What is the Capstone Experience?
The Senior Capstone experience is required of all MNPS high school seniors. This experience allows students to learn about themselves by moving an idea or dream towards a topic of interest, specialization, community need, or career choice. This experience may include, but is not limited to: senior project, virtual enterprise, internship, externship, work-based learning, service learning, & community service.
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Course Requirements
All students who are enrolled in a “Capstone” course must complete the course requirements listed below. Some capstone courses may have additional requirements based on the course description. There are four requirements for the Capstone courses: 1) Paper 2) Product 3) Portfolio 4) Presentation |
Tools for Research:MLA Formatting - OWL Purdue
Thesis vs. Topic Sentence - Video is cheesy, but helpful Research Tool for Online Sources - Scrible Determining Source Credibility - Online Resource Checklist Resume Help - Packet with guidelines Sample Resume - Use as a template Letter of Recommendation - Template |
Links to Needed Documents:
5 Characteristics of a Graduate for Portfolio
Commitment Form for Portfolio Letter or Recommendation Sample Template Letter or Recommendation Request Form Brag Sheet Capstone Proposal Sheet Document for Community Service Hours Recommendation Request Form Recommendation Letter Template Portfolio Checklist & Rubric Sample Outline - Use Alphanumeric Option Sample Outline - Editable Word Document MLA Sample - Works Cited Quarterly Reflection Sheet |
Links to Community Service Organizations
Hands On Nashville - Several various opportunities
Zoo Volunteer - Different positions at the zoo American Red Cross - Various positions Children's Hospital Vanderbilt - Teen opportunities Library - Volunteer at the library YMCA - Volunteer opportunities Habitat for Humanity - Help build a home Article - Quarterly Writing Assessment |
Anticipated Project Timeline
AHS-Senior Capstone 2015-2016
Tentative Senior Capstone Pacing Schedule and Due Dates
August 10-August 14 What is a Capstone?
· Introduction to Senior Capstone projects
· Expectations and requirements
· Organization, priorities, and pacing
August 17-August 28 Selecting a topic
· Pre-research of topics of interest
· Creating a “Driving Question”
· Career plans, goals, and interest related in Academy
August 20-August 25 Resumes
· Brag sheets due, to be completed prior to creating resume.
· What makes a resume stand out
· Proper formatting
August 27-August 28 Capstone Proposal Form Due
· This can be found in Senior Capstone Packet
August 28-September 18 Research
· Research presentation from Media Center
· Plagiarism
· Cornell Note-taking
· Reliable and credible sources
September 17-September 18 Community Service
· What, where, when, and how
· Class check-in by Capstone Lead
September 21-October 2 Designing the paper
· Creating and using a thesis statement derived from a Driving Question
· Outlines and Subtopics
· Mini presentations
o 2 minute presentation on topic chosen and why.
o Introducing Driving Questions
September 24-September 25 Community Service Hours Due
· 5 hours of community service completed and documented
October 13-October 14 Final Outlines Due
· Typed
· Including Driving Question and thesis statement
1st Quarter Reflection Questions Due
· Four questions typed
· Questions can be found in Senior Capstone Packets
Community Service Hours Due
· Total of 10 hours of community service completed and documented (5 more hours from previous due date)
October 13-October 30 Writing the paper
· In-text citations and MLA formatting
· Using research appropriately and effectively in writing
Class check-in by Capstone Lead
· Questions and Answers and student concerns
November 2-November 6 Writing Workshop
· Time will be spent prewriting, creating, revising, and editing.
· Students will be given class time to work on papers.
November 9-November 10 Rough Drafts Due
· Typed hard copies must be tuned in.
· At least 6-7 pages to be completed at this time
November 11- November 16 Peer Review
· Where am I going? Am I headed in the right direction?
· Students will peer review and provide useful feedback.
November 16-November 20 Writing Workshops
· Students will edit rough drafts using feedback provided by Capstone teacher and peers.
November 23-November 24 2nd Quarter Reflections Due
· Four questions completed and typed.
· Total of 8 questions will have been answered at this point.
Class check-in by Capstone Lead
· Questions and answers and progress checks
November 30-December 9 Writing Workshops
· Works cited
· Checking for plagiarism
November 30-December 1 Community Service Hours Due
· Total of 15 hours of community service completed and documented (5 more hours from previous due dates)
December 10-December 11 Final Capstone Paper Due
· Typed in MLA format
· Works Cited page included
December 14-December 18 Mini Presentations
· Subtopics and their relationship to your Driving Question
· Community Service
January 6-January 11 Product Development
· Brainstorming and trouble shooting
· Innovation and development -VS- “show-n-tell”
Class check-in by Capstone Lead
· Questions and answers and progress checks
January 6-January 7 Community Service Hours Due
· Total of 20 hours of community service completed and documented (5 more hours from previous due dates)
January 12-January 15 Portfolio Checklist Follow-ups
· Am I on track?
· Class check-in by Capstone Lead
January 19-January 29 Presentation Development
· Public speaking
· Knowing your Capstone project
· Mini presentations
February 1-February 12 Portfolio Checklist Follow-ups
· Community Service follow-ups
· Mid-quarter reflection questions
February 16-February 26 Product Development
· Storyboard
· Mini-presentations
February 16-February 17 Community Service Hours Due
· Total of 25 hours of community service completed and documented (5 more hours from previous due dates)
Class check-in by Capstone Lead
· Questions and answers and progress checks
February 29-March 11 Presentation Development
· Mini presentations
· Collaborative grouping-peer filming, reviewing, and feedback of presentations.
March 14-March 15 3rd Quarter Reflection Questions Due
· Four questions completed and typed.
