Macro Change Project: Section 1
This assignment utilizes the Macro Planned Change Process to assess the change potential around a specific social issue. The completed paper will cover the tasks of engagement and assessment as described in the text.
The Macro Change Project is split into three sections, and each section will be scored for an individual grade. The goal is to have one complete paper at the end and that you are able to use feedback from the instructor to improve future submissions (you may use feedback on Section 1 to strengthen Section 2, etc.).
This project covers the breadth of material presented in this course. It requires a thoughtful application of macro concepts and processes. As this is an academic exercise rather than live practice, you must use creativity in presenting hypothetical situations. Please be as realistic as possible, but understand that the assessment and engagement of the macro population require imagination.
Instructions for SECTION 1:
The first step in the Planned Change Process sets the stage for macro interventions at the community level. You will choose a social issue based on your interests, then a population, problem, and arena.
Your paper will cover:
engaging the macro client;
analyzing the history, demographics, and prevalence of the social problem;
exploring the professional knowledge base;
identifying community assets and allies; and
creating a hypothesis of change.
GRADING GUIDELINES
As reflected in each section’s rubric, your paper is expected to:
Be a final product (Sections 1, 2, and 3 taken together) that is 14–15 pages in length, not including works cited.
Use APA formatting in your writing, formatting, and style.
Include a reference section that contains
at least 8 peer-reviewed, academic journal articles from scholarly resources, and
as many government websites, policy papers from think tanks, books, organizations’ reports, your textbook, and so on that demonstrate you have considered many points of view in your research.
This assignment is graded according to the rubric below.
NOTE: This rubric is for Section 1 only.
Subsequent assignments include associated rubrics.
Detailed Explanation of Section 1
Section 1 – DUE MODULE 4 (50 points)
Section 1 of your paper is the INTRODUCTION and the ENGAGEMENT PLAN
Introduction
Describe your chosen macro client in terms of population, problem, and arena.
Discuss the political/policy context briefly.
Give the reader a very broad-strokes outline of your assessment and hypothesis of change.
One page of text max.
Engagement
Lay out a plan of how to meaningfully and respectfully engage with the macro client. First-person voice is acceptable in this section, as you will describe your personal limitations to understanding the perspectives of the macro client.
This should include plans of how to
“hear” members’ voices,
explore the impacts of discrimination and oppression, and
engage the macro client in participation in the planned change process.
This part should be one page of text.
(See Chapter 3 in Social Work Macro Practice for a thorough explanation of this step.)
Note: Section 1 includes your title page, written text, and your reference page. You will use the same title and reference page for each submission, just adding references as you go. At a minimum, you should have three sources in this section. This will include your textbook, as you will use Chapter 3 for your engagement plan, and should also include at least two sources of demographic data about the population referenced in the introduction.
Utilize HEADINGS per APA format in Section 1: Title your headings INTRODUCTION and ENGAGEMENT. You may use subheadings as needed/desired.
