SOWK 265 Pillars of Practice

Assignment Prompt #1

Reflection Paper #1 Ethics in Action (50 points)

Purpose

This assignment is designed to help you develop ethical reasoning skills essential to social work practice. You will apply the NASW Code of Ethics and an ethical decision-making model to analyze an ethical dilemma, while considering how cultural humility shapes ethical practice.

Assignment Instructions

For this reflection paper, you will identify and analyze one ethical dilemma that may arise in social work practice. The dilemma may be drawn from a case example discussed in class, course materials, or a realistic practice scenario.

Your paper should address the following components:

1. Ethical Dilemma
2. Clearly describe the ethical dilemma, including the context, key stakeholders involved, and why the situation presents an ethical challenge.
3. Application of an Ethical Decision-Making Model
4. Apply at least one ethical decision-making model to analyze the dilemma. Explain how the model guides your reasoning and supports ethical decision-making in this situation.
5. Cultural Humility and Social Work Practice
6. Discuss how cultural humility should inform the ethical decision-making process. Consider issues such as power, identity, bias, and respect for client self-determination, and explain why cultural humility is essential in ethical social work practice.
7. Reflection and Professional Insight
8. Reflect briefly on what this analysis reveals about your developing professional identity and ethical responsibilities as a social worker.

Formatting and Submission Guidelines

• 5 pages, typed and double-spaced
• APA 7th edition
• Scholarly sources are required and must be properly cited using APA format
• Submit via Blackboard by the assigned due date

Rubric Reflection Paper #1: Ethics in Action (50 points)

Clear Explanation of Ethical Dilemma (15 points)

• 1315 pts: Ethical dilemma is clearly described, well-contextualized, and demonstrates strong understanding of ethical complexity
• 1012 pts: Ethical dilemma is adequately described with minor gaps in clarity or context
• 09 pts: Ethical dilemma is unclear, underdeveloped, or inaccurately presented

Application of Ethical Decision-Making Model (15 points)

• 1315 pts: Ethical model is applied accurately and thoughtfully, demonstrating strong ethical reasoning
• 1012 pts: Ethical model is applied with basic understanding but limited depth or clarity
• 09 pts: Ethical model is missing, incorrectly applied, or insufficiently explained

Integration of Cultural Humility and Relevance to Social Work Practice (10 points)

• 910 pts: Demonstrates clear understanding of cultural humility and its importance in ethical decision-making
• 78 pts: Addresses cultural humility but with limited depth or connection to practice
• 06 pts: Cultural humility is minimally addressed or not clearly connected to ethical practice

Organization, Clarity, and Academic Writing (10 points)

• 910 pts: Writing is clear, well-organized, and professional; APA style is consistently followed
• 78 pts: Writing is generally clear with minor organizational or APA issues