Writing Proficiency

I have always enjoyed writing whether the task at hand offered the opportunity to express my views, or reflect on a moment, a movie, or a book. The chance to share with others what is in my heart has been challenging at times, but the final result has always been a sense of accomplishment that gave me pride. The Human Services program has offered me an opportunity to delve into various writing challenges and new opportunities to grow along the way. Just as our experience is comprised of the various roles we play, our writing, too, can reflect different roles and voices. We shift our voice based on the audience with whom we are attempting to communicate and their expectations (Lamothe, 2005). (retrieved from Student Capstone Portfolio Guide, p.12) (Appendix B) I had to become more keenly aware of my intended audience, purpose for writing and desired outcome. Academic Voice In HSP 385 Applied Research Methods I had the opportunity to develop my academic voice in writing the introduction to my research paper. (Appendix S) The tone of an academic piece reflects the knowledge of the writer and seeks to tap into the interest of others to seek to share that knowledge. The academic voice is often followed by data or statistical information that the writer feels should be of interest to the reader. It is

Writing Proficiency

important to be accurate and purposeful in writing in the academic voice to maintain the readers interest and also to maintain the integrity of the writer.

Advocacy Voice The advocacy voice seeks to inspire others to share the writers passion for the topic. It was my goal to ignite that passion from others when I expressed the needs of at-risk youth in my Needs Assessment for HSP 485 Program Planning and Evaluation. (Appendix O) This is another area where it is important to know your audience. When my goal is to seek financial support my advocacy voice will be slightly different than when my goal is to seek the support of community members as mentors or volunteers for a new project. Creative Voice The creative voice asks others to visualize a concept or put themselves in the writers shoes as they share an experience they may not have ever experienced themselves. I asked the reader to visualize the upbringing, growth and development of a future human service professional through my Who am I? presentation and paper during HSP 301. (Appendix A) Writing in the creative voice can offer the opportunity to visualize the possibilities. I have seen the value of this style in working with human services professionals from varying backgrounds. I asked a group to picture this

Writing Proficiency

as I described the potential changes we could implement through working together. It was powerful to see how each person was able to visualize within their personal framework. Professional Voice The professional voice becomes one of second nature. It is different from our spoken voice in that we are intentional in our word choices. While it can still come across as conversational, the intent is to be clear on the purpose such as I was in my Letter of Interest to the Moyer Foundation for HSP 484 Grant Writing. (Appendix T) It is important that the writing is clear and concise. Professionals are busy and going through a pile of letters and emails can be tedious. In order to get your point across and garner professional respect it is important to write efficiently. Reflective Voice The reflective voice allows the writer to recall what has been gained through an experience, such as my Summary of Learning in HSP 404 Human Service Professionals and Community Systems. Through reflection a deeper appreciation of the experience and growth is achieved. The reflective voice would be valuable in seeing the knowledge that was gained through an inservice training course as well as in reflecting on what lessons were learned that you may choose to avoid in the future. I have had the opportunity to utilize my various writing voices and learn the best fit for a given situation. Writing is another area that a professional can continue to learn and grow. I look forward to utilizing and to

Writing Proficiency

continuing to sharpen my writing skills throughout my career as a human service professional.