*Synthetic Project or “Capstone” for Graduating Spanish Majors: *

As part of the graduation requirements for Spanish majors, students must complete a synthetic project. This entails writing a research paper on a significant question in Hispanic literature, linguistics or pedagogy. Students may choose to complete this project in the 300-level Spanish course of their choice. Students are expected to use their existing knowledge of relevant theoretical and applied literature from the discipline to frame the specific issue in a larger context. Moreover, this project will demonstrate the student’s acquired analytical and linguistic skills in Spanish. To apply for capstone credit, students must fill out this consent form, have it signed by the professor who supervises the project, and return it to the Department’s Academic Advisor. The capstone project is not in addition to the already assigned research component in the 300-level courses. Graduating seniors who apply to complete a capstone project in the 300-level course of his or her choice will substitute these guidelines for the research assignment completed by other students.

Because the Spanish section consists of several academic disciplines, each with its own focus and methodology, we have listed sample descriptions of what some capstone projects might look like in literature and culture, linguistics, and pedagogy.

• In Hispanic literature the capstone project is a research project that will synthesize the analytical and linguistic skills. In consultation with their professors, students will select an appropriate theme from Spanish or Spanish American literature or culture. Upon completing specific readings, students will formulate a broader research proposal that will incorporate critical reading skills with discussions of literary movements in Western culture. Students will also be expected to engage critical bibliography in their project. The final project should be a paper from 20-25 pages in length that demonstrates the ability to interpret a literary &/or cultural text, beyond the literal comprehension of the material, analyzing from a number of perspectives, and providing a clear thesis and an interpretation supported by a rich range of evidence.
• In Hispanic pedagogy the capstone project will be a research paper where students will engage in thorough bibliographic research on academic studies in a specific topic related to Hispanic pedagogy (e.g. the teaching of Spanish pronunciation). Students will be asked to synthesize hypothesis tested, their results and their implications for classroom practice and future research. Students will be asked to provide a critical analysis of all this research based on their accumulated knowledge of the Spanish language and culture. The final project should be a paper from 20-25 pages in length that demonstrates the ability to synthesize, interpret and critically analyze current topics in Spanish second language acquisition with special emphasis in their application to classroom practice.
• In the Hispanic linguistics capstone project, the student will develop a research project that analyzes a core linguistic theory and/or concept. Upon completing specific readings, the student will effectively expand on a core linguistic theory and/or concept by offering a well-developed analysis that exhibits appropriate linguistic terminology, a clear understanding of the linguistic topic treated, and a keen ability to carry out linguistic research. In addition, the student will use a writing style and organization that illustrate his/her awareness of how papers are organized in the field of Linguistics. The final paper should be from 12-16 pages in length and must conform to either MLA or APA formatting standards.

Consent form for Capstone Project in Spanish

Student’s name _____________________________ ULID _________________ Date _____________

Student’s signature ___________________________________________________________________

Professor Supervising Project ___________________________ Signature _______________________

Course in which student will complete project ______________________________________________