Topics for Capstone

[rlw74]

I'm scheduled to take the dreaded capstone in April. I love to research and write so I'm not apprehensive about that part. What I am stressing out about is coming up with the TOPIC!

****So question is, how soon after the course begins will I need to get my topic approved? (I'm taking the online option)***

and

****How do I come up with an original idea / a gap in the research that hasn't been written about already?****


Any methods others have used to come up with their topic?

Btw, I'm interested in a topic that centers around a certain historical / theological event but its already been written on exhaustively in academic circles (so no problem coming up with research). But I don't know where I can possibly add anything except to synthesize information that is already out there.

[Mamasaphire]

I can't answer for your prof, but Dr. Cody basically wanted us to research other works and spit it back out with our understanding of it. So not really new research. But your prof might have different requirements.

[Mamasaphire]

I had three different topic ideas/and each had several subtopic ideas. I presented each and Dr. Cody helped guide with which he seemed to think would work best for the thesis/class.

[Prloko]

I can't answer for your prof, but Dr. Cody basically wanted us to research other works and spit it back out with our understanding of it. So not really new research. But your prof might have different requirements.

I wish my wife had this professor. Her professor gave her a hard time about the difference between original work and a research project. She was about ready to cry many nights. She ended up dropping the course. I'll let her know to give doctor Cody a try.

I

[davewill]

I had Dr. Cody as well. I did no "original research", but I did stick to primary sources and come to my own conclusions. However, I was not researching historical people or events, I was researching how car infotainment designs impact safety. It's easy to read the syllabus as requiring original research, and I guess some professors do read it that way. It also doesn't help that the book is written for master's theses and doctoral dissertations where that would be expected.

[Mamasaphire]

I wish my wife had this professor. Her professor gave her a hard time about the difference between original work and a research project. She was about ready to cry many nights. She ended up dropping the course. I'll let her know to give doctor Cody a try.

I

I am sorry to hear this! I won't say the course wasn't intense, but Dr. Cody's communication was great, and he was very patient. If your wife has any specific questions prior to registering, please let her know she can msg me and I'll try to answer as well as I can.

I had Dr. Cody as well. I did no "original research", but I did stick to primary sources and come to my own conclusions. However, I was not researching historical people or events, I was researching how car infotainment designs impact safety. It's easy to read the syllabus as requiring original research, and I guess some professors do read it that way. It also doesn't help that the book is written for master's theses and doctoral dissertations where that would be expected.

He was great, wasn't he?! Dr. Cody wanted students in the class I was in to pick a topic they could be passionate about, so there were a variety of topics from the gamut of social sciences, health topic, history, to specific IT interests. The diversity of topics actually made the class very interesting and led to some great discussions and further learning.

[rlw74]

Cody was on my short list of preferred professors but was not teaching this course in April. I am signed up with Haydel. My understanding is she designed the course. Does anyone here know what her take is on "original research"?

I've got to get through two more study.com courses as soon as my scholarship unlocks the last two exams. After that I'll probably just start writing up a list of topics and seeing what kind of resources are available. I just don't want to waste a lot of time going in the wrong direction.

[jsd]

I believe when I was looking into it, Haydel was well liked, but because she designed the course she was strict on original research. But this is from memory from months ago, and I was looking up a lot of folks, so I could be wrong.

I had Dan Wiley. He was great! Hands off mostly, but very willing to help if you needed it and reached out. He allowed you to use entirely existing research if you were using it to come to a new conclusion.

[rlw74]

I am feeling much less stressed now. I checked online yesterday and they added several more Capstone courses. One of the sections is with Dr. Cody. He only had one spot left but I was able to get transferred into his section!

[rlw74]

For those who had Dr. Cody, did he require you have the two textbooks? I've been using the OWL website and reading about a dozen papers posted on here. I haven't had any trouble figuring out the structure of the paper. So many have posted they didn't even use the textbooks and unless it's required reading I probably won't either.

Also, did he require that your topic get approved first? I've got one topic I feel pretty confident about writing about, have already done a ton of research on and have started working on the paper but I don't know how far I should go since he might not approve the topic. I was thinking about putting together a back up plan too of course but just wondered how much I should stress about that.

Also, can assignments be turned in early with the online option?