The Capstone Milestone Timeline The following is a list of the capstone milestone assignments due each week and what is required for each one.

The Capstone Milestone Timeline The following is a list of the capstone milestone assignments due each week and what is required for each one. Prior to the course, review this timeline so that you know what will be expected for each assignment each week. Week 1 Topic Proposal

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Your topic proposal should be 2 – 3 pages and should include the following items and address the following questions.

An APA formatted title page (1 page)

The topic you wish to pursue. (1 paragraph)

• One paragraph describing the overall topic you wish to explore. o It may be somewhat broad at this point and it may imply a problem. Use

the resources in your course materials to help you search for ideas.

Identify your purpose: Why are you interested in this topic? (2-3 paragraphs)

• Specifically explain what it is that fascinates you or draws you to this topic. • Clearly describe the relevance of the topic in the field today. • Identify a purpose for a paper on this topic:

o What might exploration of this problem accomplish? o What is your intended goal?

! To evoke change ! To make new connections (new cause and effect) ! To introduce a new theory, solution, idea

o Is this goal realistic?

Define and describe your intended target audience. (1 paragraph)

• Be specific: identify age, gender, and educational, socioeconomic and cultural demographics as relevant.

• Who will benefit most from knowing about this topic? Remember, those who think differently about the topic may be the audience you need to address.

• Identify only one target audience to address in the paper. (This will help you maintain focus.)

Provide a list of 4 – 8 research questions. (List 4-8 questions)

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While you have not done any formal research on the topic yet, explore databases and websites to help you identify questions that are being asked by others and to help you articulate questions of your own within the current dialog. Use the resources in your course materials to help you search.

• Identify questions that you can answer through research. o Questions about morality and beliefs, while worthy, are not research

questions.

• Pose questions worth exploring. • Not too narrow, not too broad. • Keep them intellectually challenging, not too basic.

Identify a problem within the topic and draft an initial problem statement (this is your thesis). (1 sentence)

• Identify a problem from your research questions and state it as a statement. • The problem statement should be specific in nature and indicate the focus of

your paper. o Not too narrow, not too broad o Intellectually challenging

• Take special care to narrow the topic you started with by locating a very specific problem or argument within the larger scholarly discussion you have explored.

Draft a hypothesis (1 paragraph)

“A hypothesis is a logical supposition, a reasonable guess, or a suggested answer to a problem statement or research question. A hypothesis provides further direction for the research effort by setting forth a possible explanation for an occurrence.” (Research Techniques for the Health Sciences, 5th Edition, p.18)

• State your hypothesis clearly and concisely. • Explain how it expresses a relationship between two or more variables (identify

the variables). • Suggest how it can be tested.

Adhere to APA formatting throughout. Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be graded. Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) Points: 50

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Week 2

The Literature Review (Brief)

Write a 1– 2 paragraph literature review (of one source) that includes the following:

• Your problem statement (thesis) • Your hypothesis • The research question (may be a clinical question or your hypothesis) you intend

to address with this source • A list of 3 – 5 key words/ phrases used to search the research question • The APA reference for the source you will use for the literature review • A review of the literature that includes:

o A comprehensive analysis of the data (include in-text APA citations as needed)

o A review of the validity of the data and the findings o An assessment of the relevance of the source in addressing your problem

statement (thesis) o Your unique contribution: Identify ideas not addressed, gaps in the data

or analysis, or new problems that emerge from your review of the literature

Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be graded. Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) Points: 50

Week 3

The Annotated Bibliography

Include the following in your annotated bibliography:

• APA citations and annotations for four (4) sources you deem relevant to your problem statement (thesis).

For each source:

• Cite the source in proper APA format. The citations should be organized in alphabetical order by author as in an APA References page.

• Follow with a brief annotation that summarizes the source (approximately 3 – 5 sentences). You may quote from the source, but do not copy and paste from the abstract.

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• In 1 or 2 sentences, explain and evaluate the source’s relevance and significance to your hypothesis. Does this support or discredit your hypothesis?

• Use an academic tone and style.

Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be graded. Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) Points: 50

Week 4

The Research Paper Outline

Adhere to the following guidelines for drafting and submitting your outline:

• Use standard alphanumeric outline format. • Include a rough draft of your abstract. • Include APA in-text citations. • Include an APA formatted reference page. • Include a title page. • Use APA format throughout.

Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be graded. Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) Points: 100

Week 5

The Research Paper Rough Draft

Your 12-15 page rough draft should include all of the research paper elements of a final draft.

Include the following in your rough draft:

• Headings • Title page • Abstract • Introduction • Literature review: a review of relevant studies focusing on the theory and its

importance and implication for the study

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• Research methods used and data collected • Results and analysis of research findings • Discussion of hypothesis/conclusion • Reference page with a minimum of 10 references and appropriately used in-text

citations for each • Visuals: tables, figures, graphs, charts, images, or any other non-text content as

applicable. You are required to include at least 1 visual aid in your final paper. • Footnotes (if applicable) • Appendices (if applicable)

Be sure to plan enough time for proofreading and editing. Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be graded. Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) Points: 100

Week 6

The Oral Presentation Rough Draft

A PowerPoint presentation with notes is acceptable. No audio is required for the rough draft. (Audio is required for the final oral presentation).

Recommended: Before you begin, review your course materials.

Include the following in your submission:

• A presentation time of approximately 5 – 10 minutes (about 10-15 slides with notes)

• Your PowerPoint should be compiled from the following sections of your written paper:

o Abstract o Introduction o Research methodology o Conclusions

• Include visual aids to be referenced o You are required to include at least 1 visual aid in your presentation o Clearly title and cite each image, chart, graphic, map, etc.

Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be graded. Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) Points: 100

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Week 7

The Final Research Paper

Include the following in your 12-15 page final draft:

• Headings • Title page • Abstract • Introduction • Literature review: a review of relevant studies focusing on the theory and its

importance and implication for the study • Research methods used and data collected • Results and analysis of the data • Discussion of hypothesis/conclusion • Reference page with a minimum of 10 references and appropriately used in-text

citations for each • Visuals: tables, figures, graphs, charts, images, or any other non-text content as

applicable. You are required to include at least 1 visual aid in your final paper. • Footnotes (if applicable) • Appendices (if applicable)

Be sure to plan enough time for proofreading and editing.

Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be graded. Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) Points: 150

Week 7

The Final Oral Defense Presentation

You will submit your presentation using the Kaltura recording tool within Blackboard. See the Getting Started with Kaltura link listed under the Resources area in your course menu to learn how to use this tool.

A presentation time of approximately 5 – 10 minutes (about 10-15 slides with notes)

• Your presentation should be compiled from the following sections of your written paper:

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o Abstract o Introduction o Research methodology o Conclusions

• Include visual aids to be referenced o You are required to include at least 1 visual aid in your presentation o Clearly title and cite each image, chart, graphic, map, etc.

Reminder: You must submit your oral presentation as an assignment and to the discussion board in Week 8.

Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be graded. Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) Points: 150

Week 8

Oral Presentation Defense Responses

For this assignment, you will:

• Select three (3) questions submitted by your peers and/or your instructor from the discussion board to address formally and in detail for this assignment.

• Choose questions of intellectual substance; each response should be 1 – 2 paragraphs in length.

• Include the questions above your responses. • Present the question in bold text and your response beneath in regular APA style

text. You do not need to identify the person who submitted the question. • Your responses should be organized, comprehensive, and well written. • Use citations and a reference page when appropriate to include supporting

evidence; however, your responses should be unique and indicative of your own understanding of the subject.

• Include a title page.

Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be graded. Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) Points: 50