Often, students may have trouble finding an appropriate research topic when given the opportunity to self-select.  The activities in this bundle are designed to guide students through several processes which may be useful in determining a topic that will engage their interests, abilities, and passions.
 
This module contains lessons and materials for two components.  The first component is for students to examine their personal interests, strengths, and areas of community or global need to ultimately arrive at a topic which lends itself to a research paper and project related to the research.  Three questions which provide a framework for student topic selection are 1.  What are my interests? 2. What are my strengths?, and 3. What are areas of community need? The second component supports students in writing research and guiding questions and a research proposal.  This unit is appropriate for research papers in which students may self-select a topic in addition to a Capstone for All course. It is appropriate for high school or college-level instruction. We have included resources (Google slides custom formatted to 8.5 X 11) that can be projected on a screen and printed for individual student use.
 
You’ll find:
20 Google slides providing a “walk-through” of the entire bundle
The ability to print slides for teacher and student use
a linear, quarter-by-quarter flowchart (for optional use)
CAP Traits assignment (definitions, interview, and poster)
CAP Traits self-reflection worksheet
Personality Tests journal assignment
Types of Capstone Projects Handout
Topic Exploration and journal assignment/vision board assignment
Borromean Circles graphic organizer worksheet
Essential and Guiding Questions for research handout
Research Proposal worksheet
 
Here are some highlights of the ways to use this bundle: 
The student-designed posters of CAP Traits can be displayed in classrooms and hallways
If using in a year-long course, students can track progress of their growth in their selected CAP Trait.
If possible, enlist the guidance of your counseling department in administering interest inventories for student use.
 
Worth Noting
The resources in this bundle are appropriate for research in any field or course, not only English.  The resources also offer many reflective opportunities for students to set goals for improvement in addition to modeling the process for topic selection.
 
Capstone Collaborators and our brand, The Sonderful Scholar recognize that creating authentic learning opportunities requires supreme flexibility. We hope that by offering time-saving, scaffolded resources in a logical sequence, they will be an easy foundation from which you can differentiate for the unique needs of your students.