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Capstone Guide

Online research guide for Associate and Bachelor degree Capstone students

Benefits

How do I know what benefits to write about?

Think about your goal, what you're trying to achieve; in essence, your thesis statement. You are conducting research to explore an issue and hopefully find a viable solution. Think about:

  • What problem does my solution solve?
  • How will this solution positively change the way things currently are?
  • Who will be affected most positively?

Consequences

Is it OK for my research proposal to have negative consequences?

Yes. There will rarely (if ever) be a solution proposal that has absolutely no negative consequences. It's important that the reader knows you have carefully thought through possible results of your proposal. In the real world, if you were to submit a research proposal to a company and you said that there would be no consequences, they would probably not believe you. Instead, they might become suspicious of your intentions and infer that you have not done enough research.

How do I know what consequences to write about?

"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." While Newton's third law was intended to describe physics, it describes many real-life scenarios as well. Think about your intended goal (your solution), and what you are proposing to accomplish that goal. For every change you intentionally initiate, there will be other smaller changes that also must take place. Consider the changes you're proposing from every possible angle. Think about:

  • How might this solution negatively change the way things currently are?
  • Who will be affected most negatively?

So how do I defend my proposal against these consequences?

You will have to write refutations providing evidence that justifies the consequences and possible objections. Make sure you use logic and reasoning, and avoid any logical fallacies. 

Tips:

  • Directly address the consequence; don't side-step the issue
  • Carefully summarize the consequence or objection, then provide your response
  • Are you able to make accommodations to either avoid or lessen the consequence?
  • If not, are you able to justify the reason for accepting the consequence? (Do the ends justify the means?)

Use the links below to learn more about writing refutations, using logic, and avoiding logical fallacies.