Discuss the opportunities and challenges relating to implementing anti-oppressive practice in contemporary social work.

Discuss the opportunities and challenges relating to implementing anti-oppressive practice in contemporary social work.

Descriptive writing is not enough for this essay. Descriptive writing is information-giving. You will do some of this, but it should be minimal. You need to write an essay that provides a critical perspective on the topics provided. For pointers on the difference between descriptive and critical writing see the Table 4.3 on page 31, in the book by Brown and Rutter (2006) Critical Thinking for Social Work, Exeter: Learning Matters (online access). Please also read chapter 4 from Aveyard, Sharp and Wooliams (2011) A Beginner’s guide to Critical Thinking and Writing in Health and Social Care, Maidenhead: McGraw Hill/Open University Press (online access).

Make sure that the points you are raising in the main body of your essay follow from each other- your assignment needs to ‘flow’, i.e. follow a logical order and tell ‘a story’ in some ways. If you jump from one issue to another in each paragraph, your essay will read like a list of unrelated points. Make sure that you use connecting words, such as ‘however’, ‘furthermore’, consequently’ etc.

You need to back up your argument and ideas with evidence. Evidence can take the form of other people’s writings/views/research that you include as direct quotes or paraphrased (and referenced).  Also statistics, policy/legislation information.

Present both sides of the argument, i.e. the strengths and weaknesses of an argument/position, also what critiques/challenges have there been to a certain position? The essay topics lend themselves very well to this, as they present you with a some of these dilemmas (i.e. opportunities and challenges, is it an aspiration or a reality, etc.)

Needless to say, for a good essay you need to read widely and extensively. And then read some more