· Total of 12 questions will have been answered at this point.
Community Service Hours Due
· Total of 30 hours of community service completed and documented (5 more hours from previous due dates)
March 29-April 29 Portfolio Follow-ups
· Am I on track for my Senior Capstone presentation?
Product Follow-ups
· Product development workshops providing students class time to design and create products.
Presentations
· Developing and utilizing visual aids for presentations
o Tri-fold boards and PowerPoints
o Mock presentations using visual aids.
4th Quarter Reflection Questions Due
· Four questions completed and typed.
· Total of 16 questions
April 4-April 5 Community Service Hours Due
· Total of 35 hours of community service completed and documented (5 more hours from previous due dates)
· Total of 40 hours with be due the day of presentation along with the Capstone Portfolio.
Class check-in by Capstone Lead
· Questions and answers and progress checks
April 25-April 29 Capstone Grand Finale
Tentative Senior Capstone Pacing Schedule and Due Dates
August 10-August 14 What is a Capstone?
· Introduction to Senior Capstone projects
· Expectations and requirements
· Organization, priorities, and pacing
August 17-August 28 Selecting a topic
· Pre-research of topics of interest
· Creating a “Driving Question”
· Career plans, goals, and interest related in Academy
August 20-August 25 Resumes
· Brag sheets due, to be completed prior to creating resume.
· What makes a resume stand out
· Proper formatting
August 27-August 28 Capstone Proposal Form Due
· This can be found in Senior Capstone Packet
August 28-September 18 Research
· Research presentation from Media Center
· Plagiarism
· Cornell Note-taking
· Reliable and credible sources
September 17-September 18 Community Service
· What, where, when, and how
· Class check-in by Capstone Lead
September 21-October 2 Designing the paper
· Creating and using a thesis statement derived from a Driving Question
· Outlines and Subtopics
· Mini presentations
o 2 minute presentation on topic chosen and why.
o Introducing Driving Questions
September 24-September 25 Community Service Hours Due
· 5 hours of community service completed and documented
October 13-October 14 Final Outlines Due
· Typed
· Including Driving Question and thesis statement
1st Quarter Reflection Questions Due
· Four questions typed
· Questions can be found in Senior Capstone Packets
Community Service Hours Due
· Total of 10 hours of community service completed and documented (5 more hours from previous due date)
October 13-October 30 Writing the paper
· In-text citations and MLA formatting
· Using research appropriately and effectively in writing
Class check-in by Capstone Lead
· Questions and Answers and student concerns
November 2-November 6 Writing Workshop
· Time will be spent prewriting, creating, revising, and editing.
· Students will be given class time to work on papers.
November 9-November 10 Rough Drafts Due
· Typed hard copies must be tuned in.
· At least 6-7 pages to be completed at this time
November 11- November 16 Peer Review
· Where am I going? Am I headed in the right direction?
· Students will peer review and provide useful feedback.
November 16-November 20 Writing Workshops
· Students will edit rough drafts using feedback provided by Capstone teacher and peers.
November 23-November 24 2nd Quarter Reflections Due
· Four questions completed and typed.
· Total of 8 questions will have been answered at this point.
Class check-in by Capstone Lead
· Questions and answers and progress checks
November 30-December 9 Writing Workshops
· Works cited
· Checking for plagiarism
November 30-December 1 Community Service Hours Due
· Total of 15 hours of community service completed and documented (5 more hours from previous due dates)
December 10-December 11 Final Capstone Paper Due
· Typed in MLA format
· Works Cited page included
December 14-December 18 Mini Presentations
· Subtopics and their relationship to your Driving Question
· Community Service
January 6-January 11 Product Development
· Brainstorming and trouble shooting
· Innovation and development -VS- “show-n-tell”
Class check-in by Capstone Lead
· Questions and answers and progress checks
January 6-January 7 Community Service Hours Due
· Total of 20 hours of community service completed and documented (5 more hours from previous due dates)
January 12-January 15 Portfolio Checklist Follow-ups
· Am I on track?
· Class check-in by Capstone Lead
January 19-January 29 Presentation Development
· Public speaking
· Knowing your Capstone project
· Mini presentations
February 1-February 12 Portfolio Checklist Follow-ups
· Community Service follow-ups
· Mid-quarter reflection questions
February 16-February 26 Product Development
· Storyboard
· Mini-presentations
February 16-February 17 Community Service Hours Due
· Total of 25 hours of community service completed and documented (5 more hours from previous due dates)
Class check-in by Capstone Lead
· Questions and answers and progress checks
February 29-March 11 Presentation Development
· Mini presentations
· Collaborative grouping-peer filming, reviewing, and feedback of presentations.
March 14-March 15 3rd Quarter Reflection Questions Due
· Four questions completed and typed.
· Total of 12 questions will have been answered at this point.
Community Service Hours Due
· Total of 30 hours of community service completed and documented (5 more hours from previous due dates)
March 29-April 29 Portfolio Follow-ups
· Am I on track for my Senior Capstone presentation?
Product Follow-ups
· Product development workshops providing students class time to design and create products.
Presentations
· Developing and utilizing visual aids for presentations
o Tri-fold boards and PowerPoints
o Mock presentations using visual aids.
4th Quarter Reflection Questions Due
· Four questions completed and typed.
· Total of 16 questions
April 4-April 5 Community Service Hours Due
· Total of 35 hours of community service completed and documented (5 more hours from previous due dates)
· Total of 40 hours with be due the day of presentation along with the Capstone Portfolio.
Class check-in by Capstone Lead
· Questions and answers and progress checks
April 25-April 29 Capstone Grand Finale