WRITING ASSISTANCE FOR MSW STUDENTS

We have one departmental writing tutor this year, Kate Regan.  She is available to help students, for a maximum of 6 hours during the academic year, with improving their writing skills related to assigned course papers and/or Masters Projects.  Kate's services are designed to help students with skill development per se, and proofreading of papers.

Kate's services will be available through referrals from either one of your instructors or the Primary Reader of your Masters Project/Portfolio.  In consultation with you, they will decide whether you would potentially benefit from these services.  If the two of you decide that the services would be helpful, and you'd like to receive them, your Instructor/Primary reader will make a referral to Kate and ask you to also make direct contact with her

As a special note to students who may be some distance from the UMD campus, Kate is prepared to work with you via phone and e-mail.

If your writing skills need improvement, don't feel self consciousous about it and let this prevent you from seeking help.   Writing is definitely a "learned skill", as opposed to primarily reflecting a person's innate ability.  And there's a real danger of your having refined all the skills needed for quality professional practice, except for writing.  In fact, I've actually seen this happen with it sometimes tragically leading to work colleagues and/or clients believing that a Social Worker can't "think straight" merely because they have poor writing sills.  It's important that this doesn't occur with you.

-Mike Raschick, Department Head