Bethany Lee, Ph.D. Assistant Professor blee@ssw.umaryland

1. Top Ten Tips for Successful Writing in the MSW Program Bethany Lee, Ph.D. Assistant Professor blee@ssw.umaryland.edu

2. Tip #1: APA Style- it matters • We use APA Style Manual v6 here • Buy/borrow/download/rent a copy so you have access to one at all times. • APA dictates how you cite sources, format your title page and headings,design tables, use quotes,number pages, etc.

3. Tip #2: Plagiarism: It’s a big deal • Presenting someone else’s work as your own work is an ethics violation. • Plagiarism has SERIOUS consequences (including failing grades, referral to the Student Review Committee, and dismissal). • Plagiarism is WRONG even if: • I didn’t know • that what I was doing was wrong. • I didn’t have time to include citations. • I didn’t do it on purpose. • I didn’t think I would be caught.

4. Tip #3: Paraphrase in your own words- limit quotes • Graduate school papers should have scant direct quotes (like 1-2 max!). • You should be able to put all the ideas you are reading about in your own words (do NOT just cut-and-paste someone else’s words). • If you can’t paraphrase it, you don’t understand it; spend more time reading/learning before you begin writing.

5. What is paraphrasing? • Changing a few words in a sentence or passage is NOT paraphrasing. • Summarizing the ideas of another author using your own words and sentence structure IS paraphrasing. • Even paraphrased text should be CITED.

6. Is this paraphrasing? Original Text: “The good works for which Jane Addams had become famous masked the radical nature of her criticisms of American society” (Reisch & Andrews, 2002, p.13). Paraphrase attempt: Thegood work that made Jane Addams famous disguised the radical nature of her critiques of American Society.

7. Paraphrasing means put in your own words Original Text: “The good works for which Jane Addams had become famous masked the radical nature of her criticisms of American society” (Reisch & Andrews, 2002, p.13). Paraphrase attempt: Although known primarily for her positive social contributions, Jane Addams was also highly critical of U.S. social policy.

8. Is this paraphrasing? Original Source: “The feminist perspective has contributed a new understanding of girls’ offending behavior, noting that males and females have different pathways to offending and may respond differently to intervention” (Bright & Jonson-Reid, 2008, p. 916). Paraphrase attempt: The feminist perspective gives a new understanding of offending behavior for girls, commenting that boys and girls have different pathways to behavior and may differently respond to intervention.

9. Is this paraphrasing? • Original Source: “The feminist perspective has contributed a new understanding of girls’ offending behavior, noting that males and females have different pathways to offending and may respond differently to intervention” (Bright & Jonson-Reid, 2008, p. 916). Paraphrase: Girls who participate in juvenile crime may do so for different reasons than boys and may need different treatments, at least according to many feminist scholars (Bright & Jonson-Reid, 2008).

10. Tip #4: SafeAssign (and other BB resources) can help you out! • SafeAssign helps detect the use of direct quotes in your paper that may or may not be correctly attributed. • Archana Bhandari will demonstrate Blackboard in the next session.

11. SafeAssign identifies sources that use similar language. If these sources are not correctly cited in your paper, you may be plagiarizing.

12. Tip #5: Writing help is available • UM has a Writing Center @ Campus Center, 621 W. Lombard, Ste 302, 410-706-7725 • Call in advance for appointments • SSW also has in-house support: • Sessions are scheduled by appointment only. • Contact: Almeta Sly-Thompson Writing Consultant 410-706-6106aslyt001@umaryland.edu http://www.umaryland.edu/student/writing

13. Tip #6 Librarians are helpful • Anna Tatro is our HS/HSL SSW Liaison and a great library resource. • Bookmark her subject guide page! http://guides.hshsl.umaryland.edu/socialwork • Sign up for tutorials on database searches and library orientation. • Library Orientation: 9/7, 12-12:30pm • Using online databases: 9/13, 12:30-1pm • Access books from other campuses.

14. Tip #7: RefWorks can save lots of time • All students have online access to a FREE resource for managing references for papers. • http://guides.hshsl.umaryland.edu/refworks • HS/HSL has trainings for RefWorks to get you started OR complete an on-line tutorial. • September 13, 2011 - 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM (Room LL03) • October 19, 2011 - 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM (Room LL04)     • November 15, 2011 - 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM (Room LL03)    • Investing a few hours now in learning RefWorks will save lots of time over the next 2 years.

15. Tip #8: Microsoft APA Templates can help with APA style • Microsoft Office has APA v6 Templates for papers; use to get started with APA or double-check your formatting. • http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/apa-format-6-template-TC030007824.aspx • Office.microsoft.com also has video training online for Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.

16. Tip #9: Instructors and syllabi can help too! • Read your syllabus. • Ask questions. • Ask questions in class, go to office hours, send an email, post a question through Blackboard! • Do not rely on advice from peers who are taking the same class from a different instructor. • If you are confused, it is your responsibility to get help!

17. Tip #10: Writing Resources are EVERYWHERE! • Books on Writing: • Zinsser, W.K. On Writing Well (~$10) • Strunk & White, The Elements of Style (~$10) • Truss, Eats, Shoots & Leaves (~$5) Punctuation • Websites • http://www.apastyle.org/learn/faqs/index.aspx • http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ • http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/citing_apa.html • Podcasts • Grammar Girl’s Quick & Dirty Tips on Writing: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/

18. Thanks for your attention! Wishing you great success in writing and learning as MSW students!