Charlotte Bright, Ph.D. Assistant Professor cbright@ssw.umaryland.edu

1. Writing and APA Format: Tips for Success in the MSW Program Charlotte Bright, Ph.D. Assistant Professor cbright@ssw.umaryland.edu

2. Mastery of APA Style is Essential! • A requirement for most paper-writing in most courses is use of the American Psychological Association Style Manual, version 6. • APA dictates almost everything about how to format papers: citing sources, creating title pages and headings, using numbers in text and tables, constructing the reference list, etc. • Give yourself the best chance of success by spending some time with the manual – get to know its structure and contents.

3. APA Format for Citations and References • Assertions in text should be followed by author name and date, separated by a comma and enclosed in parentheses. Any punctuation for the sentence follows the citation. • Group work is beneficial because it involves multiple perspectives (Toseland & Rivas, 2012). • Interventions should be culturally appropriate (Ratts, Anthony, & Santos, 2010).

4. APA Format for Citations and References, cont’d • A reference list should appear at the end of the paper. • Reference lists should be double-spaced, using a hanging indent. • Each citation from the text should appear in the reference list; NO uncited works should appear in the reference list. • Example: Greif, G. L. (2009). One dozen considerations when working with men in substance abuse groups. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 41(4), 387-390.

5. 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.

6. Plagiarism: What is it? Plagiarism is not just copying something from another source without identifying the source. It is also: • Taking an idea from a source, putting it into your own words, and NOT citing the original source. • Taking an idea from another person without crediting the person (e.g. using a classmate’s paper idea). • Using information from your own work without adequate permission/citation (sometimes called “self-plagiarism”.

7. Plagiarismand Ethics • 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.

8. Use your own words. Limit quotes. • Graduate school papers should have scant direct quotes (like 1-2 max!). • If you can’t paraphrase it, you don’t understand it; spend more time reading/learning before you begin writing. DO use citation; AVOID quotation!

9. 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. Paraphrased text must be CITED.

10. 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.

11. 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 (Reisch & Andrews, 2002)..

12. Finding Sources • Appropriate sources for graduate-level papers include peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and textbooks. • Sources from the internet MAY be appropriate, based on the quality and type of source. This is best judged on a case-by-case basis – work with your instructors to identify appropriate web sources. • Wikipedia is (almost?) never an acceptable source.

13. Writing for Clarity • Topic sentences and paragraph organization • A topic sentence introduces each new idea. • Every sentence within the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence. • All paragraphs should be less than 1 double-spaced page long, but longer than a single sentence (APA, 2009). • Writing concise sentences • Start with a subject and a verb, and build from there. • As you edit the paper, eliminate unnecessary words: • “The group member, when he came in, experienced feelings of confusion and felt very mixed-up during the first session.” VERSUS • “In the first session, the group member felt confused.”

14. Instructors and syllabi can help! • Read your syllabus. • Ask questions. • Ask questions in class, go to office hours, send an email, post a question onBlackboard! • 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!

15. Help is available for writing and searching • UM has a Writing Center at the Campus Center • Call in advance for appointments - wait time is at least 1 week! • SSW has a dedicated library liaison: • Paula Raimondo, M.L.S., AHIP • e-mail: praim001@umaryland.eduphone: (410) 706-8875 http://www.umaryland.edu/writing/consultations/makeappt.html

16. Some additional resources: • 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/

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