Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Group Projects

1. Students should choose an article off a list provided by the professor. The list of articles should all deal with the same subject matter, perhaps something being discussed in class at the time.  Students are tasked with each outlining the paper, including headings, main points, and key pieces of evidence. Students should then gather into groups and compare their outlines, creating a master outline. This should be submitted
    
2. Whenever you assign written work, ask students to bring three copies of the written work to class.  On the due date for any written assignment, separate students into groups of three students (four if necessary).  After students turn one copy in to the instructor, have them distribute the other copies to members in their group.  Each individual should have two other papers to evaluate.  Ask students to proofread their classmates’ paper, circling grammatical and spelling errors.  In addition, ask them to underline the topic sentence for each paragraph and double-underline the thesis for the entire paper.  Have students return papers to the author, who should be given the option of correcting the mistakes before submission of a final draft.
    
3. Give students each a journal article from a social work discipline. Have them read the article and summarize its findings in one paragraph. Have them then give a rich description of how they could change this article into an applied research report, addressing language, format, and ideas addressed.
    
4. On the due date for any written assignment, separate students into groups of three students (four if necessary).  Have students read their group mates’ paper without making a single mark on it (They’ll want to proofread, but instruct them not to do so.)  When they have finished, ask them to write a one paragraph abstract of the paper.  Each student should do this for two or three papers.  Return the abstracts to the authors of each paper and ask each to write a brief reflective paper in which they consider whether their classmates understood the key points of their paper or not.
    
5. Each group should identify a public program or program-oriented organization.  Locate an applied research report about this program (these can often be found in government documents sections of the library for public programs; organizations also usually keep copies of all reports conducted by or for them.)  In addition, locate a social work journal article on the same topic (this will most likely not be drawn from the same data).  Compare the two.  In what ways are the two different?  The same project could be extended by locating an article in the popular media about the same topic.

Mini Projects

1.  An Honest Proposal 
This project requires knowledge of on-going research in a social work field. This can come from reading up on it, being introduced to it by an in-class presentation, or from something going on in a field placement.           

1.Gather the necessary information you’d need to convince someone this research would be valuable for others.
2.Present this information in the context of what you hope to learn with more time to do your research.
3.Think logistically about how this project would work.
4.Draft a proposal following the recommendations put forth in the book.
5.Exchange your proposal with another classmate; provide critiques on content and style.

2.  A Little Help From Your Friends 
This project requires you to have a final draft of a proposal or report and works best if you can team up with someone in your class.

1. Exchange papers.
2. Decide whether or not you will agree to proofread one another’s papers.
3. In your partner’s paper, underline the key idea of every paragraph as you read it.
4. Answer the following questions in a memo:
   
   1. Is the introduction appropriate?  Does it set out the research question?  Does it explain the purpose and structure of the report?
   2. Is the literature review convincing?  Has your partner overused/underused other sources?  Is the literature review structured in a meaningful way?
   3. Is the methods section complete?  Can you explain after reading how variables will be (or were) defined and measured?  Can you explain how data will be (or were) analyzed?
   4. Does the report seem ethical in all ways?
   5. Is the conclusion appropriate?  Does it review the main findings of the research (or what your partner hopes to find)?  Is it honest about the limitations of the research?
5. Return the memo to your partner and retrieve their memo about your paper.  Use these notes to modify your paper as necessary.

3. Comparing Media and Scholarly Works

1. Select a media report and distribute to students read a media report
2. Have students read the journal article that served as the source of the media report.
3. Compare the two reports and discuss findings in small groups.
4. Have students specifically address the difference between scholarly writing and media reports.

4. Evidence-Based Research

1. Identify an academic paper that details how improvements could be made to a social work program.
2. Read and summarize the paper.
3. ‘Translate’ this paper into a report with more an ‘applied’ slant.
4. Write up findings, methods, and limitations in order to be useful for pertinent agencies interested in using evidence-based research.