When a student reaches the final year of a degree course, one of the tasks that he or she needs to complete is a capstone project. It brings together the most important knowledge one has learned in an entire degree course. A capstone project is sometimes thought of as a thorough investigation of one or more areas of the program being studied, as well.

A valid capstone project should collect the skills learned from a number of different topics and subjects, and result in a final product that demonstrates what a student has understood and taken on during a degree program. The unique aspect of a capstone project is that it must propose and solve a distinctive problem.

Steps for Writing a Capstone Project

Topic Selection

If you are free to choose any subject you want for your capstone project, select the one that you feel most passionate about. While writing a capstone project, you must demonstrate methodology and research skills which are appropriate to the subject. The topic should be of practical and scientific use, and the results of your research must contribute to the knowledge of this topic.

Key Points to Consider

A capstone project is like a thesis—that is, it brings a course of study to a close, shows examiners the work you are capable of, and demonstrates what you have learned.

The capstone should not be less than about 45 pages in length, with a substantial number of references, which for that length (about 12,000 words) should never contain less than 12–14 sources.

Including a table of contents, abstract, list of references, and cover sheet means this is a significant task for which you should allow plenty of time.

Use a chart or a software program such as Papyrus to organize your references. Use paper folders to keep your notes in one place and word-processing folders for your written work.

Do and Don’t

Do Do remember to choose the correct referencing style—MLA, APA, or Chicago/Turabian.

Do keep track of all the decisions you make and changes you decide on—some students keep a diary of their project.

Do start and finish in an engaging, academic way without being too elaborate. Don’t Don’t forget that this project is the one that will demonstrate what you know about your subject.

Don’t use clichés or hackneyed phrases.

Don’t omit important details.

Don’t neglect the fact that grammar, syntax, punctuation, and word choice affect meaning and that you must impress your instructor(s) with your language abilities.

Common Mistakes