Updated Fall 2010
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GUIDELINES FOR INTEGRATIVE PAPER
PART ONE:
GUIDELINES FOR DRAFT OF INTEGRATIVE PAPER
The draft should be at least EIGHT PAGES (but no more than 15 pages) (not counting cover
page, index, reference pages, and any appendices), typed using 12 point font size, double
spacing, one inch margins on all sides, and Times New Roman typeface. Organize your draft
according to the OUTLINE on pages 2-3. An INDEX PAGE (see pages 2-3) should be placed
after the cover page. The index page should list the pages where you discussed the first SIX
SENIOR PRACTICUM OUTCOMES; the pages where you cited references pertaining to at
least FOUR CURRICULUM CONTENT AREAS (see page 3); and the pages where you
provided MICRO/MEZZO level and MACRO level interventions.
In the body of the draft you must discuss what you did to fulfill at least the FIRST SIX SENIOR
PRACTICUM OUTCOMES. IF YOU INCLUDE OUTCOMES 7 THROUGH 11, THEY
WILL BE COMMENTED ON, BUT NOT GRADED. Preferably, you should focus on one
client throughout your paper, however, several may be discussed if necessary.
Your REFERENCE PAGE should list at least FIVE REFERENCES which you have
discussed in the body of your paper. DON’T FORGET to list AT THE END OF EACH
REFERENCE, the page numbers within the body of your paper where a given reference was
cited (see pages 2-3).
Required textbooks from your various classes are acceptable reference sources (not internet
Web sites, dictionaries, magazines, newspapers or agency brochures/handbooks). The Field
manual/Code of Ethics may be used and referenced, but does not count as one of the minimum
required sources. Integrate both micro/mezzo & macro level interventions into your overall
discussion. Connect your assessments, interventions, evaluations, and interactions with client (s)
to required readings (concepts, theories, principles, methods, guidelines, techniques, etc.) from
your various social work and related courses. While supplementary readings (professional
social work related journals) may be used, the bulk (at least 4 out of 5) of your references
should come from the required textbooks of past & current social work and related courses.
Use latest APA style in all of your citations of an author’s work, as well as in your list of
references (refer to APA Mini-Manual 2010 (6th ed.) available online at
http://uwc.wikispaces.com/file/view/APAMiniManual6thed.pdf).
The draft accounts for 25% of your paper grade (see “Part Three” for evaluation criteria).
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Updated Fall 2010
PART TWO:
GUIDELINES FOR FINAL INTEGRATIVE PAPER
I. Overview
The integrative paper represents the culmination of your social work practicum and classroom
learning. The FINAL PAPER should be at least 15 PAGES (but no more than 20 pages) (not
counting cover page, index, reference pages, and any appendices). Your paper should focus on
selected field practicum activities that will allow you to demonstrate the mastery and integration
of content areas across the social work curriculum. These areas include the following:
1. Micro/mezzo and macro theories and interventions.
2. Integration of human behavior, research, generalist practice, social work values and ethics,
social and economic justice, diversity, and populations at risk. For example, how does your
assessment or interaction with client (s) illustrate the application or integration of human
behavior, social/economic justice, practice, or diversity content? How are social work
perspectives, principles, methods, or values/ethics applied during assessment/intervention?
How is the degree of success verified? How is change, improvement, or movement toward
goals measured and verified (application of research knowledge)?
3. Identification of practicum experiences/activities that fulfill the 11 senior practicum
outcomes listed at the end of these guidelines. Emphasis should be placed on outcomes 1
through 6.
You may select modified log excerpts as well as current activities to illustrate how you
fulfilled the outcomes. (Note: Preferably, you should focus mainly on one client throughout your
paper, however, several may be discussed, if necessary, to fulfill certain outcomes.)
II. Outline of Paper:
A. COVER PAGE
B. INDEX PAGE: [Indicate page(s) where you discussed each of the 11 senior practicum
outcomes; where you made reference citations pertaining to: human behavior, research, practice,
social work values & ethics, social & economic justice, diversity, and populations at risk; and
where you participated in micro/mezzo intervention (s) and macro level intervention (s).]
