Capstone. It’s a word that sends sparks of anxiety and excitement for seniors as well as other upper school students who know that this challenging task stands between them and graduation. But seniors can set aside their fears, because The Looking Glass has gathered Capstone success tips from the most recent survivors — the Class of 2014.
Capstone is an in-depth research project that involves tracing the historical development of a modern-day problem, along with analyzing this problem and proposing solutions in light of Catholic social teaching. Students have to find solutions that are realistic given historical factors and which align with basic principles such as what is the common good and how can one preserve the dignity of human persons in the midst of this challenge.
The seniors build to this project by learning the essential principles of government through study of the great thinkers of Western Civilization — from Ancient Greece to modern philosophers, including some of the doctors of the Church and papal encyclicals through two senior classes: Comparative Government in history and the History of Philosophy and Catholic Social Teaching in theology.
The research culminates in two long papers that join together as a longer study: half for history and half for theology. Then students give 15-minute presentations before peers and faculty. One senior will also be honored for the best Capstone project, and she will present before the whole school at one of the awards ceremonies at the end of the year.
Clearly, Capstone sounds like a daunting task, and worry is a frequent emotion swirling through the senior commons as they zero in on Capstone topics and begin research. But fear not, and follow these success tips shared by recent alums who took time from their college studies to share their wisdom with current seniors:
-
Make absolutely sure that you’re focusing on a topic that you’re truly interested in; otherwise, it will be painful to research and write. If you like what you’re doing, it’s less of a burden.
-
Take advantage of the amazing teachers available to you. They will help you think through your arguments, and they will point out flaws and strengths for you to fix or capitalize on. If you’re getting stuck on something, don’t waste time just putting it off. Meet with a teacher and talk it through with them; they will help you so much.
-
Try to get a head start on reading and make sure you bookmark pages for references because you will have to site specific pages in your paper. Keeping track of citations is vital, or you’ll face a nightmare when you put together your final paper if you’ve not been careful in tracking references in sources.
-
Everyone just thinks of the paper, but make sure you spend PLENTY of time preparing for the presentation (especially if public speaking isn’t your strength) because students sometimes neglect preparation for the presentation component and then struggle to pull off a strong finish to their Capstone.
-
Spend more time on your outline than you think you need to (like work on it earlier than you think you need to). The outline was EXTREMELY helpful when writing the actual paper, and having a thorough, thoughtful outline saves so much time.
-
Have as many conversations as possible with the people you trust. The more you talk about your ideas, the more you get a sense of what you want to write about.
-
Look at previous Capstones to see what an end project should look like.
-
Write down “Capstone” in your homework every day. Ask yourself: “What should I do for Capstone today?”
Like all big tasks, breaking down the steps into daily tasks — and staying self-disciplined to maintain daily momentum — are the keys to long-term success through to a strong final research paper and a memorable presentation.
Ultimately, the goal of the Capstone is to provide seniors with a culminating experience that prepares them not only for college, but also to take their Montrose education into the world, so we can each make a difference to the lives we encounter within the political and social culture we engage as American citizens.
So seniors, when you hear “Capstone,” cast aside your fears and say “bring it on.” With these success tips and faculty support, ‘we shall overcome ‘this culminating challenge to our Montrose years!