My EC Capstone Disaster/Advice Appreciated

[SuZQ2]

Hello All…

It’s been quite a few months since my last post...I attempted EC’s Liberal Arts Capstone in late Feb. – unfortunately, Day 1 of the course saw me huddled in the back of a taxi on my way to an oral surgeon/endodontist for emergency dental surgery. :ack: My situation went downhill from there, so it became clear I would have to withdraw from the class.

That being said, before withdrawing, I was able to gather some info regarding writing assignments, etc. Since writing is tortuous for me even under the best of circumstances, I realized immediately the course was completely out of my depth. banghead

Hoping to re-enroll for a second try, I’ve tried to do some preliminary work on my own, but for months have been stuck with regards to the Capstone’s main assignment - the Global Issues Project with its corresponding PowerPoint.

The assignment requires you choose a Global Issue (in an area of focus, depth or interest – vague to say the least), write an essay, then narrow down that topic and create a PowerPoint presentation – the smaller topic must include diversity and ethics…

I have attempted and discarded endless topics – I either can’t find enough info or can’t connect a Global Topic to something smaller that also contains the ethics and diversity component…

To add to all my discouragement, I have no knowledge of PowerPoint (not to mention how to create the required “voice-over”), and EC provides no instruction or examples. A call to my EC Advisor was of no help – I was told to go get a neighbor to do it (yes, really…). I think my only hope at this point is to find a tutor, but I still need a topic to work with, beforehand.

As a last resort I’ve looked into switching schools, but many of my old credits won’t transfer… At this point I’m on the brink of giving up entirely, but throwing away 118 credits and 5+ years of work just galls the heck out of me…

So sorry for the endless note…but if anyone can offer me any advice, I’d greatly appreciate it.

[rebel100]

You b didn't give a lot of detail on the specific requirements, so specific advise if tough.

In regards to choosing a topic a couple spring to mind that would have a ton of relevant and current reporting on to ease your way.

The Syrian refugees crises
The war on terror
Ebola response, when countries close their border

There are just so many choices, but by keeping it broad you have plenty to draw from...makes sourcing material easier IMO.

How long does this have to be? What other details do you know?

The PowerPoint is just pictures with narration...find someone to tutor you through the tech stuff and knock it out

You're to close to quit now!

[KayV]

Step 1: Don't panic! You can do this.
Step 2: Looking at the Capstone syllabus, it says you need to identify the theme of your first paper for the course (Thinking Critically About Global Issues). Have you written that paper already, or do you have an idea for it?

[bjcheung77]

+1, you are so very close, that's the last class you have to take, don't chose another school. Stick this out!
Those topics mentioned above are great, you can also search online for interesting topics such as affordability in different cities have gone up due to the oil/gas crisis. The internet has so much info, you can have the info at your fingertips, including videos on how to setup a powerpoint presentation. You can hit both of these and complete it easier NOW than it was a decade or two ago! We're here to be your cheerleaders!

[davewill]

Don't panic!!! You can totally do this. What are some of the topics you abandoned? Maybe we can help you figure out why you aren't getting any traction on them. PowerPoint isn't too hard, start by finding an online tutorial and working through it. You'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

[april004]

You've gotten alot of great advice. The suggestions about EBola, Syrian refugees, etc are great. I am in a public health program and on top of working on a research paper due at end of term(just finished it!), every week we have to write about issues concerning the US as well as global concerns. Perhaps just perusing journal articles about global health issues might help? Look at a public health journal, even if you aren't one bit interested in anything health related, it still might give you some ideas.

Ditto what someone said about Powerpoint. It is EASY to learn and I am an absolute dunce when it comes to computer software!! I learned powerpoint through atomiclearning, (it was free for me through SNHU, so not sure how much it costs outside of it). Maybe Lynda.com to learn powerpoint?

[Mamasaphire]

"I dwell in Possibility." Emily Dickinson / "By perseverance the snail reached the ark." C. Spurgeon / "Feel the fear and do it anyway." S. Jeffers

Just wanted to say that I find encouragement in your siggy -- excellent quotes -- keep them in mind and push on!! You can do it!!

This isn't as drastic as your situation, but my personal experience is when I had to learn PowerPoint for an online business class presentation. A year later I was required to use it to create a live 10-15 minute presentation for a B&M Tech Writing course (based on a 10 page research paper). I chose to research/speak on Alternative Credit/ACP and how it can accelerate the graduation rate for adult learners/non-traditional students. I felt very passionate about it, especially because I was in the midst of requesting that the president of the local CC create policies to accept a broader range of ACP options (beyond GED, AP, & CLEP). The passion definitely helped me think of plenty of things to say. I also wanted to share the concepts with the other (adult) students in my class, so that helped motivate me to create a 'good' PowerPoint (the teacher asked to use it for future classes, so I think it worked). Just make sure you have the most current Office/PowerPoint program available -- the older version didn't have as many plug&chug options.

If I had your assignment, just off the top of my head, here are a few ideas I might pick to see if I could turn into a workable topic: how the worldwide rise in FGM affects even US citizens (is it ethical/ the right of governments to force/enforce or outlaw it?), or the very high rate of third world mothers who die during the birth process (often from preventable situations -- why? ethics/diversity -- these are often the darkest skinned, poorest women), or the world-wide discrimination against homeschoolers <that still happens as seen in how Dual Enrollment is distributed in many states with hs'ers getting a fraction of what other students receive -- huge diversity/discrimination/ethics issue>, or is socialization still an issue for mainstream home educated students -- and why is it stated as a fact so often? Or even, how vaccines are used indiscriminately around the world and still funded by the US (can come at it from both pro/anti-vax viewpoints). Or how we send "high energy" foods to refugees, but peanut & dairy allergies are high the world over so may be killing as we're trying to rescue (ethical issue??).

