine through.
• Analyse the evidence.
• 300 words everyday is better than 3000 words on the last day.
• Argument adjustment pass
• Out loud pass
• Sanity pass
• Ask for feedback.
• Ask your tutors: What have I done well? What can I do better?

I hope you enjoyed this short article that distils the essence of how I turned from failure to first in social work.

What helps you get your A? Add a comment below.

Cheers to your next A,

Useful resources

These are a list of resources that transformed my study habits. If you have the chance, read them, and you will see why.

Dobelli, R. (2013) The Art of Thinking Clearly . London: Sceptre Books Newport, C. (2007) How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less New York: Three Rivers Press.

Wong, D. (2012) The Happy Student. Singapore: Write Editions.

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Want to get an A for your  essay?

I failed my first essay, and yet got an average of 72 for the next 2 years. How? Here's how. 

Disciplinary Approaches to Composing Texts

Writing in Social Work

by Dr. James Smalley

Even as most everything goes electronic, writing will continue to be the major component of social work and something all social workers need to be proficient at to succeed in the profession. Writing in social work can take the form of short case notes, longer case plans or treatment plans, writing to show client or program success to supervisors or funders and scholarly writing in the form of journals or books. Most often in the field, writing is done in either print (handwritten) or digital (computer) formats. If a social worker is presenting information to others, then writing will also be visual depending on the audience. While the writing a social worker will do will depend on the context (in their work, online, grants, books, etc.) there is one constant in social work – you will be writing!

Beginning social works will be doing case notes and case plans that require summarizing information about your work with clients. As, social workers progress and move into other roles in the profession the writing will change depending on the audience.

Writing in the Social Work classroom

Students will be writing papers in the classroom; and they will need to use information from books, journals, or from class or an experience, and summarize the information while providing their own thoughts about the material.  This is very similar to writing in a professional setting where social workers need to take information from several sources and summarize the information while also providing their own professional opinions on the information. The major difference between writing in the classroom and in the profession is the length of writing. Most often in the field, social workers are asked to write with detail and information while keeping the writing as short as possible.

In academic writing, using headings and laying out a paper in an organized fashion are very helpful for the reader. Students will learn APA formatting for papers for their scholarly work so having an understanding of APA will be useful to students.  Finally, in social work papers, students should provide as much detail as possible while keeping their papers within the limits of the assignment description and guidelines.   

• Social Work Overview

Reading in Social Work

Research in Social Work

Documentation in Social Work

• Introduction to the Text
• Writing is Important in your Major
• Advice from Students
• Making Your Writing Work: Ethos & Commonplaces
• Professional Associations
• Scholarship as Conversation
• Genres and Finding Sources
• Genres, Metagenres, and the Rhetorical Situation
• Analyzing Scholarly, Trade, and Popular Sources
• Library Research Overview
• Introduction To Research
• Research Process
• Choosing a Topic
• Determining Genres
• Trouble Finding Sources
• Videos Overview
• Special Education
• Annotated Writing Samples
• Agricultural Education Overview
• Documentation
• Scholarly Writing Sample
• Business Administration Overview
• Communication Studies Overview
• Student Writing Sample
• Computer Science Overview
• Education Overview
• Environmental Science Overview
• Exercise Science Overview
• History Overview
• Justice Administration Overview
• Literary Studies Overview
• Marketing Overview
• Math Overview
• Nursing Overview
• Philosophy Overview
• Professional Writing and Communication Overview
• Videos (English)
• Special Education Overview