CAPSTONE

Welcome to Capstone! You're very close to becoming a Communication Studies Rock Star. Follow along with the weekly assignments and you'll get there in no time!

Week 01

Week 01 Questions

Week 02

Week 02 Questions

When is the final project due?

How many days do you think it will take you to complete the Literature Review?

7 days

How many days will it take you to complete the Methods Section?

7 days

How many days will it take you to complete the Internal Review Board (IRB) process?

7 days

How many days will it take you to complete the Data Collection process?

7 days

How many days will it take you to write up your Findings?

7 days

How many days will it take you to write your Discussion Section?

7 days

How many days will it take you to complete a Full Draft of the paper?

7 days

How many days will you take to celebrate?

7 days

What is your email address?

Week 03

Week 03 Questions

What is the current, general question you're pursuing?

What are three definitions you should try to better understand as you explore this larger question?

What are three sources you've found to help you start answering these questions?

What non-capstone activity are you making sure to do regularly for self-care? Maybe your Eureka moment will happen during this!

What is your email address?

Week 04

Week 04 Questions

What are three major headings you might use in your literature review? (Note that while I ask for three here, you may want to use a different amount when writing your paper).

What are three subsections by which you could further divide your headings?

What are three more ways you can further subdivide you topics? (Note: This may seem like a lot, but you'll find writing so much easier after this. All you'll have to do is put in your sources and you'll be just about done).

What is your email address?

Week 06

Week 06 Ontology/Epistemology

What is your step-by-step methodology? Try to write it as a list of instructions that you would give to an assistant.

What will you know after completing this methodology? List as many aspects as you can.

What will you not know after completing this methodology? This is also very important. List all that you can think of.

Can you answer your overall capstone question with the knowledge you will acquire through your methodology?

Yes, I'm good to go.
No, I'm heading back to the drawing board...

What is your email address?

Week 07

Week 07 Presenting Findings

What makes Hans Rosling's presentation of data so impactful? Don't worry: I don't expect animated graphics for your capstone.

What key information will you want to display, if any, in your own findings or discussion sections and how will you do so? Note: You can answer this question even if you don't know the specific results yet.

Please provide three examples of charts or visuals from other studies that model how you might display findings in your capstone (url links are fine):

What elemets make the above examples effective for communicating findings and how will you incorporate similar ideas in your own presentation of data?

What is your email address?

Week 08

Week 08 Creating a Narrative

What is the main conflict in the story of your study?

Who are the main characters in this story and how do they relate?

What is at stake in this story?

What would the first act of your narrative look like? Imagine it's a three-act play.

What would the second act of your narrative look like? Imagine it's a three-act play.

What would the third act of your narrative look like? Imagine it's a three-act play.

What is your email address?

Week 09

More about titles ...

Week 09 Titles

What are three great academic titles you've found and why? (they don't have to be related to your research)

What is your best current working title?

Please share a jpg or png of your first slide.

What expectations do you hope to set through the decisions you've made here?

What is your email address?

Week 10

Week 10 Final Presentations

Why did you start this project (and don't say because I made you!)?

Why should people care about this topic?

What would you like people to do after seeing your Capstone presentation?

What do you hope people will remember about your Capstone years later?

What are some of the things you couldn't address in your presentation that future scholars might?

If someone asks you about a sitcom they've recently seen during your Q and A, how might you respond?

Was the challenge of doing a capstone as difficult as you thought? Was it worth it to you?

Where will you celebrate after your successful presentation?

What is your email address?

MORE ABOUT CAPSTONE

Upon successful completion of this course, you'll be able to:

Identify key questions in the field of Communication Studies
Read, understand, and synthesize Communication Studies scholarship like a pro
Critically assess the validity and accuracy of claims found in scholarship and popular culture
Undertake advanced studies of your own that focus on Media and Cultural Studies and/or Interpersonal Communication
Present your findings clearly and concisely both in-person and online
Celebrate your Comm Studies Rock-Star Status

Readings

There are no course texts assigned here because you'll be doing your own individual research. But I recommend the following books if you would like to go above and beyond:

CAPSTONE

Ask Me Anything

Week 01

Week 01 Questions

Week 02

Week 02 Questions

7 days

7 days

7 days

7 days

7 days

7 days

7 days

7 days

Week 03

Week 03 Questions

Week 04

Week 04 Questions

Week 05

Week 05 Question/Method

The question

The Method

Week 06

Week 06 Ontology/Epistemology

Week 07

Week 07 Presenting Findings

Week 08

Week 08 Creating a Narrative

Week 09

Week 09 Titles

Week 10

Week 10 Final Presentations

MORE ABOUT CAPSTONE

Upon successful completion of this course, you'll be able to:

Readings