The following report ‘scaffold’ is a suggestion to help you plan and prepare assessment 1 SWSP 6143/SWSP 1043. Note: Scaffolds are suggestions based on the assessment criteria. However, you may choose to create your own scaffold based on your understanding of the task. You can choose your own headings to suit each section of the report.
Why should I prepare a scaffold for an assessment task?
Preparing an assessment scaffold is an excellent way to organise your reading, writing and thinking for assessments. Your scaffold should be tailored to the assessment question and address the different task requirements. The scaffold can also help you identify whether you need to gather and evaluate more information in order to develop, build on and support your argument.
How do I create a scaffold?
To create your scaffold, organise your main points into clear sections and decide on the order of the sections. Create dot points for presenting each section in a logical sequence so that one point builds to the next. Remember that each section needs to include information from academic sources. You should also allocate approximate word limits to each section to guide your research and writing.
Will the scaffold end up being my structure for the final draft?
The scaffold will ideally provide you with a set structure for a final draft. However, you may find that you cut, paste and restructure your work after using the scaffold as a starting point. Don’t forget: Include an APA reference list as the final page of your report
Where can I get more information about planning and preparing an assessment?
The Student Learning Support (SLS) website has a range of resources to help you at any stage of preparing an assessment task. For this assessment, you may find the pages below particularly useful (right click to open the link):
• Approaching the question
• Preparing a plan for writing or presenting
• Presenting your research
• Report writing
Writing at university level
Academic skills development is essential for your development as a student and as a beginning practitioner. It is important to gain academic support and knowledge from a range of sources.
Student Learning Support
Please visit ACAP's Student Learning Support website. There are several videos that will help to overcome a number of common writing problems: https://sls.navitas-professional.edu.au/language-support-0
Smart Thinking
You can submit a draft to Smart Thinking and receive feedback on two areas. When selecting the two areas many students find the grammar and structure options helpful. The link to Smart Thinking is located under the assessment tab. Information about this service can also be found on the ACAP's Student Learning Support page.
Possible report scaffold
Report Sections
Create your paragraphs following each bullet point in the listed order Approximate word allocation
*note different word limit for BSW and MSW(Q)
Heading: Introduction
o Introductory statement about issue you are examining and a brief indication of the size of the issue/why it is important.
o Overview of the the key populations this affects and give an insight into the complexity of the issue
o Signpost the sections of the report 300
Heading: (The issue)
o Overview of issue
o Define key concepts
o Introduce two political party approaches that address the issue 300
Heading: (Political Party Policy approach 1)
o Overview of the policy approach
Sub-headings:
o the key theory of government
o the social values or philosophies that underpin it
o the policy objectives of the approach. Include key policy documents that reference this. 400
Heading:
o Strength of approach one
o Limitation of approach one (reference critiques eg. AASW) 300
Heading: (Policy approach 2)
o Overview of the policy approach
Sub-headings:
o the key theory of government
o the social values or philosophies that underpin it
o the policy objectives of the approach. (Include key policy documents that reference this) 400
Heading:
o Strength of approach two
o Limitation of approach one (reference critiques eg AASW) 300
Heading: Responding to (insert social issue)
o Structure at least two paragraphs to:
o Comparison of the effects of the approach in social work practice
o Support your position with reference to human rights legislation and/or the AASW code of ethics. 700
Heading: Conclusion
o Restate the main sections of your report
o Overall statement about the best policy approach to the issue.
o Future actions/recommendation 300
Formatting headings according to APA Style
You will need to create appropriate headings. One way to create headings is to follow these steps:
1. Read the task description and marking criteria carefully
2. Brainstorm what you need to include and group similar ideas together
3. See if these groups would make logical headings.
If so, start writing up your ideas. If you are unsure, reread the task description - can you organise your ideas differently?
The APA Publication Manual gives guidelines for up to five levels of heading in a paper, although most report assignments will need only two or three levels.
• The first level should be centered and in bold. Each main word should start with a capital letter.
• The second level should be left aligned and in bold. Each main word should start with a capital letter.
• The third level should be indented and in bold. Only the first letter of the first word should be capitalised, as well as the first letter of the first word after a colon. The heading should end with a full stop. The paragraph begins straight after the heading (i.e. in line with the heading).
Write your notes in this scaffold and then start your first draft
Report (3,000 words) * TEEL Plan
Introduction 1. Introduce the issue you are examining.
2. Overview of the the key populations this affects and give an insight into the complexity of the issue (brief statistics).
3. Name the two political parties and the policy platform statement that you will critique in this report.
4. Signpost points to be covered in the body paragraphs = Topic 1/2/3/4 (300 words)
The issue Heading:
Outline:
• the issue you are examining
• Define key concepts
• Introduce two political party approaches that address the issue
Topic sentence
Evidence - reference
Explain – analysis
Evidence - example
Explain - analysis
Link/Conclude (300 words)
Policy 1 Heading: (Political Party Policy approach 1)
o Overview of the policy approach
Sub-headings:
o the key theory of government
o the social values or philosophies that underpin it
o the policy objectives of the approach. Include key policy documents that reference this.
Topic sentence
Evidence - reference
Explain – analysis
Evidence - example
Explain - analysis
Link/Conclude (400 words)
Policy 1 Sub-heading
o Strength of approach one
o Limitation of approach one (reference critiques eg. AASW)
Topic sentence
Evidence - reference
Explain – analysis
Evidence - example
Explain - analysis
Link/Conclude (300 words)
Policy 2
Heading: (Policy approach 2)
o Overview of the policy approach
Sub-headings:
o the key theory of government
o the social values or philosophies that underpin it
o the policy objectives of the approach. (Include key policy documents that reference this)
Topic sentence
Evidence - reference
Explain – analysis
Evidence - example
Explain - analysis
Link/Conclude (400 words)
Policy 2 Sub-heading
o Strength of approach two
o Limitation of approach one (reference critiques eg AASW)
Topic sentence
Evidence - reference
Explain – analysis
Evidence - example
Explain - analysis
Link/Conclude (300 words)
Social Work Approach Heading: Responding to (insert social issue)
o Compare the effects of the approach in social work practice
Support your position with reference to human rights legislation and/or the AASW code of ethics. (300 words)
Social Work Approach – human rights Heading:
(Analyse the degree to which the proposed policy positions comply with Human Rights conventions and the Australian Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. Include reference to advocacy organisations if relevant)
Topic sentence
Evidence - reference
Explain – analysis
Evidence - example
Explain - analysis
Link/Conclude (400 words)
Conclusion Heading:
Write a conclusion that briefly outlines the key case you have made for the policy that is most supportive of human rights and social work practice.
(300 words)
*MSW(Q) = 3,000 words BSW = between 2,500 and 3,000 words
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