Assignment Two
Reflective Analysis of a selected Novel using a social justice lens (25% of grade)
Assignment Length: Maximum 6 pages (excluding reference and cover/title pages)
Assignment Due Date: January 29, 2024
This assignment prepares students to contemplate what is required to practice with individuals and the social
problems affecting them, by applying a social justice lens. Students begin the assignment by reflecting on the
groupings of people of African Descent (see page 4) and issues that may affect them presented by the instructor
for assignment consideration and class content. Our critical reflective process will expect us to ask several
questions. What do we know about the population (values, beliefs, histories, culture), the social injustices and
issues within, and how social injustices are created and maintained within the prevailing society? You are also
expected to reflect on yourselves as critical social workers working with the characters in your novel using a
social justice lens.
Assignment Description
You will be presented with a list of novels that are focussed on people of African Descent and issues affecting
them. Select the novel, that best align with your preferred area for advancing social justice. Your preferred
novel should be able to enable critical analysis and discussion of social issues or injustices as expressed by
characters in the novel using the following themes:
• Brief identification of significant issues in the novel.
• Identification of personal and political issues depicted by identified character(s) in the novel. Please
do not use more than three characters from the novel.
• Explanation, analysis of concepts and approaches manifested in the novel.
• Reflection on how you will address the identified issues as a critical social worker working (with the
population or characters in the novel) in a way that can lead to broader social change using your
identified social justice perspective.
• Accurate summary of the significant issues affecting the character(s) in the selected novel (20%).
• Clear articulation and discussion of the link between personal and political forces in society (20%).
• Demonstrated understanding of concepts and application of approaches from class readings, lectures,
and the selected novel (20%).
• Clear analysis and reflexivity in articulating what you would do as a social worker working (with the
population or characters in the novel) within a social justice framework (20%)
• Clear presentation of the written material (evident in organization of paper, clarity of language and
expression), page length and appropriate use of APA guidelines (for example: citations, references).
(20%)