Has Anyone Ever Failed A Capstone Course?

[corpsole2]

One thing for those who are uneasy when seeing your total grade: I ignored that completely and worked out my own percentages and kept a running total of my average. I don't remember the exact numbers but I think each chapter was worth 9 points, and each discussion was something like 3.88? Then use the formula to figure out how your grade translates. Example 95/100 is equal to n/9. n = 8.55 so a 95 on an assignment is equal to 8.55 out of 9. As my prof graded assignments and discussions, I used those numbers. It gave me a much clearer picture of how I was doing. You really have to ignore the total because you won't reach the required 60% until the last few weeks. It's impossible to get decent grades on each chapter, then get a zero on the final capstone submission.
The capstone was a real roller coaster for me, mostly because I NEEDED, really really NEEDED to see examples of what the prof wanted. It was so unlike any paper I have ever written that I couldn't do it without seeing examples of the finished chapters. Now that I've done it, I am considering going for my master's, something I never ever considered before because I feared the dissertation. As much as I hated the capstone requirement, I am happy to have done it, and regardless of whether I continue my education, the capstone in itself is an accomplishment I am very proud of, as well as an achievement I didn't think I was capable of. Mine turned out to be 47 pages, without even trying, and I was so worried about filling 25!

I can agree with so much of what you said. Now that I am eighteen days away from finishing up the capstone course and with it the BA, I find I have both a love/hate relationship with this course. I love the fact that I did it, and that my anxiety about it is ill founded. I like that Dr. Haydel told me last night that I am doing great on the paper, and now if I pursue a professional degree then writing will not be a problem at all.

What I hate is that students need to be given examples of what the papers look like. I have Westerner to thank for that. :-)

Now all I really have to do on Chapter Five is add a few citations to the Discussion of the Study section, and it is as good as done. Dr. Haydel suggested I lift some of the citations from Chapter Two and integrate them into this area.

I keep a running total as well of the score I'm supposed to have. I knew early on that I wouldn't get to 60% until the end of Module Five. So far I am on pace to cracking the magic number at the end of this module.

I was worried about filling the 25 page requirement as well, and so far the writing portion of the paper is around 34 pages, not counting Table of Contents and Abstract. I am proud that this hurdle is ending, and proud that I did it. I used to wonder how scholars could write about something for a hundred or more pages, and now I have an idea of what it's like.