Clear, logical, and organized writing is an essential skill for social work professionals. As a graduate student, you are expected to use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Assocation (“APA style”) to prepare your written assignments for SSW classes. You will use APA style to format your papers and cite your references.
Where To Find Help
SSW Writing Support Team
If you need to strengthen your writing skills, our School’s Writing Support Team is available to help enrolled social work students by sharing strategies for organizing information, presenting a cohesive argument, ensuring clear communication, and mastering APA style.
The SSW Writing Support Team can help you learn and master skills to write more effectively. Please note that the team is not a copyediting service and cannot provide last-minute assistance. Plan ahead before your assignments are due. Email the SSW Writing Support Team to request a consultation appointment at your preferred day and time. Writing support is available in person, by email, or by phone.
UNC-Chapel Hill Writing Center
Writing coaches at UNC-Chapel Hill Writing Center work with students face-to-face or online at any stage of the writing process, for any kind of writing project. The center also offers online resources for tips about many common writing challenges.
Additional Resources
APA Style and Citations
- APA Style Blog Site — official companion to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th Edition
- Purdue OWL (Purdue University)
- APA Citation Style (George Washington University)
- APA Quick Reference Guide, 7th Edition (UNC School of Social Work)
- APA rules on abbreviations (6th edition)
- APA rules on numbers (6th edition)
- APA Survival Skills
- How to cite archival sources
- How to cite the DSM
- How to cite legal materials
- How to cite webinars and web videos
Formatting Papers
- Tips to customize spacing and layout
- How to create proper headings
- How to create a hanging indent in a reference section
- Tips and tricks for MS Word
Writing Clearly and Effectively
- How to write a great paper
- Building a logical argument
- Organization and outlines
- Writing clear, concise sentences
- Quoting and paraphrasing
- Using seriation and parallel structure
- Cut the jargon
- Reducing bias in language
- Using transitions properly
- Writing effective conclusions
- Revising drafts
- Effective proofreading
Understanding Plagiarism
Librarians from UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolna Central University and North Carolina State University collaborated to create an interactive site that focuses on how to recognize plagiarism and how to avoid it.
