Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:

Each week you will work towards the completion of your Capstone Final Project.  During Week One, you will complete the following assignments:
Complete Topic Research Worksheet  (this sheet) and submit  it along with
Topic, its rationale and thesis statement
Project outline
Preliminary reference list
Note: Your topic must be approved by lead instructor or your mentor prior to beginning this document. 

TOPIC: 
THESIS STATEMENT:  The thesis statement should be one sentence. Strive to be clear, concise, and specific. Be sure to take a clear argumentative position. Avoid simply showing the “pros and cons” of an issue. Avoid solely educating or informing readers; take a clear stance. Be sure to include three clear supporting elements in the thesis statement.
RATIONALE: The rationale is your proposal; it is a brief statement of the purpose for your paper. Like a blueprint or plan, it should provide the methodology and goals for the paper. It should include the following: 
PURPOSE:  What do you hope achieve with this paper? What are your goals?
BACKGROUND: What relevant experience, studies or research do you have with the topic?
SIGNIFICANCE: Why is this topic worthy?  What do you hope to learn from this experience?  What new perspective will you bring? 
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESCRIPTION: How will you conduct your research and what sources will you use?
 


OUTLINEAn outline is a way to focus on the writing that you will do. Without a plan, you may find yourself wandering from the main topic. The outline delivers the ability to organize your thoughts and the paper’s format. There are several forms of outlines, but for this assignment, you will complete a topic outline. You may want to expand your outline into a sentence or paragraph outline to help you complete your final written Capstone. 
THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH THE OUTLINE:
After you have identified your topic, written your thesis statement, and created your proposal (rationale) you simply extract the main elements (thesis and supporting elements) from that assignment and format them into a topic outline. Try to ensure that you have enough material for the size and scope of this paper. Here is one example in terms of format: 
Main Point One (supporting element from thesis statement)
Sub-Point
Sub-Point
Main Point Two (supporting element from thesis statement)
Sub-Point
Sub-Point
Main Point Three (supporting element from thesis statement)
Etc. 
You can add as many main points and sub-points as you feel are appropriate. 
  
PRELIMINARY REFERENCE LIST:
For this assignment, you need to identify five sources for consideration of your topic development.    Your sources may change but for this purpose please compile a list in APA format of five sources that are relevant to your topic.

RESEARCH PAPER WORKSHEET: 
You need not fill in every box; fill in as much as you can and use this as a brainstorming tool to lead you to your thesis statement.
1.  First Steps
Areas you have studied (disciplines in IDS):
1.
2.


How do these two areas relate/intersect?



What attracted you to these fields of study?




2.  Focus and Discovery
Brainstorming is a good way to begin. Write down everything you can think about your topic.  Quickly create a list of ideas that come to mind without stopping.  You can use this list to begin to narrow and define you topic by evaluating those with value and eliminating those that are less relevant.
Brainstorm/List
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Narrow the List/Define Your Ideas
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Are there any current events or advancements that have changed or impacted your field(s) of study or interests?



If you could change one characteristic of or law governing your subject, what would it be?  




Make a list of areas, topics, events, or issues relative to your topic that comes to mind or has received media attention. (List only as many as you need) This is another form of brainstorming but with greater focus and requiring more consideration.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.


3.  Choosing a Topic
Define your topic by asking a question about the areas you have considered.  Use those questions to draft a thesis statement.  Your thesis statement should include the following qualities and standards:
Be specific
Make an assertion, not simply a statement of fact
Take a position; make an argument
State the main idea, not the title of the paper
Be sufficiently narrow, not too general
Have purpose and focus 
Tie the ideas to evidence
Create a list of questions you will explore within your paper:
    1.
    2.
    3.
    

4.  Writing Your Thesis Statement
Be sure the thesis statement has at least three elements that may be debated or explored in your capstone.  This is usually the last sentence in the introduction.  The more you read and research your topic, the more changes you may make to your thesis statement.  It is a process.
The topic:
Major issue:
Rough draft of ideas:
    a.
    b.
    c.

Thesis statement development
Example:
Topic: Shopping Online
Claim: Shopping online is better than traditional shopping.
Three reasons:  Ease of use, endless choices, and availability 24 hours a day
Example of final thesis statement:  
Shopping online is superior to traditional shopping as it offers more choices, the ability to shop at any time of day or night, and user-friendly technology.

Your thesis:

First draft of thesis statement:  (remember this is ONE SENTENCE)


Does your thesis have these elements?
Topic
Your claim or argument 
Three points or reasons that support your claim