AB ONLY - Capstone Project: Selecting Your Focus and Doing Research

Capstone Project: Selecting Your Focus and Doing Research

A Capstone Project is an Inquiry-Based Student Interest, multi-step Project-Based Learning, or Real-World Solution Project. This course will have one Capstone project, with several checkpoints.

Capstone Project Concept Review

This capstone is designed so that you can more deeply explore one particular cultural topic. Throughout the Latin I course, we will be learning about certain cultural aspects of Rome. For this project, you have selected one of these topics to focus your attention on and learn more about. Ultimately, the goal will be to compare the Roman cultural practice to modern cultural practices, so keep in mind that you will need to connect these topics to modern ones.

Checkpoint Aim

Now that you have chosen what you a broad topic as your passion, you need to choose more specific topics within your area of interest. You cannot ever hope to cover an entire topic in a single project, which is why it is important to narrow your focus down to more specific aspects of the culture that can provide insights into the bigger picture.

For instance:

• If you chose Roman mythology, select a few related myths to research or work to compare two types of myths that contain a broader message.
• If you chose Roman dining, select a specific meal or a few dishes to research.
• If you chose Roman architecture, select a particular type of building (arenas or theaters, etc.) to research.
• And so on

If you aren't sure how to narrow your topic down, please contact your instructor immediately!

Instructions

At this point, you will begin preparing information to compare your topic to something modern. To complete this checkpoint, you will need to:

• Select your focus
• Research your focus in the ancient world (Rome specifically)
  
  • Research background information on the focus in ancient Rome
    • In other words, take a deep dive into specific aspects of your topic
    • You should cite 4-5 sources for this research
• Research your focus in the modern world (this should be whatever you consider your culture)
  
  • Research background information on the focus in the modern world
    • In other words, take a deep dive into specific aspects of your topic
    • You should cite 4-5 sources for this research
  • Is something done the same in the modern world? How is it different?
  • Remember - the overall goal of this project is to compare the ancient practice with a modern practice

Submission

• Continue using your previous Word document. You should already have:
  • Name your topic
  • A paragraph explaining why you are interested in this topic
  • A few specific areas of your topic that you might want to investigate more deeply
  • Bibliography page
• NEW CONTENT. Add:
  • Name your focus
  • Research your focus in the ancient Roman world
    • Be sure to add 4-5 citations (minimum) to your bibliography as you complete this research!
  • Research your focus in the modern world (your culture)
    • Be sure to add 4-5 citations (minimum) to your bibliography as you complete this research!

Submit the Word document

• Submission should be either .docx or .pdf
• Do not submit a weblink. Do not submit any other format.