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

Step one: formulating a research question Your research question Arises out of your field experience Determines the kind of research you will be conducting Reflects an area of your topic that you would like to know more about and that may not have been addressed or answered during your field experience

Topic: Job shadow For this project, a student job shadowed 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

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?

Topic: Community service For this project, a student helped revitalize a small park in her community Interviewed community parks and recreation director Developed a plan of action Organized a fundraiser Helped with landscaping of park

Possible Research Questions Are communities with well-funded park systems safer? How much outdoor play do developing children require? What are the education and employment requirements and job prospects for directors of parks and recreation?

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

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?

Some recent examples from MRHS: How are underground clubs impacting the DJ industry? How are Czech and US school systems similar and different? Are Zoos ethical? Does sports psychology really affect an athlete’s performance? Are traditional and cosmetic dentistry necessary? Who is Rodney Mullen and why is he so relevant to modern skateboarding? Why is diesel still an acceptable and even necessary alternative to traditional fuels in the automotive industry?

Some recent examples from MRHS: Should funding for technology in American public education be maintained? How important is pickup soccer to formal training of US youth players? How has the design of bowling balls developed through the years? How important is physical appearance in journalism?

Some recent examples from MRHS: How has American culture influenced Japanese media, way of life, and mode of dress? Can photography be used as a tool to mentally and physically rehabilitate? How does one become a CPA? How has aviation technology improved over the last century? What are the most significant advancements in aerospace engineering through history?

Your task: Review your capstone experience so far. What questions remain from your field experience? Did you encounter any problems in your field experience? Could you research and attempt to provide a solution to that problem? What ideas does your mentor have for areas in need of further study within his/her discipline?

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)

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

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

http://citationmachine.net

Step 3: Conducting Your Research Modified Cornell Note taking

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

Step 4: Thesis Statement…

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.)

Sample thesis (topic: )

Sample thesis (topic: )

Sample thesis (topic: )

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

Step 4:Outlines

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