Students will complete a 5-7 page Personal Statement required for admission to the SSW program. This Personal Statement is a compilation of previous assignments.
Why Social Work? Write 3 to 5 paragraphs describing at least three reasons or experiences that have led you to a career in social work.
Students must also include information from the following 2 assignments:
Reflective Essay 1
Reflective Essay 2
Resilience & Self Care: Resilience and Self Care modules are included in the second part of the semester. What is your personal plan for resilience and self care as a professional throughout your college experience and into your career?
Formatting the Assignment:
5-7 pages
APA style
12 pt. font, double spaced
Students may use headings throughout the paper:
Why Social Work
Strengths & Challenges
Career goals
Resilience & Self Care
Personal Statement Rubric (2)
Personal Statement Rubric (2)
Criteria Ratings Pts
Depth of Thought & Analysis
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8 pts
Proficient
Groundwork is clearly established at the onset. Author makes succinct, insightful conclusions based on the review.
6 pts
Competent
Readers are introduced to the overall topic. Remarks show some degree of analysis, though not all thoughts are supported in body of paper.
2 pts
Novice
Neither implicit nor explicit focused topic. No indication author applied much thought to the paper.
/ 8 pts
Synthesis & Congruency
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5 pts
Proficient
Paper flows with content and transitions tie paragraphs well
4 pts
Competent
There is basic flow and transitions do not always tie paragraphs
3 pts
Novice
Minimal to no direction and does not tie paragraphs
/ 5 pts
Thoroughness
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5 pts
Proficient
The appropriate content is covered in depth without redundancies.
3.34 pts
Competent
Author is someone thorough but may have not been in depth in a couple of areas where further exploration would have been helpful.
1.66 pts
Novice
Major sections of pertinent content have been omitted, glossed over, or unnecessarily repeated.
/ 5 pts
Clarity of Writing and Mechanics
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3 pts
Proficient
Writing is crisp, clear, and succinct. Writer incorporates creative voice when appropriate. Minimal spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors are made.
2.25 pts
Competent
Writing is generally clear, but unnecessary words are occasionally used. Meaning is sometimes hidden. Several spelling, grammar or punctuation errors are made.
1.5 pts
Novice
It is hard to know what the writer is trying to express. Writing is convoluted. Misspelled words, incorrect grammar, and improper punctuation are frequent.
/ 3 pts