Read a Complete Thesis: In order to gain a thorough understanding of the thesis process and product, read a complete thesis from cover to cover (a selection of samples will be available to you from our class participants). You will use the thesis/capstone project rubric to critically examine the sample thesis (This will be the same one that your Instructor will use to assess your Capstone project). Be prepared to have a discussion about the rubric and the thesis; your proposal will not be accepted by the course instructor until you have completed this step.

Title Page

Introduction: Should cover why you decided to explore this topic, the importance of your project, and provide an overview of the research, which has already been conducted on the topic. Definition of the Problem

Preliminary Literature Review

All pages are in order and bound exactly as you would like to submit and bind it.

Abstract Title Page

Abstract of Thesis

Title Page (required) must be signed. No running head is required. The correct degree is in your thesis statement on the title page. The date at the bottom of your thesis is your graduation date and not the date you finished your thesis.

Dedication and or Acknowledgments (Optional)

Table of Contents, including page numbers (required)

List of Tables, Illustrations, Charts, or Graphs

Introduction (required)

Literature Review (required)

Methodology (required)

Parameters (Delimitations and Limitations)

Body of Text (the story of what happened. It must have a beginning, middle, and end).

Discussion

Summary/Conclusion/Recommendations (required)

Reference List (required): No more than half your sources can be Web-based. Make sure that you use the current APA formatting. If your references are incorrect, your paper will be returned to you and you will be asked to make the necessary corrections. Check with your directing instructor if you have questions about any requirement.

Appendix (optional)

Glossary

Avoid Grammatical Errors: Refer to Nazareth Colleges expected writing conventions, the writing center on campus and make sure to avoid commonly made mistakes! If you need help with writing, the Writing Center is available to assist with all aspects of the writing process from focusing your ideas to organizing your thesis to format and documentation questions. The Writing Center has hours during the day and in the evenings by appointment only. Appointments are limited to 30 minutes only. To make an appointment, call 389-2636

Formatting: Be sure the title of thesis matches what was accepted on your proposal form, APA (6^th edition) style has been consistently and correctly used, and that the length of your paper meets the established minimum guidelines.

Paper Draft is Due to Directing Instructor:

Final Paper is Due to Directing Instructor: . Be aware that you may need to submit multiple drafts!!!

Deadline for Acceptance: at pm. Again, you should be aware that papers and projects submitted late will negatively impact your Capstone grade and possibly your ability to graduate; students who submit the proposal or any course work late are not entitled to the same final grade as students who meet all deadlines.

Give yourself a big pat on the back and celebrate!!!

Please note: At ANY point in the above process, you may be required to work with a tutor at the writing center to make necessary corrections.

CAPSTONE RESEARCH PROJECT FORMAT

Language: The Capstone paper should be written in grammatically correct English. It should be free of sexist or biased language, unless use of this type of language is linked directly with data collected in the field or is necessarily used as an exemplar relevant to the research questions. You may find it useful to consult Guidelines to Reduce Bias in Language found in the 6^th edition of the APA manual.

Title Page: Your title page should mirror the sample included in this packet. Be sure your capitalization, spacing, and line breaks are the same as the example, The easiest way to check your title page is to print it out and lay it on top of the sample provided, then hold it up to the light. If your title page is spaces exactly as recommended or is off, you will immediately be able to see what you must fix. All final capstone projects/theses require a title page.

Part of the Capstone Paper in Required Page Order:

1. Abstract Title Page (see attached sample A)
2. Abstract of Thesis (narrative description of work 200 words or less see attached sample B
3. Title Page (see attached sample C)
4. Dedication and/or Acknowledgment Pages (optional)
5. Table of Contents, including page numbers (required)
6. List of Tables, Illustrations, Charts, or Graphs (must fit inside regular margins)
7. Introduction (required)
8. Literature Review (required)
9. Methodology (required)
10. Parameters Delimitations and Limitations
11. Body of Text - Story
12. Discussion
13. Summary/Conclusion/Recommendations (required)
14. Reference List (required)
15. Appendix (if applicable)
16. Glossary
17. Vita/Resume (optional not numbered and not to exceed one typed page)
18. Blank Page

The following information is to guide you in composing the different sections of your written Capstone project.

Title page: Refer to the specifics in the samples provided (for content and format). The title should clearly state your TOPIC and the subject of your Capstone project. While you may wax poetic, the reader must also receive clear and cogent information A title that does not communicate its content can be misleading.

Acknowledgements: This is where you acknowledge individuals, organizations, or institutions that have contributed to the development of your work. Of particular importance are those who were respondents or participated in data collection. (If necessary for ethical reasons, please ensure anonymity!)

Table of Contents: Use appropriate APA headings. List page numbers for each individual chapter or section of the entire written project.

Abstract: Although it comes first, this piece is written LAST. The abstract describes what the reader will find in the paper. The abstract describes intent, poses research questions, identifies methodologies, and describes conclusions. For further information, refer to the APA Manual, 6^th edition. As the name implies, it provides the busy reader with a synopsis of what the research covers so that he or she determines whether to give additional attention to the paper. Because it sells the paper, important details should be described. To do this, planning, condensing and a number of rewrites of the abstract are often necessary. Because the abstract is not a direct part of the study undertaken, it is not numbered.

Introduction: This section includes any relevant personal or professional background to your topic. Here is where you introduce your problem statement, goals and objectives, and research objectives/questions. You may include quotes, but remember to contextualize them. In this section answer the following questions: How did you choose your topic? How is this topic/project meaningful, critical, and transformative to the field of art education? How do the parts of your project relate to one another? Your mission is to grab the readers interest here. In short, this is where you let us know why this should interest us and why it interests you! Consider your personal voice and how your narrative (stories and research) fit with the current discourses in art education, or need for discourse around your topic.

Literature Review: This is where you establish the theoretical framework and demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter. Here is where you reveal gaps in available research and identify needs. Here is where you describe in detail what you want to gain from your research. Here is where you describe how the study is intended to contribute to the field (theory, practice, policy, etc.) and to individuals. Answer the questions: What is the intellectual context of your work? What else has been written on your topic (in art education and in related fields)? Do you challenge, refute, enlarge, or support the existing research/debate? In short, your scholarship goes here.

The first purpose of completing a literature review is to substantiate the purpose and variables in the research. When literature is reviewed variables that other authors/researchers have found to be involved while researching the topic should be noted. This means that the one conducting and writing the literature review. may become more expert in the research area by learning from those who have previously written in this area of research.

The second purpose in conducting a literature review is to avoid the limitations and difficulties found by previous authors in the field. In reviewing the literature, the student should note the difficulties and limitations which similar research has encountered. It is best to learn from mistakes of others rather than from the painful lessons of learning from ones own efforts. A thorough literature review can help facilitate the learning process.

The next reason for reviewing literature is that the student may become aware of research techniques or instruments, which have been successfully employed by others engaged in similar research. Students should be aware of survey designs, observational techniques, methods of data and analysis, and instrument construction that may be useful in completion of their own projects.

Method: Here is where you identify your method(s) of research and provide a rationale for the selection. The methodology is the blueprint for the completion of research. The primary concern is that one matches the selection of the research methodology to the purpose of the research. It is vital for the a researcher to recognize what type of research method he or she will be using from the beginning of the project (after the proposal stage) since this will influence all activities in which the student will engage, including literature review, data collection, data analysis and actually writing the paper.

Secondly, the selection of a research methodology will determine the activities that will be necessary to complete the research and the time that it will take to collect and analyze collected data. The methodology chosen should facilitate the completion of the project within the time frame of the course and within the limitations of the research. These factors should be taken into account when selecting the methodology.

In the methodology section of a paper is where you describe the method(s): population and setting, data collection procedures, and data analysis procedures. Answer the questions: How did you go about your study? What, precisely, are the ways you got your information/data? What is the context of this work? Where did your study take place? If you conducted interviews, focus groups, a survey, etc., describe the participants. In short, this section should be an inclusive and concrete description of your study.

Parameters (Delimitations and Limitations): Delimitations are the boundaries of your research. Limitations are the methodological constraints, including any margin of error. In this section you should articulate biases and orientation of research, which influenced the way in which data was gathered and interpreted.

Body of Text/Story: This is the body of your paper and will have an organization of its own, depending on your topic and preferences. Here is where you describe what happened. Here is where you describe the full process, in detail. It must have a beginning, middle, and end.

Discussion: Here is where you analyze your data. Answer the questions. What does it all mean? What does it mean to you personally to have done this work? What does it mean to those with whom you worked or studied? What does it mean to the field of art education? In short, answer your main research questions and remind the readers how this work was meaningful, critical, and transformative.

Summary/Conclusions/Recommendations: Answer the questions: What does your work imply for the future: yours and future researchers.

References: References all works cited in APA 6^th edition formatting

Appendixes: Provides the reader with the detailed information that would be distracting to read in the main body of the written paper. Common kinds of appendixes include sample questionnaires, surveys, lesson plans, release forms, and other documentation used in your research. If your thesis has only one appendix, label it Appendix; if your paper has more than one appendix, label each one with a capital letter (Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.) in the order in which it is mentioned in the text.

Page Numbers: The front pages (Title Page, Dedication, Acknowledgments, Table of Contents, etc.) must be numbered with lower case Roman numerals. Consider the title page to be the first page but do not put a page number on it. Therefore, the page that follows the title page is numbered ii. The first ten numbers in Roman numerals are i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x.

The first page of your text (The introduction) should be numbered 1. Number your pages consecutively including references. Number all pages, including pages having drawings, figures, or photos in Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) according to current APA guidelines.

Typing: Theses and Capstone Papers must be typed and double-spaced.

Margins: 1 margins. Please see APA 6^th edition guidelines.

Headings: Headings represent the outline of a text. Please refer to the current APA manual for further specification.

Font Size: You should use 12pt. font (Times New Roman ONLY).

Running Head: Please do not use.

Print Quality: The final copy of your bound Capstone Project must be clear and legible. It should be printed on only one side of the paper. Print should be laser printing or deskjet printing. Print should be black for reproduction.

Paper: The archival copy of masters Capstone project and theses should be on 8 x 11, high-quality, acid free, plain white bond paper with minimum 20-lb weight and 100% cotton content; This paper is ideal for preservation. Staples carries a paper that fits this requirement: Bright White (#733333).

Correction Fluids: Do not use white-out or correction tape on the archival copy. White-out tends to discolor and flake off over time.

Adhesives: Please do not use adhesives (post-it notes, tape, glue, etc.) on the archival copy. Scan the item, copy onto acid-free paper, or use archival quality plastic pocket pages.

Inserts: Approximately 3/8 inch is obscured during the binding process. Please make sure important information on photocopied inserts or images will not be covered.

Photographs and Ephemera (clippings, programs, etc.): These items may be scanned or copied and submitted as part of the text for binding. Alternatively, if originals are used, please note the following guidelines:

O Photographs, programs, tickets, etc. should be placed in archival quality plastic pocket pages.

O Photographs should be large enough for details to be easily discernible. Photos may appear within the text of the manuscript or may be presented in an Appendix. Captions must be within the standard margins or on a facing page immediately preceding the photographs. The facing page is un-numbered.

O If you must write on the back of photographs, write only on the edge of the photo with an archival quality pen.

O Do not submit original newspaper clippings copy onto acid-free paper.

Electronic Formats: Submit text and CD/DVDs in separate envelopes. These can be glued into the back cover with archival quality glues or adhesives. Please include a written summary of the CD/DVD contents, including length, if applicable, and any information needed for a patron to view the project.

Unbound Submission: You must submit ONE final, original, unbound manuscript (From the title page through the end of the capstone paper) in a letter-sized box. Tape a photocopy of the title page to the front of the box. Make sure to include a contact phone number on the photocopy. After your project has been approved , by the directing instructor, you will pick up the approved manuscript and complete the signatory pages in order to have all manuscripts bound.

Final Submission of Bound Manuscripts: You are required to submit two (2) signed, bound manuscripts to the course instructor by the submission deadline for the semester in which you plan to graduate or complete the capstone course. See the AED 690 calendar for the semester-specific deadline. One copy will be archived and one copy will be placed in the department for public use. You may use any binding company or binding style that you choose. Keep submission deadlines in mind when selecting a binding. The student is responsible for all production phases and should be aware that neither Nazareth College nor any of its separate offices is responsible for matters involving the student and non-college agencies associated with the production of any capstone materials or assignments. The student is responsible for correction of all errors in production. Any errors must be rectified prior to acceptance of the capstone project by the course instructor and/or department.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Capstone Instructor: The role of the Capstone course instructor is to provide guidance and advisement on (1) quality and depth of content, (2) clarity of design and organization, and (3) sound evaluation and reasoning. It is the students responsibility to set up meetings outside of class with the instructor if necessary.

Editing: A professional Editor may be employed by the student to provide editing for APA style, grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Depending on individual needs, an Editor may provide additional suggestions for improving clarity, smoothness, and economy of expression. An Editor may not write any portions of a students paper.

Secondary Reader(s): The role of a secondary reader is to provide constructive critical review of the written project. These readers may be Nazareth faculty or professionals in the field. A Readers role is to consider one or more of the following: congruency between the thesis statement and the rationale, the clarity of focus and depth of scholarship within the review of literature, and/or examine the structural organization and expression of ideas in the writing. The student is responsible for securing and contacting a Secondary Reader. Readers are not responsible for editing text, this is the job of an editor.

Ethics: Ethics are an important aspect of research. It is the responsibility of the individual investigator/researcher to ensure that appropriate ethical principles are adhered to in the conducting of research involving human subjects. The primary ethical principles which must be considered in all research involving human subjects includes:

1. Maintaining subject autonomy. Permitting potential participants to determine for themselves whether or not they wish to take part in the study (without coercion).
2. Maintaining the safety of the subject/participant. Ensuring that no participant is harmed in the course of the research.
3. Promoting benefit to the subjects, participants, and larger community.
4. Conducting research in a fair and equitable manner.
5. Honoring commitments made to subjects/participants in a study.
6. Ensuring that all data collected is kept confidential and that not specific information can be attributed to individuals who participated in the study.

NOTE: BEFORE collecting data students must obtain the approval of their instructor and the AED program director to ensure that federal regulations governing the use of human subjects in research are being followed.

Definitions: In your paper it is good practice to define all terms that may not be known by the lay person.

Copyright: If you wish to register your paper with the copyright office, please see http://copyright.gov