Capstone Award Winners Examine Ethics of American Democracy

About Capstone

The concept of a Capstone project is older than, and certainly not unique to, the College of General Studies at Boston University.  A final research project has historically been considered the culmination of a liberal arts education. In addition to the historical and academic meanings of the term, there is an architectural sense to the word “capstone.” A capstone is the final block that is placed on top of a construction project to tie the whole structure together.

First, just as the construction of a building is not an individual effort, but rather a process requiring the labors of an organized group, so too is the Capstone project a group effort. Students are expected to work together for the success of the group. The more each individual gives to the group, the more each person will gain from the month’s work. When there is a genuine group effort, the final product is better and the experience is more rewarding.

Second, the Capstone project is a kind of drama, requiring an act of imagination as students assume the roles of experts or advocates and present their findings in a real-world format.

Third, the Capstone paper is not to be merely a fifty-page research term paper. Instead it is a synthesis – a combining of separate elements to form a coherent whole.  Research is, to be sure, an indispensable part of the project; but to construct arguments, analyze and synthesize research in order to make a proposal or reach a verdict and to justify conclusions.  In other words, research is more than gathering raw data as an end in itself. What is most important is the synthesis of these data into a meaningful whole which, if done properly, will be greater than the sum of its parts.

……….

2009 Topic:  The Ethics of  American Democracy

CGS Capstone Awards Ceremony

October 16, 2009

6:00 pm

Linda S. Wells, Dean

……….
Citizens of Human Health: Proposal to FDA on Antibiotic Regulation

“The proposal suggested a step by step program that would lead to a ban on the use of non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in animal feed.” – Professor June Grasso

……….

America as a Global Superpower: The National  Security Council’s

“The project explores the complex military, economic, and social conditions confronting US policy makers charged with addressing the situation in Afghanistan.  Throughout the work, the students demonstrate their mastering of a complex and dangerous environment while also cogently arguing for changes in current American policy.” – Professor Adam Sweeting

………

The Presumed Consent for Organ Donation Act, 2009 *

“An insightful project, this Capstone presents a compelling argument for changes in our current system of harvesting, allocating, and transplanting life-sustaining organs.  The project includes a thorough examination of every possible challenge to their call for a new policy of presumed consent for organ donation. The team faculty were especially impressed by the students’ mastery of law and the legislative process as well as the medical and ethical issues at stake.” – Professor Adam Sweeting*

………

Breaking the Cycle: Proposal for Improving California’s Prison Reform Programs

“The Project created a policy to address non-violent offenders, reforming their prison environment and emphasizing their rehabilitation and education.” – Professor James Wilcox

……….

Children in New York City: Fighting Child Poverty Through Improved Education and Parental Support

“This group presented a thorough, persuasive, clearly-written plan for reducing child poverty in NYC.  The students worked very well together and produced some excellent research and recommendations.  Their oral presentation was impressive, and everything came together beautifully despite the serious injury of one their members.” – Professor Jeffery Vail

……..

Committee for Students Development and Progress Policy Brief:
Massachusetts Education Reform

“The students researched successful public education programs nationwide at each level and synthesized their finding into a persuasive and comprehensive recommendation on education reform for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
– Professor Robert Wexelblatt

………

The Establishment of a Flexible and Responsive Judicial System:
Repairing the Flawed Incarceration Policy of the United States

“Many prison inmates fail to be rehabilitated during their time in the criminal justice system. Students in this capstone group crafted a nuanced response to the problem of “recidivism” in America.  Inmates become more likely – not less likely – to commit new crimes after their stay in prison.  Changing the prison environment is the key to reducing the recidivism rate, in this group’s opinion. ”- Professor Michael Kort

………
B.U.G. (Boston University Green)

“It proposed a comprehensive plan for making Boston University more environmentally friendly by increasing conservation efforts and uses of solar energy, wind energy, and rooftop gardens.  Adopting the philosophy “Think globally/ Act Locally,” they persuasively argued that intense local efforts, such as the one they proposed for B.U., are an integral part of the global effort to reduce greenhouse gases. They provided an impressively detailed economic analysis of energy savings over time in relation to implementation costs, and they drew from a rich mix of book, journal, internet and interview sources throughout the paper.” – Professor  Natalie McKnight

………

View all posts