TESC Capstone - Anybody ever do a presentation instead of a research paper?

[Ladyplf]

I am taking the Capstone course and I am stuck. I can't decide or choose a topic for the paper and time is running out. My mentor is pretty useless too. I asked if I could do a creative presentation and she said I would have to write a 25 page paper no matter what. Is this true? This capstone course seems pretty narrow and unaccommodating. banghead The syllabus says one thing and the mentor another, what is the truth?

from the syllabus:

Creative Project
Audience Demonstration and Presentation: If you are a student in visual, performing, or literary arts you have the opportunity to synthesize knowledge by developing a creative product in your respective field of study. It may take the form of developing a film, choreographing a dance, acting in a production, exhibiting paintings, writing a collection of poetry or short stories, writing a play, writing a literary analysis, presenting a photographic essay, or any similar type of creative endeavor.

Your capstone will conclude with an explanatory report relating to the production of your project. It should reveal a synthesis of skills and content knowledge. The length of your explanatory report will be determined according to the nature of your project and subject to approval by your mentor, but it should be a minimum of 15 pages.

This type of project will require a demonstration using a either a PowerPoint presentation or a video presentation.

[petersouth]

I am taking the Capstone course and I am stuck. I can't decide or choose a topic for the paper and time is running out. My mentor is pretty useless too. I asked if I could do a creative presentation and she said I would have to write a 25 page paper no matter what. Is this true? This capstone course seems pretty narrow and unaccommodating. banghead The syllabus says one thing and the mentor another, what is the truth?

from the syllabus:

Creative Project
Audience Demonstration and Presentation: If you are a student in visual, performing, or literary arts you have the opportunity to synthesize knowledge by developing a creative product in your respective field of study. It may take the form of developing a film, choreographing a dance, acting in a production, exhibiting paintings, writing a collection of poetry or short stories, writing a play, writing a literary analysis, presenting a photographic essay, or any similar type of creative endeavor.

Your capstone will conclude with an explanatory report relating to the production of your project. It should reveal a synthesis of skills and content knowledge. The length of your explanatory report will be determined according to the nature of your project and subject to approval by your mentor, but it should be a minimum of 15 pages.

This type of project will require a demonstration using a either a PowerPoint presentation or a video presentation.

Oh god, this is one of the few classes I need to graduate and problems like these are almost scaring me out of it. I don't wanna pay $1500 for a class and be worried the whole time that I might not pass.

[Lindagerr]

@ladyplf what is your degree in? from what I see there the creative project is just for performing arts type degrees plus you still need a paper.

The capstone was added after I graduated, but I think the purpose of the course is to make sure you can write a research paper and use correct English, footnotes, resources etc. When I took my last TESC I had some students that could not spell or write an intelligent sentence and they were supposed to be in their last course.

I know we do not always use correct spelling or grammar here but this is not a class message board.

[a4tunatemom]

My daughter did a photographic essay presentation for her capstone. Although she was technically allowed to have the paper be only 15 pages, the instructions for the paper did not change because she did a presentation. Since she followed the directions in order to get a good grade, her paper wound up being 25 pages anyway. However, since I've heard that many people who don't do a presentation wind up having papers that are about 40 pages long, it may be worth it to do the presentation anyway.

Danielle

[FallingWaters]

I did a presentation but the 15 page paper was required in addition. My degree was in music and my project was a musical performance, accompanied by the paper. As someone else said, the paper ended up being 25+ pages anyway, but I was told 15 was the minimum.

[Ladyplf]

Right now my official major is in social science but I an thinking of changing to liberal studies because it I would finish faster. I have no passionate interest in social science at all. I have written several research papers while in TESC. One for the Eng 101-102 on obesity, one for Global environmental change on population growth and the environment, one for Global issues and society on global population. I have no problem writing a research paper, I just can't think of a topic I am interested in and can be finished in the next 8 weeks. At first I planned on just recycling one of those old papers, but then I thought to do the course right and write from scratch. Now with my mentor saying that a presentation still must be accompanied by a 25 page research paper I will just follow my first plan and use my old Global environmental paper and add more too it. When I wrote it I had so much more to say so it won't be hard just boring and disappointing.

After this capstone I just need to plug in some TECEPs and Cleps for the free electives. Probably my biggest mistake was not planning my degree before I started but I started back in 2005 just to say I had that piece of paper and I still just want that piece of paper. My interests are in creative writing and graphic art and design. I plan on learning to code for and doing web development so a presentation would actually fit my career goals better but I'll give the mentor what she wants somehow.

[Ladyplf]

@ladyplf what is your degree in? from what I see there the creative project is just for performing arts type degrees plus you still need a paper.

The capstone was added after I graduated, but I think the purpose of the course is to make sure you can write a research paper and use correct English, footnotes, resources etc. When I took my last TESC I had some students that could not spell or write an intelligent sentence and they were supposed to be in their last course.

I know we do not always use correct spelling or grammar here but this is not a class message board.

I'll admit I get frustrated with the online courses and the discussion forums. The students usually don't answer the question that was posed, don't post a discussion that leaves room for a reply, or don't write properly for a formal discussion. Most times the discussion is just a useless time waster.

In one math class we had a question about how statistics are used in advertising to mislead people. Everybody wrote about false advertising(no mention of statistics) with the most popular discussion topic being Activia yogurt. I kid you not!

I often wonder how these people are passing their courses but that's their problem.

[Lindagerr]

You reminded me of a question I had when I took Global Environmental Change. I think I could have written a 25 page paper on this one. As it turned out I did find enough BS to write 2 1/2 pages. The question:

"What is the difference between saying that a duck has webbed feet because it needs them to swim and saying that a duck is able to swim because it has webbed feet?"

As for getting your degree just keep on plugging away and get the one that makes you happy. I changed my mind from wanting a chemistry degree to wanting any science degree to wishing I could get a teaching degree, and then ended up not really doing anything with my degree, but I am still happy just to say I have it. Of course the occasional call to ask if I am interested in a teaching job doesn't hurt.:coolgleam:

[Puttlesbridge]

petersouth, please don't be scared of the capstone. I have to admit I was terrified when I started, it ended up being a rewarding experience and I even got an A. Dr. Nina Haydel was wonderful, guided the class through the whole process, always responding to questions and commented on posts within 24 hours. The discussion board ended up being a valuable resource.

[Puttlesbridge]

Ladyplf, choosing the capstone topic, main and sub questions was very challenging for me also. I ended up doing mine on a medical condition that I have. Did you r proffessor give you copies of completed capstones to help you understand the format?