11-17-2013, 09:50 PM
I am on Module Four of the capstone under Dr. Haydel. It does require a minimum 25 page paper that contains original research, although the whole thing doesn't have to be just your findings. I thought 25 pages sounded long, but I can already tell you that you will easily write more than that just because you will get on a roll. I am on page 21 and I have two chapters to go, plus all the other bells and whistles of a formal paper, so I think mine will be close to forty pages when I am finished. Some students end up writing so much they turn in eighty and one hundred page papers. No fear, that isn't required, but it is doable.
I'm not sure about Guided Study, but I have heard that you interact with the mentor instead of fellow students in the discussion forums.
The thing to know about the capstone is it was designed for you to display your ability to sift, synthesize, and analyze information - basically showcasing the skills you learned on the way to your degree. Dr. Haydel (who incidentally designed the course for TESC) told me that it is designed off of a master's thesis, so if you end up going to grad school you will know how to write one.
I would say start learning about APA citation, as this is what is required for social science type papers, while MLA is reserved for creative projects. APA is precise, and my first few writing assignments got dinged for not being careful enough on the citation. It wasn't bad - I ended up with a B+. Also start learning how to use the citation function on Microsoft Word, or Son of Citation Machine; they will be invaluable in the format. Learn how to do a running header, as that is a huge thing.
The thing about writing this paper is actually how redundant you end up being. You end up taking the first page or two of each assignment re-iterating your subject and the subquestions you are going to answer, and how you are answering them. One thing is for sure, academic writing is totally nonsensical to me. I write speeches and novels, where erudition is a premium. But since this is the only thing standing between me and my degree, I'll slog through it. :-)
Good luck!
I'm not sure about Guided Study, but I have heard that you interact with the mentor instead of fellow students in the discussion forums.
The thing to know about the capstone is it was designed for you to display your ability to sift, synthesize, and analyze information - basically showcasing the skills you learned on the way to your degree. Dr. Haydel (who incidentally designed the course for TESC) told me that it is designed off of a master's thesis, so if you end up going to grad school you will know how to write one.
I would say start learning about APA citation, as this is what is required for social science type papers, while MLA is reserved for creative projects. APA is precise, and my first few writing assignments got dinged for not being careful enough on the citation. It wasn't bad - I ended up with a B+. Also start learning how to use the citation function on Microsoft Word, or Son of Citation Machine; they will be invaluable in the format. Learn how to do a running header, as that is a huge thing.
The thing about writing this paper is actually how redundant you end up being. You end up taking the first page or two of each assignment re-iterating your subject and the subquestions you are going to answer, and how you are answering them. One thing is for sure, academic writing is totally nonsensical to me. I write speeches and novels, where erudition is a premium. But since this is the only thing standing between me and my degree, I'll slog through it. :-)
Good luck!
A.A. General Studies- TESC, 2013
B.A. History, TESC, 2014 - Arnold Fletcher Award - 4.0 GPA
M.A. Government, Security Studies - Johns Hopkins University, Class of 2018.
Straighterline - 26 courses, including English Comp. I & II, Western Civilization I & II, U.S. History I & II, Intro. to Sociology, Intro to Philosophy, Cultural Anthropology, Environmental Science, Science of Nutrition, Business Law, Financial Accounting, etc.
ALEKS: Intermediate Algebra
CLEP: Humanities 56, Social Sciences and History 58
FEMA: 6 credits
DSST: Civil War and Reconstruction 71, Introduction to Vietnam War 69, Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union 64, Modern Middle East 71.
TESC courses: War and American Society (A), Liberal Arts Capstone (A).
120/120! I'm there!
"Another day has passed and I didn't use Algebra once."
" Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." Albert Einstein
B.A. History, TESC, 2014 - Arnold Fletcher Award - 4.0 GPA
M.A. Government, Security Studies - Johns Hopkins University, Class of 2018.
Straighterline - 26 courses, including English Comp. I & II, Western Civilization I & II, U.S. History I & II, Intro. to Sociology, Intro to Philosophy, Cultural Anthropology, Environmental Science, Science of Nutrition, Business Law, Financial Accounting, etc.
ALEKS: Intermediate Algebra
CLEP: Humanities 56, Social Sciences and History 58
FEMA: 6 credits
DSST: Civil War and Reconstruction 71, Introduction to Vietnam War 69, Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union 64, Modern Middle East 71.
TESC courses: War and American Society (A), Liberal Arts Capstone (A).
120/120! I'm there!
"Another day has passed and I didn't use Algebra once."
" Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." Albert Einstein
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