Writing is integrated throughout life in almost all professional careers. Even jobs that don't publicize their writing, often behind the scenes, require writing for documentation or legal reference. “Writing is an essential skill in social work. Social workers who can write a well-constructed report, a clear description of a client, or a compelling memorandum or letter are more effective in serving the interests of their client systems” (Falk; Ross). Social work actively involves all types of writing styles throughout the profession because: There are different types of social workers. Let’s say you become a counselor; You may be expected to keep a professional journal including technical details and the professional opinion of the clients you meet. The definition of "professional" in the business world is "conforming to the standards of ability, competence or character normally expected of a suitably qualified and experienced person in a working environment." This is part of the communication aspect of social work. You can also involve writing when you are trying to fully understand your customer. Why should you understand your customers? So that you can completely and accurately diagnose the situations you encounter. To do this, you might find yourself writing from your client's perspective. This helps you resolve customer situations by being consistent with their point of view. “To be effective, social workers must be acutely sensitive to the experiences and feelings of those they are trying to help and be able to describe those experiences and feelings” (Falk; Ross). As you can understand, describing in writing is essential in the field of social work. I don't mean "describe" as in using fancy adjectives to add and create drama to a situation...... middle of paper ...... important events. “Agencies have replaced long-form storytelling with a combination of brief narratives and standardized forms, with an emphasis on accountability” (Kagle, 1995). Procedural documents, contracts, progress files, client references and event summaries are all examples of the type of documents you will complete using your writing skills. It will be your responsibility to report on what is happening in the workplace and with your customers. Works CitedFalk, Diane S. and Phyllis G. Ross. University. Working paper. Academic, 2001. Web. April 7, 2014. Hartman, A. (1993). Many ways to know. In Beebe, L. (ed.). Professional Writing for Human ServicesKagle, J.D. (1995). Registration. In Edwards, RL The social work encyclopedia (19th ed.), (recording 33372, CD version).