Independent Study Paper (IS)

Year 1st

Social work

1. Introduction to social work 30 marks

2. Basic sociology for social work 30 marks

Course Description:

This course provides opportunity to the students on comprehensive independent study. This course
helps BSW students in empowering and associating learning knowledge and skills of different subjects in
holistic approach.

Course Objectives:

After completing this course the students will be able to:

1. Build confidence in competencies and self-reflect contextualization and association

2. Apply learned knowledge and skills of different subjects in real life situation
3. Prepare independent study report on social problems & issues

Course Contents:

Independent study guidelines

All participants are required to be involved in an independent study project in areas of their interest in
social or development work. The candidates will be asked to present this paper towards the end of the
year. Each participant will be appointed a guidance counselor to help the student with this project.

The objective of Independent study is as follows:

➢ Orientation to research techniques and process.

➢ Develop knowledge in the areas of interest of social or development work.
➢ Develop writing skills and knowledge.
➢ Find ways to tap information sources available within Nepal.

This handout is a guide to your Independent study, not a set of rigid rules. You and your advisor will be
responsible for adapting this overview to fit your specific situation.

The Independent study may be either problem orientated or research oriented. But in first year we
recommend you to conduct in problem oriented. If you choose another approach you should do so only
after careful discussion with your advisor.

1. Your advisor (along with the director) is your authority in terms of developing your Independent
study.
2. Length: Approximately 15 – 20 pages.
3. Studies may be typed if easily readable and photocopiable for giving one readable copy to the
institution for the library. All other copies are your responsibility.
4. Include tables, graphs, diagrams, Photos, etc as they help you clarify your ideas and plans.
5. The study must be your own ideas and thought; applications of experiences and knowledge gained
through the block Placement, field placement and camps.

Style, layout and page formatting

1. Title page
All text on the title page is centered vertically and horizontally. The title page has no page
number and it is not counted in any page numbering. The university/ college logo (height= 3.8
cm and width= 4.5 cm) is put on top. Titles font size – 14. Text font size - 12
2. Paper Size
Use quarto/letter paper (21.59 cm x 27.94 cm)
3. Page layout
1 inch each side
4. Page numbering
All pages are numbered at the top right, except the first page of each chapter whose page
number is put at the bottom center. There should be 3 cm of white space from the top of the
page number to the top of the paper, and 2 cm of white space from the bottom of the page
number to the bottom of the paper for the first page of each chapter. Numeric page numbering
begins with the first page of Chapter 1.
5. Spacing
All pages are single sided. Text is double-spaced, except for long quotations and the bibliography
(which are single-spaced). There is one blank line between a section heading and the text that
follows it.
6. Spacing after Punctuation Space once after all punctuation. This includes using one space (not
two!) following punctuation marks at the ends of sentences.
7. Alignment, justification, and Paragraph Indentation
All texts (except those in the title page) should be aligned left and justified to create a clean
look along the left and right side of the page. Every first line of all paragraph should be indented
5 to 7 spaces.
8. Font face and size
Any easily readable font (e.g. Arial, Tahoma, Cambria, Courier, and Calibri) is acceptable, but
Times New Roman is preferable. Generally, the same font must be used throughout the
manuscript, except tables and graphs may use a different font. The font size should be 12 points
throughout the manuscript, except the research title and chapter titles may use 14 points.
9. References APA format should be used to cite references within the paper.

Guide for using APA format could be accessed at http://www.apastyle.org/learn or

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html
Format of independent report
writing
 Texas International College
An autonomous institute affiliated to Tribhuvan University

Department of social work

(TITLE)

A community social problem identification report

Submitted to fulfill one of the requirements for conducting research to write a thesis in the
bachelor of social work in 1st year, Faculty of Humanities and social sciences,

Texas International College

By

(Your full name)

Student’s symbol number-

Department- Social work

Supervisor’ name-

Tribhuvan University

Kathmandu, Nepal

202
 Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge my report supervisor………,.for his Kindness and support. I am

truly blessed to have a supervisor who invests so much of himself in his students. It has been such
a joy to be his student, as he consistently nurtures my personal and professional development. I
have learned so much through his mentorship. He is inspirational. This bachelor’s research would
not have been possible without his support.

I am thankful to have had excellent committee members. Their contribution to this

project was invaluable.

To all the participants in this project, thank you for trusting me to share your knowledge
and experiences. Without their participation, this project would not have come to fruition.

To the faculty of social work for providing I with the opportunity to learn from a dynamic
team of professors who have planted seeds of knowledge and wisdom that have certainly helped
me grow into a better professional.

And, thanks to …….. , for her unwavering encouragement and support.

 Texas International College

Tribhuvan University

Bachelor in Social Work

Supervisory and examine committee approval letter

………………., candidate for the degree of bachelor in social work (BSW), has presented a
community social problem identification report title …………………….in an oral examination held
on ……..; the following committee members have found the research acceptable in form and
content, and that the candidate acceptable in form and content, and that the candidate
demonstrated satisfactory knowledge of the subject material.

External examiner: ………………………..

Supervisor : ………………………..

Committee member: ………………………..

Chair of defense: ………………………..

 Declaration

I hereby, declare that this report paper entitled ……………………….submitted to the Faculty of
social work Texas International College, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu is the result of my
original work under the supervision of Mr………… and has not been submitted for an assessment
at this or any other university and the work herein represents the sole work of the author. I also
give permission for the Texas College, Tribhuvan University to lend or photocopy this term
paper/ report on request.

Signed:

(Your name)
 Texas International College

Tribhuvan University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Bachelor in social work

Letter of Recommendation

The community social problem identification report entitled “…………….has been prepared by

………under my guidance and supervision. I found the work original and satisfactory. I, therefore,

recommend this thesis for final evaluation.

Mr.

Report supervisor,

Bachelor in social work

Texas International College

Tribhuvan University
 Table of contents

Cover page
Acknowledgement letter
Approval letter
Declaration letter
Recommendation letter
Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 Introduction of study

1.2 Background of study
1.3 Significance of study
1.4 Objectives of study

Chapter 2: Problem identification

2.1 profile of community

2.2 highlights of major field activities
2.3 identification of problem situation

Chapter 3: Methodologies

3.1 Methods applied

3.1.1Interview
3.1.2 Observation
3.3.4 Focus group discussion
3.2.4 Public forum
3.2 Ethics approval
3.3 Participants profile

Chapter 4: Data analysis and presentation of problem situation

4.1 Problem analysis

4.2 Analysis of participant’s socio- cultural and local factors for problem
4.3 Overall learning

Chapter 5: Findings, discussion and conclusion

5.1 Main findings

5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation

References

Appendices