Any idea would have to be researched & fleshed out majorly, but it gives an idea how brainstorming topics that are important to *you* might trigger an ethical/diversity idea that you could write about. Sorry about my punctuation & grammar -- just trying to jot a few thoughts quickly

[SuZQ2]

I just want to start by thanking you all so much for taking the time to respond. Your help and advice is so greatly, greatly appreciated. I’ll try to elaborate on my original note to provide more info – Again, THANK YOU for all your help…

With regards to the assignment itself, as I was actually “in” the course for a short period of time, I was able to see the “real” Capstone instructions – these instructions are much more detailed than those provided by EC’s general syllabus.

Over the past 2 months I’ve managed to work through most of the assignments and 2 of the 3 three papers. I saved the “best” for last as this is was where I always became stuck – I could never figure out a way to narrow down my original topic to include ethics and diversity.

Global Issue Essay Requirements:
Essay must be 1250-1500 words
Use 3-5 peer reviewed scholarly articles to support your opinion
Omit personal opinion as these are analytical essay
This essay must connect to the PowerPoint presentation

The example given in the syllabus was “the global impact of water pollution”. I will say that most of my classes’ chosen topics were environmental, terrorism, or internet-crime based.

An area of interest for me is animal welfare, so I tried to find a suitable subject within that field. In researching the topic I came up with the Global Issue of “Animal Trafficking”. There was quite a bit of info found within the EC Library, and I came up with three main points to discuss. I worked on this essay before entering the class so a few of my resources I now know would not be acceptable (not peer reviewed scholarly articles), so would have to be re-worked (I used a Congressional Report to Congress and a Presidential Committee Report).

But this is where everything collapsed…I again could not think of a way to narrow down the topic to also include ethics and diversity...

I then thought of expanding the original topic and making Animal Trafficking the small topic for the PowerPoint. This seemed a logical step as the PowerPoint is worth 300 points/its corresponding outline is worth 100 points - the Global Essay itself is only worth a “measly” 100 points.
I already have the outline I used to write the original Animal Trafficking essay, and it seemed a better fit for the PowerPoint (again, except for the ethics and diversity angle…perhaps diversity in the countries involved?). Additionally, you need 10 resources for the PowerPoint and I already have quite a few extra resources I could use. But here I got stuck again, as I could not think of a way to broaden Animal Trafficking – (general Global Animal Endangerment…Animal Abuse???). I got nowhere attempting this, and finally threw in the towel… banghead

As to the PowerPoint, I have an old computer with the 2007 version of PowerPoint, and I’ve been taking “lessons” via YouTube videos. If I ever get the topic nailed down, my biggest concern is the voice-over – I gather you are not supposed to read the slides, but what???? Do you write a second report and read it to accompany the slides??? Ah, yet another ulcer-inducing road block… banghead

One other potential road block – the assignment instructions are listed in more than one area within the course instructions…and each time they are listed they give a slightly different set of guidelines. I’m sticking with the ones I’ve presented here, but of course, I may be off the mark…For example, in one area it states that all the essays should incorporate one general subject, but in the Capstone Essay Instructions it states that you have a choice of either using a single theme for all the essay projects, or just using the same theme for the Global Essay and PowerPoint, then researching different topics for the Diversity and Ethics Essays (I chose this secondary approach).

Capstone Breakdown
Global Issues Essay ------100 points
Ethics Essay --------------100 points
Diversity Essay -----------100 points
Discussion Group ---------300 points
Power Point Outline ------100 points
Power Point Presentation-300 points

You need 700 points (70%) to pass. At this point, I’m willing to forego a “good” grade (a B grade or better and I would be able to keep my honors GPA) and just try to pass.

I’m sure I’ve left out some pertinent facts, but I hope this additional info is helpful…So sorry for unbelievably long post...

Again, thank you all so very much…

[bricabrac]

Great topic!


For your powerpoint you could add in snip-its from a commercial or speeches, as well as add in your own voice to punctuate points.

Two easy tutorials -
PowerPoint 2007 - Adding Sounds, Narration, and Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation...tRvOSxoPf8

Youtube is a gold mine and there is a free program, Any Video Converter, that you can use to download videos then use the cut feature to snip specific sections of a video to add to your presentation. You can even use the convert feature to convert the video to an mp3 then snip the section for audio tracks to add to the presentation.

[davewill]

On the ethics front, there's the whole question of the ethics of exploiting animals for human purposes. It's not enough just to say, "I don't think we should." Especially when trying to convince multiple cultures to change their laws and practices. There are several ethical theories when it comes to the animal rights and the environment. Some people believe that animals should accorded rights on the same level as we do people. The Gaia hypothesis views the entire planet as a single organism, so that harm we do to other animals ultimately harms the planet and works to our own disadvantage. Look through the Saylor Environmental Ethics course, section 2 for info on environmental ethics theories.

As far as diversity goes, it is pretty much hand-in-hand with the ethical issue. It's easy for rich nations to tell poor nations that they shouldn't exploit their own natural resources, when the rich nations freely did so in the past to get where they are. Somehow the interests of all the cultures involved have to be taken into account.