LA 498 Capstone Course Essays: Instructions

LA 498 Capstone Course Essays: Instructions

LA 498 Capstone Course Essays: Instructions
This course is designed for you to demonstrate your mastery of the four Capstone outcomes (critical thinking,
communication, diversity, and ethics). One of the most important ways you’ll achieve this is through your essays, in
which you’ll analyze research related to a topic you’ve previously studied.
You’re writing analytical essays in this course. Your academic and professional experience may inform your position
on this topic and serve as a useful starting point for your research. Use material from scholarly resources (that means
peer reviewed articles found in academic journals) to support your essays. Omit personal opinion from your work.
Research your topic(s) using the Excelsior Library databases. If you need assistance searching the academic databases,
contact an Excelsior librarian. See the difference between scholarly and popular articles: http://tinyurl.com/n4hf3uq
and learn more about peer reviewed articles here: http://tinyurl.com/oszescq .
There are two paths you may choose for your essays:
Option 1: Some students prefer to research multiple topics. If you adopt this strategy, follow the instructions for each
assignment as listed in the modules (and also found via the “Assignments” link in the left-side course menu).
You’ll strengthen your research and writing skills by working with 3-5 scholarly resources (academic journal
articles) for each essay. Do not write a personal opinion narrative. Instead, you’ll use your experience as a
framework, and integrate material from scholarly sources to expound upon your main points.
This option will require significant additional research for your final project, which will be supported by ten
scholarly references. Consequently, you’ll have to research the ethical implications of your final project’s
topic and explain how diversity relates to your topic. Also note: even if you choose to examine different
topics for your Ethics and Diversity essays, the global issue you select for your M2A1 essay must form the
foundation for your final project.
Option 2: Use a “scaffold” approach to your project by selecting a single theme and area of interest for all your essays.
Doing so allows you to build on your research as you progress through the course. In the example provided
here, I’ve used the same topics you see in the M1D2 discussion and the M2A1 essay assignment instructions.
Here’s how I’ve used the scaffold technique:
Global Issues: I began with a general search of the Excelsior Library databases. I noticed “water pollution”
was a recurring topic within the broader topic of pollution, so I narrowed my search using that term. My
initial research indicated that our freshwater aquifers are being damaged or depleted as a result of pollutants.
See my sample M1D2 worksheet for the results of that activity. Note I’ve listed five journal articles.
Ethics: Once I had the framework for the global issue in place, I was ready to examine the ethical
implications of the problem. Myriad studies examined the impact of agricultural practices while other studies
addressed the impact of groundwater contamination by crude oil. (Remember the Exxon Valdez oil spill, or
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill?) That led me to contemplate how corporations react to and communicate
with the public during disasters like this. I chose to analyze corporate actions and communication in the wake
of a crisis, and how those decisions and actions influence public perception of the issue. I’ll draw upon 3-5
academic journal articles to develop my thesis and support my position. (It’s possible I can use one or two of
the journal articles I used in the Global Issues essay.)
Diversity: While skimming journal articles I noticed a disparity in the manner in which corporations and
government entities appear to address the social, economic, and geographic elements of water quality
management and allocation. That led me to wonder how vulnerable and disenfranchised groups (in other
words, diverse groups) are impacted by access to clean, safe water. Again, I’ll use information from 3-5
academic journal articles to develop my essay. As my topic choice directly relates to the social responsibility
issues addressed in the Ethics essay, I may use one or two of those journal articles to support this essay.
Final Project: The research reviewed suggests that continued population growth will necessitate increased
agriculture to meet food demands. This may result in increased agricultural pollutants which will further
degrade water quality. Consequently, a systemic approach to water management, addressing social,
economic, and environmental needs, is necessary to sustain the world’s population. I’ll incorporate elements
of the first three essays and if necessary add additional journal articles to support my p