They will demonstrate in their thinking command of key social work terms and distinctions, and an ability to identify and address fundamental issues in social work practice. Their work will demonstrate professionalism in the use of ideas, assumptions, inferences, and intellectual processes. They will demonstrate the ability to analyze pertinent questions and issues clearly and precisely, organize and formulate information accurately, distinguish the relevant from irrelevant, recognize questionable assumptions and unsubstantiated assertions, use key social work concepts effectively, use social work language in keeping with established professional usage, identify relevant points of view, and reason carefully from clearly stated premises, as well as demonstrate sensitivity to important implications and consequences. They will demonstrate excellent reasoning and problem-solving in the context of professional social work practice. The new social worker is proficient in effective communication.
Writing is an essential component of social work practice.
As a routine part of their professional practice, social workers write, for example, diagnostic assessments, evaluation reports, intervention plans, progress notes, referral letters, petitions, appeals, summary reports, policy analyses, program plans, grant requests, legislative testimonials, committee minutes, and scholarly research papers. The new social worker writes in order to help people. Rather, writing is conceived as an integral part of the helping process, central to the mission of the profession, and essential for competent professional service. Clear definitions of effective writing for social workers leave riot yet emerged. Drawing upon principles of General Semantics, effective writing in social work also reflects recognition of the potential deleterious effects of labels and labeling, unsubstantiated assertions, and casual speculations.