CAPSTONE
Competency 981.1.1: Capstone – The graduate integrates and synthesizes competencies from across the degree program and thereby demonstrates the ability
to participate in and contribute value to the chosen professional field.
Task 3: Capstone Chapters 1–3
Introduction:
In this task you will provide an introduction to the problem that you have identified and that you intend to research during your capstone project. You
will also state and provide the context for your research question(s), via a review of relevant literature, and describe the data collection methods.
This task is composed of chapters 1, 2, and 3 of the capstone written project, along with a title page, table of contents, and reference list. The
attached “Capstone Template” is provided as a guide to help you format this complex paper.
Requirements:
Your submission must be your original work. No more than a combined total of 30% of the submission and no more than a 10% match to any one individual
source can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from sources, even if cited correctly. Use the Turnitin Originality Report available in Taskstream
as a guide for this measure of originality.
You must use the rubric to direct the creation of your submission because it provides detailed criteria that will be used to evaluate your work. Each
requirement below may be evaluated by more than one rubric aspect. The rubric aspect titles may contain hyperlinks to relevant portions of the course.
A. Discuss the topic of the project, including the importance of the topic to the field of education. The discussion should maintain an administrative
perspective and be supported by citations from current professional literature.
B. Describe the problem by doing the following:
1. Provide a concise problem statement (suggested length of 1–2 sentences) that identifies a problem relevant to the topic in part A and the problem’s
impact on the school environment.
2. Explain the problem in the research setting and its possible causes. The explanation should maintain an administrative perspective and be supported
by citations from professional literature.
C. List the one to three open-ended research question(s) previously approved in the prospectus in task 1.
D. Provide a conclusion for chapter 1 by justifying the need for this project.
Note: Parts A, B, C, and D constitute chapter 1 of the capstone written project. The suggested length of chapter 1 is 4–6 pages.
E. Create a well-organized literature review of 15–20 current professional sources by doing the following:
1. Provide a one-paragraph introduction to the current professional literature on the topic, including themes to be discussed in subsequent
subsections.
2. Discuss 15–20 current professional sources relevant to the topic and organize them logically into subsections, according to themes.
a. Discuss prior research and best practices in the topic area within each theme found in the literature.
F. Provide a conclusion for chapter 2 by discussing how the literature applies to the problem being investigated.
Note: Parts E and F constitute chapter 2 of the capstone written project. The suggested length of chapter 2 is 4–6 pages.
G. Discuss the methodology to be used in the project by doing the following:
1. Discuss how the research design adheres to an action research methodology.
2. List the one to three research questions from part C for reference in chapter 3.
3. Describe the potential participants in your proposed study, including their number, applicable demographics, and other relevant characteristics
(e.g., cultural factors, learning styles, educational levels, prior learning experiences, or level of motivation).
Note: If demographic data are taken from a source, please remember to cite the source(s).
4. Describe the instruments and methods you will use to collect the data. The instruments and methods used must align with the research questions and
demonstrate an action research methodology.
Note: Sufficient detail will allow another researcher to replicate the study. If qualitative data are collected, more than one qualitative instrument
will be needed.
5. Discuss how the security and confidentiality of the data will be maintained.
H. Provide a conclusion for chapter 3 by summarizing the key methodological elements of the study.
Note: Parts G and H constitute chapter 3 of the capstone written project. The suggested length of chapter 3 is 4–6 pages.
I. Acknowledge sources, using APA-formatted in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.
J. Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.
Note: This reference list will appear at the end of chapter 5 of the capstone paper.
CAPSTONE
Competency 981.1.1: Capstone – The graduate integrates and synthesizes competencies from across the degree program and thereby demonstrates the ability
to participate in and contribute value to the chosen professional field.
Task 4: Chapters 4–5 and Appendices
Introduction:
In this task you will submit the last two chapters of your capstone written project and the appendices. You are encouraged to submit the entire paper,
including the previously approved chapters 1–3 and the references, but only chapters 4–5 and the appendices will be evaluated in this task. The
attached “Capstone Template” is provided as a guide to help you format this complex paper.
Requirements:
Your submission must be your original work. No more than a combined total of 30% of the submission and no more than a 10% match to any one individual
source can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from sources, even if cited correctly. Use the Turnitin Originality Report available in Taskstream
as a guide for this measure of originality.
You must use the rubric to direct the creation of your submission because it provides detailed criteria that will be used to evaluate your work. Each
requirement below may be evaluated by more than one rubric aspect. The rubric aspect titles may contain hyperlinks to relevant portions of the course.
A. Present the results of your project by doing the following:
1. Provide a summary of the results that is supported with an overview of the data collected.
2. Analyze each set of data.
3. Create visual aids (e.g., tables, charts, graphics) to display results.
4. Discuss the answers to your one to three research questions based on your data analysis.
Note: Part A constitutes chapter 4 of the capstone written project. The suggested length of chapter 4 is 4–5 pages. Because chapter 4 is written after
the intervention is complete and the data have been collected and analyzed, it must be written in past tense.
B. Discuss the conclusions of your research project by doing the following:
1. Provide an overview of the conclusions reached.
2. Explain how your research problem could be solved based on your results, maintaining an administrative perspective on the problem and solution.
3. Discuss one to five strengths and one to fiveweaknesses of the project.
4. Discuss factors that may have skewed your findings.
5. Recommend areas for further investigation raised by your research and relevant to your topic.
Note: Part B constitutes chapter 5 of the capstone written project. The suggested length of chapter 5 is 4–5 pages. Maintain past tense in all sections
referring to the intervention, data collection, or data analysis.
C. Compile appendices for your project that include the following:
1. a detailed outline of the intervention or instructional product (e.g., timetable, listed procedures, resources, materials)
2. all data-gathering instruments (e.g., assessments, surveys, questionnaires)
3. the informed consent form you used to obtain permission for participants to take part in your project
Note: Part C constitutes the appendices of the capstone written project.
D. Acknowledge sources, using APA-formatted in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted, paraphrased, or summarized.
E. Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.
