A2 Written Critique Details

Overview

Assessment: Essay

This assessment task is designed to build on your learning from assessment 1 and will take the form of an essay (2000 - 2500 words maximum). The essay will require you to demonstrate your understanding of at least two theories/theorists covered in this unitand critically employ each perspective in terms of its implications for(1) analysing a case-study practice situation and (2) informing your practice response with a given case scenario.(NB. a list of relevant case-studies is provided in the assessment 2 folder).

The key to this exercise is articulating your understanding of how theories inform methods of practice used in social work and human services. The paper shall compare the ways that theories complement, contradict or compensate for one another, and will consider the implications for how the social worker/human services worker might work with these in concrete situations. You may use one theory/ theorist from your first assessment, but you also need to consider one other that you have not used before.

The ories might include: Marx/ Marxism/ Weber/ DuBois/ critical theory/ Gramsci/ Critical Race Theory/ Foucault/ Derrida/ Bourdieu / post structural-postmodern theory, feminist theory/Perkins-Gilman/Smith/hooks/Butler/ Dubois/anti-racist/critical whiteness theory /queer theory/ eco-feminism/ Indigenous Standpoint theory, etc.

Practice methods supporting and informed by these theorists/theories might include individual work/counselling, critical analysis, casework, critical reflection, narrative practice, group work, research, collaborative practice, community development, community education, mediation, social policy analysis and advocacy, social and political activist campaigning.

The following criteria will assist in what to prioritise in your essay.

make as clear anargument as possible as to how the theorist/ theory has helped you analyse the situation and informed or guided your practice.

a critical use of each of your chosen theorists or theoretical perspectives, clearly stating which aspects of the theory apply to the case situationi.e. its context, what discourses/ideologies might be recognised, how this relates to issues of power, identity, inequality, oppression, emancipation and possible solutions or at least the most effective practices; compare and contrast the theoretical perspectives (highlighting any limitations or complementarities)as applied to the practice situation shown in the case-scenario; identify practice methods workers might use when applying the theories/theorists ideas to practice, as per the case situation. (e.g. counselling, casework, group work, advocacy, community development work, social and political activism, policy analysis and lobbying, etc);provide a brief critical reflection of how these theories might apply to your own framework for practice according to the values you prioritise in your espoused practice and the theoretical tools you prefer for analysis.For example, why you might prioritise some approaches over others for particular ethical and practical reasons; This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight:50

Length:2000 - 2500 words

Individual/Group: Individual

Due (indicative):Friday Week 13 (31st May, 2024)

Related Unit learning outcomes:1,2,3Please see CRA for Assessment 2

7. Case-study Phil Marx, Maybe Weber, Maybe Durkheim, Maybe feminism/critical masculinity studies?

Phil is a 45-year-old man who has been working as a factory floor manager for HYPERLINK
"https://www.steggles.com.au/steggles-shops" t "_blank" Steggles Links to an external site. for the past 15 years. Phils role requires him to work on rostered shifts (day and night). Even though he is in a leadership role he is on a casual wage (not a permanent staff member). Phil chose this through an individual contract with his employer in order to receive a higher wage. Phil is also a volunteer fire fighter in his local community in rural NSW. Phil has been a volunteer fire fighter for 10 years and sees this as a valuable part of his life due to the comradery and connection to his community. It also gives him a sense of pride to be contributing to his local community in a meaningful way.

When Phil heard word of the bushfires that had plagued the Australian countryside in November 2019, he was committed to doing whatever it took to fight the fires and keep the community safe. Phils boss agreed to allow Phil to fight fires in his work time, however due to the need to replace Phil for the time he was away this resulted in a reduction of pay. Phil wasn't too worried at the time as he was aware that fire fighters would be compensated from the Government for the time lost.

Phil was outraged to find out that he would only be compensated for the hours he worked outside of his normal work role and would not be paid for the first 5 days of fighting fires where he was subjected to dangerous conditions that have had a significant impact on his health. The exhaustion of fighting the fires 24/7, the devastation of seeing what the fire had done to the homes, families and wildlife in his community and the news that he was not going to be properly compensated has had a significant impact on Phils mental health. Phil has been finding it difficult to sleep, has been drinking more excessively than usual and has become withdrawn in his relationship with his wife and children.

Phil has come to see you in your role as a social worker on the advice of his wife as she cant take it anymore and is talking about leaving him.

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