Capstone Best Practices
From: Alex G. Papadopoulos
Associate Professor
Department of Geography
COLLOQUIUM STRUCTURE
The first year we taught the Capstone, five of the Department's faculty
presented to students their on-going research and publication projects.
The students had an opportunity to experience the production of
geographic knowledge, to make connections between our curriculum and the
broader discipline of Geography, and address interdisciplinary linkages
for least five topics.
FIELDWORK
In subsequent years we integrated fieldwork to reading scholarly
literature to bring students into situations where they had to "think on
their feet" (literally and figuratively) about questions of space,
place, landscape, location, and region--some of the key phenomena in
geographic inquiry. For example, our visit to the Garfield Conservatory,
which was hosting a glass sculpture show by Chihuli, provided an
opportunity to look at the ensemble in terms of different geographies:
The conservatory as museumized nature, the conservatory as post-colonial
space where the tropics are "tamed", the community development impacts
of global-class art events, etc., the use of space by the
tourist-consumers, the social construction of the conservatory's
galleries in terms of flows of affluent tourists v. working-class
maintenance workers, among others. The students maintain a field diary.
It works very well indeed.
From: Roshanna P. Sylvester
Assistant Professor
Dept of History
Here is the "admission ticket" assignment I use in my seminar.
I credit
David Gitomer in Religious Studies for the idea.
"Admission Ticket" Discussion Questions: On days labeled
"discussion" in the class schedule, you must come to class with
two written questions (one typed page maximum) that you think will
encourage analysis and exploration of that day's set of readings.
Questions should focus on the issues, conclusions, debates, or
interpretations that you think are most compelling or important. I will
go around the room at the beginning of class to make sure that you have
completed the assignment. If you have not, you will not be allowed to
remain in class that day. NOTE: Only those who appear in class on a
given day can submit "admission ticket" questions. If you miss
class, you will not get credit for this assignment. Questions will be
graded with a plus, check, or minus.
From: Carolyn Bronstein
Assistant Professor, College of Communication
This is an assignment for the second week of Capstone. This paragraph appears in my Capstone syllabus. ---Carolyn
Curriculum List: To be prepared for the second week of class, you must prepare and bring a list of readings, films, videos, art exhibits, primary documents, scientific theories, poems, television programs, radio programs, newspapers, magazines, novels, etc. that have influenced you in a significant way. Your list should include at least 10 entries. Make sure to vary the type of entry and the origin of each entry so that you reflect on numerous courses and experiences. Some entries may come from your life outside of DePaul’s classrooms, but please do not submit lists that contain only popular music songs, MTV videos, or references to other pop culture products. Under each entry, write a substantive paragraph that explains how the entry has influenced your thinking and/or shaped your perspective. You might link the entry with subsequent activities in your life. For example, you might have studied in a photojournalism class Jacob Riis’ photographs of poor immigrants living in New York City tenements at the turn of the century. Subsequently, you might have changed the way that you view urban living conditions in Chicago, or you might have volunteered at a shelter for homeless or other less fortunate people, or taken a service learning class that connected with some of what you saw in Riis’ work. Try to identify how and why this entry has affected you, and why you remember it out of all the material that has passed before you during your university years. You should also identify what general liberal studies category the entry corresponds to, i.e. science, social science, arts, literature, religion, history, philosophy, etc.
CMN 396: Capstone Seminar - Education Reflection Essay Guidelines
Consider the following quotation:
“When they first arrive at college, many students are surprised at the general education classes they must take in order to graduate. They wonder why someone who wants to be an accountant or psychologist or television producer should study subjects that have nothing to do with those fields. And that is a reasonable question—Why should you study history, literature, philosophy, music, art or any other subject outside of your major? Why should you study any subject that does not help to train you for a job? Why should you study computer programming when you will never write a program? Why study logic when all you want to do is teach first grade or be a church organist?”
--Robert Harris, “On the Purpose of a Liberal Arts Education”
How would you answer the questions posed in the above quotation? Using our class discussions, the readings on the purpose of liberal education, and your undergraduate studies as a starting point, you will write a reflective essay that examines both your experience of and your opinions about liberal education.
In your essay, you might address what you believe to be the purpose of a liberal arts education, drawing examples from your focused, major coursework, any minor courses, electives and the learning domains. You should discuss how and why your liberal arts education has shaped your personality and intellect. What in the liberal arts experience has helped you to grow as a thinker, or as someone who can “connect,” to use William Cronon’s language. What courses, ideas, readings, films or other materials have transformed your ways of understanding the world? How has your education prepared you for the path that lies ahead?
Remember to be specific in your essay and to provide concrete examples that highlight your arguments. Make sure to include a clear thesis statement and to state the points that will be discussed.
This essay should be reflective and integrative in nature. It must demonstrate your critical thinking abilities and a sincere examination and evaluation—whether positive or negative--of the meaning and experience of a liberal arts education.
Writing Best Practice Examples
Create a rubric for grading. Then pass out the rubric with the writing assignment.
Award an extra 10% if the student takes their paper to the Writing Center before turning in.
Do you give a writing assignment and the papers come back all over the place? maybe you could have written a better assignment. Call Marion Wilson.
Paper should be of high enough quality to present to a future employer and not be embarrassed.
Put Bedford/St.Martin's handbook on your syllabus.
Writing isn't just for a profession - you have to be able to write as a civic responsibility, to be a member of society. For example, to write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper.