Final Capstone Proposal Essay Rough Draft
Purpose:
Please write a rough draft of
Final Capstone Proposal Essay Rough Draft
Purpose:
Please write a rough draft of the Final Capstone Proposal Essay. This draft should demonstrate that you are making substantial progress towards your final essay. The draft should be 4-6 double-spaced pages and have a minimum of 4 sources. You should have content for each section. It is understood that this is very much a work in progress; however, you should demonstrate that you have already made considerable effort in the thinking and planning of the final project.
The Final Capstone Essay is an attempt to persuade the reader to adopt the proposal’s solution to a problem or need. Your problem solving should evidence both ethical and interdisciplinary modes of inquiry. This project gives you the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have gained during your college career.
Instructions:
Problem Statement Assignment: “Should the city council implement a ban on disposable foam containers, considering the economic impact on local businesses against the environmental benefits for the community?”
Stakeholders:
1. Local Government Officials
2. Businesses (Restaurants and Cafés)
3. Environmental Groups
4. Consumers
Rushworth Kidder’s Theory: End-base Thoery applied to problem
***TIPS: We discussed ethical dilemmas extensively in discussions and on a couple assignments. Remember that you’re NOT seeking a compromise between the two values, unfortunately a dilemma means that only one must be chosen however you can do the work of analysis for the reader by exploring what each choice would present. The application of the ethical theory (aka Resolution Principle) will most likely occur in the context of your stakeholder analysis…As mentioned earlier: You can introduce the stakeholder analysis in your capstone for the reader this way: There are stakeholders who must be considered, these are groups that are impacted by my topic both negatively and positively. These stakeholders are, x, y, z, etc, etc. Stakeholders have interests that intersect/overlap or are divergent/opposed. The overlapping interests for stakeholders x, y are a, b, c. On the other hand, stakeholders z, etc, etc, have conflicting interests e, f, g. You must fill in the details, but this is how you could word it in your capstone. Link this reflection to your Critical Thinking profile and the strengths and weaknesses you identified. And please think about the project and topic not in terms of an either-or or an oppositional View but more of an interdisciplinary collaboration. That is instead of the image of a chess board with two sides opposed you look at it as completing a jigsaw puzzle together each person/group/stakeholder has different pieces to contribute to understand the bigger picture, make the greater whole.
In this Final Capstone Essay, you will suggest specific steps to solve or alleviate a problem in your workplace or discipline. This is an 8-10 double spaced page proposal, with a minimum of 6 sources. Four of the six sources should be peer reviewed. The best projects are real and “close to home” rather than dealing with topics that are theoretical and national. Practical topics relate to your work, organizations, or field of specialization. Your research methods will include looking at secondary sources but can also include primary sources. Possible primary sources can include interviews, surveys, etc.
For the Final Capstone Essay please include the parts below:
Executive Summary: Summarize the entire report concisely. This includes summarizing the introduction, findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Significant information should be present. Sentences should be efficient, and the summary should not exceed 250 words.
Introduction: Provide a brief background of the problem. You can describe the extent of the problem and the effects that it has had. End the introduction with a clear statement as to what you are proposing as a way to alleviate or solve the problem.
Context of Problem: What are the causes that have led to this problem? It is important to describe the causes since any solution needs to address the causes of the problem. What are the effects the problem has had? Who has been most affected by this problem?
Past Solutions: Discuss what solutions have been currently proposed and/or tried in the past and explain why these solutions have not worked and will not work in the future. Discuss too what was positive about the past solutions and what aspects of past solutions may be worth trying again.
Explain Your Solution: Describe your solution in detail. Add in data and research to justify your solution. What is the timeline and any costs?
Benefits of Your Solution: Clearly state the reasons the solution is a good idea. Why is this the best solution to the problem? It may be good to address the causes of the problem that you have already referred to and explain how the solution will mitigate the causes that led to the issue occurring.
Ethical Justification: What resolution principles (re: Rushworth Kidder) or professional code of ethics support people adopting your solution? What are the competing discourses that frame the different sides of the ethical debate. How does your solution support a particular ethical framework or set of principles?
Counter Arguments: Address any counterarguments and give either your refutations or accommodations here.
Conclusion: You can summarize what will happen if your solution is implemented. You could also show what will happen if your plan is not implemented. You can choose to end your essay with a call to action.
Some References that I have you may use are:
References
Demchek, M. (2022). Fossil Fuels: The Dirty Facts. National Resources Defense Council. Retrieved from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fossil-fuels-dirty-facts#sec-whatis
Department of Energy. (2023). Biden-Harris Administration Announces $7 Billion for America’s First Clean Hydrogen Hubs, Driving Clean Manufacturing and Delivering New Economic Opportunities Nationwide. Retrieved from https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-7-billion-americas-first-clean-hydrogen-hubs-driving
Hunt, N., Liebman, M., Thakrar, S, & Hill, J. (2020). Fossil Energy Use, Climate Change Impacts, and Air Quality-Related Human Health Damages of Conventional and Diversified Cropping Systems in Iowa, USA. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(18), 11002-11014. DOI 10.1021/acs.est.9b06929
Kidder, R. M. (2009). How good people make tough choices: Resolving the dilemmas of ethical living. New York: Harper.
NASA. (2022). The Effects of Climate Change. Retrieved from https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/#:~:text=We%20already%20see%20effects%20scientists,will%20also%20increase%20and%20intensify.
National Geographic. (2023). Fossil Fuels. Retrieved from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/fossil-fuels/
Ramirez-Meyers, K., Mann, W.N., Johnson, S.C., Rhodes, J.D., & Webber, M.E. (2021). How different power plant types contribute to electric grid reliability, resilience, and vulnerability: a comparative analytical framework. Progress in Energy 3(3), 033001. DOI 10.1088/2516-1083/abf636
U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Low Carbon Fuels and Energy Sources Basics. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. Retrieved from https://www.energy.gov/eere/iedo/low-carbon-fuels-and-energy-sources-basics
Format and Length
Your report will include the following elements:
• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Discussion Section
• Conclusions, Recommendations
• Correct Citations
• Appropriate Supplements (e.g., copy of survey forms)
• Visuals (tables, graphs, drawings, photos)