B8648 - Lab: Professional Writing

Academic Year 2025/2026

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Social Work (cod. 8040)

Learning outcomes

The Professional Writing Workshop aims to support students in acquiring the basic knowledge and skills for drafting socio-legal and other types of reports (healthcare, school, etc.). Upon completion of the course, students will understand the main methodological approaches to professional writing and its operational tools; they will be familiar with language and communication skills as professional tools; they will understand and apply the interplay between theory and professional practice, between the written word and thought, and the importance of knowing how to use written communication as a record, testimony, and professional expression of one's work; and they will be able to construct, through writing, a representation of the assistance process that respects the ethical principles of social work.

Course contents

The Professional Writing Workshop aims to support students in acquiring the following basic knowledge and skills for drafting socio-legal and other types of reports (healthcare, school, etc.), with particular emphasis on: Planning and organizing a social report (purpose, audience, and text structure) What content to report and how (areas to explore, sources, information organization, tools for gathering case histories) Using technical and effective language (ethical principles of transparency and respect, reducing the risk of subjective interpretations, rules to follow) Reading and reporting reports (relationships with users, access to documents) Emotional aspects related to writing socio-legal reports and the professional assessment of complex situations The use of writing and new means of communication (formal and informal register)

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliographic references will be indicated during the scheduled meetings.

Teaching methods

The course will be delivered in a laboratory format to allow students to consolidate theoretical knowledge through practical exercises. Small-group work, with both individual and group feedback and correction of work, will also allow for the sharing of insights and suggestions useful for reflecting on the strengths and weaknesses identified.

Assessment methods

The exam includes a written test

Teaching tools

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Mantovani

SDGs

Gender equality Reduced inequalities

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.