Assessment guidelines: Final assignment
Note: This is currently a draft document: I will discuss it in more depth in Class 9. As questions come in, additional information may be added to this document. If so, I will clearly indicate the new information.
Objectives
This assignment asks students to use skills learned during the course to consider the content covered throughout the course in a broader context. It builds on work students have done by doing the readings for classes, participating in class discussions and exercises, and through completing the reflections. Through this assignment students will:
- Reflect on who they are including the different aspects of their social location
- Discuss how their learning in relates to their learning in whichever program they are in.
- Think about how who they are will impact their future studies and professional development as social workers or in another field
The assignment is designed to enable students to think about how the course is situated within their academic program, and consolidate understanding and skills that serve as a foundation for later courses.
Overview
(Copied from course outline): The final assignment allows students to reflect on their learning over the course of the semester and what this means as they move forward in the social work program (or the program in which they are registered). Students will reflect on how their social location, prior experiences, and learning style have influenced their experience of the course and will discuss the implications of this for their future studies and professional practice (in social work or another field). Students will be expected to integrate course and other academic readings and to correctly cite and reference in APA format.
Assignment instructions
Your paper should include a short introduction and conclusion. In the main body of the paper you should do the following:
- Reflect on aspects of who you are that are important for your experiences as a student and future social worker or in another field. This should include reflection on social location, past experiences, beliefs and values etc. as discussed in Class 5.
- Reflect on how who you are relates to your experience in the course. This could include, for example;
- Why did particular themes, readings, exercises, or assessments engage you?
- Why did particular themes, readings, exercises or assessments challenge you?
- Was there anything that surprised you as you learned the content or skills? Why?
- What have you learned about yourself during the course?
- Reflect on how who you are and what you have learned in the course will influence future areas of specialization academically and professionally (whether in social work or another field). This could, for example, answer the following questions;
- Are there any topics that you now think you are looking forward to studying in more depth in higher level courses (which courses)? What was it about the course and/or who you are that increased your interest in these topics?
- Have you been exposed to any new areas that you may like to work in/populations you may like to work with? Alternatively, has a pre-existing area of interest been consolidated? Or, having learned more, are you less interested in particular areas of work? What is it about the course content and who you are that has influenced this thinking?
- Reflect on how who you are could affect your future work either as a social worker or in another field. You should pay particular attention to how your social location, past experiences, beliefs and values, and other aspects of self may influence how you interact with others in future areas of specialization.
Note the whole assignment should be double-spaced and 4-5 pages excluding the title page and reference list (see course outline for more details).
You can either integrate the four points above throughout your paper, or you can use subheadings to address them in turn.
Referencing
Students are expected to reference course content from both halves of the semester, with an emphasis on readings and guest speaker slides (use of slides from the instructor is permitted, but readings should be referenced where possible).
You can also reference other reputable sources, but there is no minimum requirement.
Grading
We are looking for more than a simple repetition of course content. Rather we want to see that you have been engaged in the course as a whole, can demonstrate the skill of reflection, and can apply the learning in the course to the broader context of your studies and professional life.
Grading rubric
| Criterion | Earned points | |
| Content | ||
| 1. Self-reflection on who you are The best papers will show a depth of reflection on multiple aspects of self. | /10 | |
| 2. Key experiences in the course and why. The best papers will not only identify key learning experiences, but will discuss how these relate to a developing understanding of the self. | /5 | |
| 3. Areas of specialization academically and professionally, and why. The best papers will make clear connections between learning in the course, the self, and how the student sees themselves moving forward. | /5 | |
| 4. The self and future work The best papers will demonstrate a clear understanding about how different aspects of the self may influence their work in the future, particularly in relationships with others. | /5 | |
| Style | ||
| 5. Writing, editing and citation/referencing | /5 | |
| Final grade = | /30 |
Points will be awarded for the different criteria to correspond with the School of Social Work grading guidelines detailed in the course outline (pp. 11-12). The equivalent points for each grade range is included in the table below. In order to do well in the paper, students are advised to pay attention to all the criteria.
| Component | Earned points | Grade range conversion to points | ||||
| Needs work (F-range) | Fair (D-range) | Acceptable (C-range) | Good (B-range) | Exceptional (A-range) | ||
| Component 1 | /10 | 0-4.5 | 5-5.5 | 6-6.5 | 7-7.5 | 8-10 |
| Components 2-5 | /5 | 0-2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4-5 |
