Capstone paper

· Title Page (titles are always high case, except for “the’s” and “a’s) except if they are at the beginning of your title or after a colon.

· Table of Contents

· Abstract (120-150 words, the very last thing that you write).

· Introduction (includes overall capstone concept and a clear research question). Research questions always contain a “what” (what you are researching) and either a “how” or a “why” or both.

· Literature Review/Annotated Bibliography. You should have at least 15 or more scholarly sources, peer reviewed, as current as possible.

· Method (generally interviews or survey or both). All that your method consists of is how you are going to answer/address your research question. Generally a page or two suffices. Our text or generally any social science text dealing with research contains evidence regarding why certain methods are valid. Just cite it and paraphrase in your method preamble.

· Results/Discussion/Conclusions This is where you can shine with your own take on things.

· Service component (for applied capstones and Jesuit values). Or For Future Research (for research-based capstones) In terms of a Service Component, you don’t have to start a non-profit, build the Taj Mahal (ha!), etc. Just spell out in a page or two what you would intend to do if time allowed. (Lots of folks generate a brochure, conduct a workshop, do something to make the world a better place.)

· References

· Appendix/ Appendicies (This is where you put your survey questions, interview questions, etc.) The results of your interviews or surveys go in your Discussion section.

Important Notes:

1)The Institutional Review Board oversees research of human subjects to insure no harm is done to them. In concrete terms, this means kids, pregnant women, prisoners, people with disabilities, victims of violence, all are off limits to survey/interview without IRB approval. Approval may take time that you don’t have, even if it’s just information gathering. Be in touch and I’ll steer you clear of bureaucracy that may slow you down or prevent you from doing your proposed project.

2) In general, Capstones run approximately 25 pages, but may be more depending on your topic, available sources, etc.