1. 11 Senior Practicum Outcomes
Page(s)
“”
a. Outcome One
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“”
b. Outcome Two
c. Etc.
Etc.
2. Curriculum Content (Main Courses)
Page(s)
(NOTE: Social Work courses & textbooks may have overlapping content;
Page numbers here indicate that a reference related to a given content area has been
cited on the respective pages)
a. Human behavior (SW 375, Psy 341, Soc 200)
“”
b. Research (SW 291/490/491)
“”
c. Generalist Practice
(SW 481, 482, 483, 484, 380, 270, 271)
“”
d. Social work values & ethics
“”
e. Social & economic justice
“”
f. Diversity (SW 272)
“”
g. Populations at Risk
“”
3. Interventions
Page(s)
a. Micro/mezzo Level Intervention (s)
“”
b. Macro Level Intervention (s)
“”
C. BRIEF INTRODUCTION: Describe your major activities during your practicum.
D. DISCUSSION OF THE PRACTICUM OUTCOMES on Page 6 (including references):
(Discuss in sequence, numbering and citing outcome descriptions 1 through 11) while
illustrating how selected experiences/activities constitute fulfillment of a given outcome.
Integrate both micro/mezzo & macro level interventions into your overall discussion. Under
outcome 4 you should mention relevant section(s) from the NASW Code of Ethics (including
source in APA style). Under outcomes 8 & 9 you should mention your field instructor’s
feedback about the quality of your skills in these areas. Integrate curriculum content (see page
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four) into your discussion by connecting what you did or said to concepts, theories, principles,
methods, guidelines, and/or techniques from the required reading (textbooks) of your various
social work and related courses. Make appropriate reference to specific course content that has a
bearing on your assessments, interventions, interactions, and/or evaluation of outcomes/results.
Use APA style in all of your citations of an author’s work.
E. REFERENCE PAGE: (Minimum of TEN REFERENCES, in APA Format)
You may include the NASW Code of Ethics/Field manual in your list of references, but only
textbooks and journal articles count toward the 10 references (not internet Web sites,
dictionaries, magazines, newspapers or agency brochures/handbooks). At least 8 of the ten
references should come from your required textbooks. NOTE: At the end of each reference
you should indicate the page number within your paper where you cited the author’s material.
Example 1:
Miller, A. J. (1998). Social welfare. New York: Wiley. (P. 10)
“P. 10” above refers to the page within your paper, not the page within the textbook. Should
you have to cite a book’s/article’s actual page numbers as you’re listing your references, you
would still put the page number of your paper where you’ve cited the author (in parentheses)
after the article’s or book’s page numbers. NOTE that only the FIRST Word of a book
title is capitalized. Also, capitalize the first word after a colon within a book title.
Example 2:
Becker, L. W. (1996). The Medicare debate. Journal of Social Issues, 37 (2), 1-7. (P. 12)
Note that only the first word of an article title within a journal or book is capitalized, unless
it is a proper noun. Also capitalize the first word after a colon. Capitalize journal titles.
PART THREE:
EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR DRAFT AND FINAL PAPER:
Grading scale for entire paper:
45-50 pts. = A
40-44.9 pts. = B
35-39.9 pts. = C
30-34.9 pts. = D
<30 pts. = F
(Note: Students must pass the integrative paper (capstone assignment) with a grade of “C” or better,
otherwise they will receive zero points for the paper component of the course.)
1. Seventy percent (max. 35 pts.) of the grade is based on content:
a. Demonstration of fulfillment of the 11 outcomes while illustrating one’s proficiency in
the assessment, intervention (micro/mezzo & macro levels), and evaluation processes.
DRAFT: Outcomes 1-6 are scored 3.75 points each. FINAL PAPER: Outcome 1 is
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Updated Fall 2010
worth 3.75 points; outcomes 2 - 5 are worth 2.5 points each; and outcomes 7 - 11 are
worth 1.25 points each (Max. 22.5 pts).
(TOTAL)
A
22.5 pts: 20.25 - 22.5
B
18.00 - 20.24
C
15.75 - 17.99
D
13.50 - 15.74
F
0 - 13.49
For scoring outcomes 1-6 (DRAFT ONLY); Scoring outcome 1 (FINAL ONLY):
3.75 pts: 3.38 - 3.75
3.00 - 3.37
2.63 - 2.99
2.25 - 2.62
0 - 2.24
For scoring outcomes 2 through 6 (FINAL PAPER ONLY):
2.50 pts: 2.25 - 2.50
2.00 - 2.24
1.75 - 1.99
1.50 - 1.74
0 - 1.49
For scoring outcomes 7 through 11 (FINAL PAPER ONLY):
1.25 pt:
1.13 - 1.25
1.00 – 1.12
0.88 - 0.99
0.75 - 0.87
0 - 0.74
b. Mastery and integration of content across the curriculum (including minimum of
5 REFERENCES & 4 CONTENT AREAS for DRAFT; 10 REFERENCES & all
7 CONTENT AREAS for FINAL PAPER; else additional penalty of 1/2 point
deducted per missing reference and 1/2 point per missing content area (max. 12.5 pts.).
A
B
C
D
F
12.5 pts: 11.25 - 12.5 10.00 - 11.24
8.75 - 9.99
7.50 - 8.74
0 - 7.49
2. Thirty percent (max. 15 pts.) of your grade will be based on:
a. Organization: Structure and format of paper, logical sequencing and
continuity of ideas, clarity of expression, conciseness (max. 10 pts.).
A
B
C
D
10 pts: 9.00 - 10.00
8.00 - 8.99
7.00 - 7.99
6.00 - 6.99
F
0 - 5.99
b. Presentation/appearance: neatness, grammar, spelling, and punctuation (APA style
in body of paper & list of references) (max. 5 pts.).
A
B
C
D
F
5 pts: 4.50 - 5.00
4.00 - 4.49
3.50 - 3.99
3.00 - 3.49 0 - 2.99
(Note: The draft will weigh 25% (up to 12.5 pts.) and the final paper 75% (up to 37.5 pts.) of the
overall grade for the paper).
DRAFTS: Late drafts carry a penalty of one half point per day late and one-fourth point
per page below 8 text pages (drafts submitted after class, but before the next day are
deducted one-quarter point). These points are deducted after calculating the total draft
points (Draft score X 25%).
FINAL PAPERS: Late final papers carry a penalty of one point per day late and one-half
point per page below 15 text pages (finals submitted after class, but before the next day are
deducted one-half point). These points are deducted after calculating the total final paper
points (Final paper score X 75%). I will add 25% of the draft score and 75% of the final paper
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score to compute the total grade for the paper.
THE ELEVEN SENIOR PRACTICUM OUTCOMES
1.
Students will function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems
and seek necessary organizational change (macro intervention).
2.
Students will use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence (cite textbooks
& social work related journal articles) to understand individual development and behavior
across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and
families, groups, organizations, and communities.
3.
Students will apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice (cite
textbooks) with systems of all sizes.
4.
Students will apply the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles
(cite source of NASW Code of Ethics & codes’ section numbers), and practice accordingly.
5.
Students will evaluate research studies (cite social work related journal articles), apply
research findings to practice, and evaluate their own practice interventions (applying &
citing knowledge from research textbooks).
6.
Students will describe the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and
apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
7.
Students will use supervision (from field instructor) and consultation (from other
professional staff at the agency) appropriate to social work practice.
8.
Students will write clearly, concisely, and with good grammar, punctuation, and spelling
(mention field instructor’s appraisal of your performance).
9.
Students will speak clearly, concisely, and with conviction (mention field instructor’s
appraisal of your performance).
10.
Students will use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues,
and communities.
11.
Students will apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work
practice (focus on critical practice issues).
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