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Capstone Research Essay

Capstone Research Essay. End Goal. Develop, through the sustained research of a question related to your capstone experience, an informed solution to that question Construct a substantiated written argument that adheres to a high quality of research-based writing skills.

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Capstone Research Essay

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  1. Capstone ResearchEssay

  2. End Goal • Develop, through the sustained research of a question related to your capstone experience, an informed solution to that question • Construct a substantiated written argument that adheres to a high quality of research-based writing skills

  3. Step one: formulating a research question • Your research question • Determines the kind of research you will be conducting • States the “what/who/how/when” you will need to answer your inquiry question

  4. Topic: Job shadow working musician • For this project, a student job shadowed a working musician • Inquiry question: what are the responsibilities of and opportunities for a working musician? • Attended band rehearsals • Sat in on a business meeting • Attended a performance by the band • Met and interviewed the band’s booking agent

  5. Possible research questions • What kind of living could I earn as a musician? • Where/how do professional musicians make their money? • What is the impact of using social media as a means to obtain work as a musician • What are the benefits and drawbacks of being a unionized musician?

  6. Topic: Community service • For this project, a student helped revitalize a small park in her community • Inquiry Question: What types of community service opportunities are offered through the parks and recs department to help revitalize local areas? • Interviewed community parks and recreation director • Developed a plan of action • Organized a fundraiser • Helped with landscaping of park

  7. Possible Research Questions • Are communities with park systems better off? • Who helps and organizes non-profit community services projects in my community? • How can students get involved in the parks and recs department? • What are the education and employment requirements and job prospects for directors of parks and recreation?

  8. Topic: Academic focus • For this project, the student read a body of work from the poet Walt Whitman plus a body of Lit Crit of the author’s work • Inquiry Question: What messages are central to the body of Walt Whitman’s work and how does that apply to generations today?

  9. Possible research questions • How is Whitman’s life reflected in his major works? • How have later poets adopted and adapted Whitman’s poetic style to their own works? • How significant was Whitman’s impact on 20th century American poetry and how is it used in the classroom today?

  10. Your task: • Explore the web • Use a general search term (“careers in music”, for example) and see what pops up in the results. • Generate and submit 3-5 preliminary research questions (due at end of the period) • Compile an annotated bibliography of at least 10 sources which might be useful for your research (due Monday) We will discuss this more, don’t freak out. 

  11. Step 2: The Annotated Bibliography • Will become a “Works Cited” page. • A list of your sources with a brief statement (50-100 words) summarizing each source • See sample on blogspot

  12. The Annotated Bibliography • Ten sources minimum • Alphabetize entries • 1” margins, 12 point font • Double space between entries (citations and annotations single-spaced) • Due …

  13. http://citationmachine.net

  14. Step 3: Conducting Your Research Modified Cornell Note taking

  15. Source Title Commentary Quotes from research (keep relatively small) Larger ideas, connections, summative considerations

  16. Step 4: Thesis Statement…

  17. What is a thesis statement? • tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. • is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. • directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel. • makes a claim that others might dispute. • is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation (see http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html fore more details.)

  18. Sample thesis (topic: )

  19. Sample thesis (topic: )

  20. Sample thesis (topic: )

  21. Upcoming deadlines… …Basic research of original sources complete* (Notebook Check) …Thesis statement due …Formal Outlines due

  22. Step 4:Outlines

  23. Step 5: Rough Drafts • Due … • 3000-6000 words • 12 Font • Times New Roman • Double-spaced • Last name and page number at top right side of each page

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