Has Anyone Ever Failed A Capstone Course?

[GitRDun]

It is nice to see a thread on this, as I was wondering about the capstone as well.

[corpsole2]

It is nice to see a thread on this, as I was wondering about the capstone as well.

They mean it when they say that the capstone course is unlike anything you have ever done in college before. It is both challenging and easy. There really aren't any tests, so there is no studying for exams. OTOH, you have to demonstrate your research and analysis skills for the good grading on this course. It is billed as a course that encapsulates what you learned in the last four years of your undergraduate education, and in a sense it is. It is a great course if you want to study something more in depth that you haven't been able to do before.

An added bonus to the final capstone paper, or "baby thesis," is that it is a good show and tell you can bring with you to job interviews. Instead of employers taking your word for it that you can write, you can now show them. :-)

To be honest, I think TESC started requiring this course for all graduates because there was a question as to the quality of the education alumni were receiving from them. Requiring what is seen as an honors class in most universities can help quell those questions. As I wind down this course, I do think it is a big benefit to grads. I am used to writing hundreds of pages of fiction, but even I thought this would be daunting. Turns out, I can easily see that you will write way more than the minimum 25 pages. And once you get past the tiresome APA citations, you will do fine.

Rule of thumb, half the grade for the assignments is correct formatting. I found that out with the snafu yesterday, which I have since fixed.

[sklineho]

This is what kind of bothers me about capstones. (and I'm not sure if it's the fault of capstones in general or the college experience in general.) I was fortunate as my degree had required a lot of writing and research. So the capstone wasn't as big a departure from that. A lot of people however don't have that background and yet have to do the same work. I personally feel that capstones should be geared more to specific degrees instead of a generic "liberal arts capstone". A lot of schools do have specific capstones but I wish the Big 3 would do this too.

[corpsole2]

I am finishing up the final chapter for the capstone, and looking back on it, I think it could use some modifications. For one, if students are not used to writing research papers and analyzing the results, then they will have a harder time writing it. What they should do is not necessarily require original research, but maybe focus on writing a long report on a subject of your choice. I did that for a Business Communications class and enjoyed it immensely. No original research was required at all.

Most of the grade seems to be about if you formatted it correctly. My mentor hasn't graded it yet as to the content or veracity of my arguments. I suppose she'll do that as I submit this chapter, which analyzes the results of the study.

I am thankful that my mentor was available to guide me on how to set up the chapters. The instructions in each module are not explanatory enough for a course like this one that explain what sets apart a good paper from a great paper.

Dr. Haydel did assure me that you don't really "fail" the assignments, at least with her. If she feels she can't grade it because it is sub-par, she will give it a '0' grade so as to get your attention and have you fix the problem. I know I will pass the course as is, but until she certifies it in January, I will still feel uneasy.

It is something you have to do to graduate from TESC, so bite the bullet and do it.

[corpsole2]

Whoa, really sorry for you! Good thing she's giving you another chance. As far as failing, that could only happen if your total grades for the class don't add up to that 60%. That includes discussion posts, the Capstone chapters, the ETS, and the completed Capstone. It's kind of nerve-wracking to see the percentage so low, until the end of the class when you hopefully get a good score in the final project (because usually it's weighted more) and the percentage goes up. I'm sure once you correct it, she'll give you a better grade than 0. Best wishes!

Was there a time when you were doing the course you felt as if you'd fail the course? I feel overwhelmed on every assignment, and am glad she is at least give me either a B plus or an A minus for the assignments. With the score updated now, I feel fairly confident I'll hit over 60% before the final capstone paper is graded.

One thing my analytical mind worries about is if achieving a minimum score of 60% is what gives you the grade, or if an 'unsatisfactory' grade on one assignment can throw a wrench in the the whole thing. I think it's the former.

Do you remember on Chapter Five: Summary and Discussion how original you have to be in your discussion of the results? Dr. Haydel told me that the chapter should be written as if it's the only chapter researchers will read, so it has to summarize the study and the findings, and discuss how it relates to the field you are studying. I guess this is to showcase my analytical skills and synthesize the findings from the study.

I know one thing: I'll have to take a big mental break for a while and not do any scholarly stuff for a while. I know I will be proud of this finished capstone, but I don't want to do it again. :-) But knowing me, I'll be getting back into the school game again next year as I look at MBA programs.

[ironheadjack]

I keep re-reading the instructions to this course and it still makes no sense to me. The most writing I've ever done was short <5 page papers in high school. I agree with corpsole this whole capstone course nonsense needs some serious modifications. Sure this project might prepare you for graduate school, but it is useless for those who have no aspirations of grad school.

[sanantone]

I don't think anyone was more annoyed about the new capstone requirement; and, I had already graduated with my BA. I even made this petition that didn't go anywhere. hilarious
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/107/975/1...-programs/

[ironheadjack]

I don't think anyone was more annoyed about the new capstone requirement; and, I had already graduated with my BA. I even made this petition that didn't go anywhere. hilarious
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/107/975/1...-programs/

Lol. Just a few signatures shy of the 1,000 mark.

At the very least this capstone course should be an option for those who want to prepare for grad school.

This course makes me so angry, arggh. I studied Arabic in CC and that course made 10x more sense then this waste of time.

[Westerner]

Was there a time when you were doing the course you felt as if you'd fail the course?

Not for this course. My professor gave really good grades as long as I put thought and effort into my project. My current photography course, on the other hand... :mad: I'm glad to get B's in that, and because I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I'm really frustrated in anticipation of the lowered GPA

One thing my analytical mind worries about is if achieving a minimum score of 60% is what gives you the grade, or if an 'unsatisfactory' grade on one assignment can throw a wrench in the the whole thing. I think it's the former.

Pretty much the former. Though remember that a one bad grade or a few low ones can drag the cumulative grade lower, depending on their weight.

Do you remember on Chapter Five: Summary and Discussion how original you have to be in your discussion of the results? Dr. Haydel told me that the chapter should be written as if it's the only chapter researchers will read, so it has to summarize the study and the findings, and discuss how it relates to the field you are studying. I guess this is to showcase my analytical skills and synthesize the findings from the study.

Yes, that's how I was told to write my Chapter 5 too—as if it was the only chapter readers will go to. Pretty much a summation of the research. I didn't find it hard.

I know I will be proud of this finished capstone, but I don't want to do it again. :-)

My feelings exactly

[ladyofshalott]

Not for this course. My professor gave really good grades as long as I put thought and effort into my project. My current photography course, on the other hand... :mad: I'm glad to get B's in that, and because I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I'm really frustrated in anticipation of the lowered GPA

Sounds like my experience with African History & Culture. I had expected the capstone to be way over my head and AH&C to be fun. But no matter how specific and detailed I was in my AH&C, my professor always found something wrong with my essays and my GPA is hurting because of it. Now the capstone on the other hand... praise the Lord I have a great mentor.