Senior Capstone Student Timeline: Use this timeline to monitor your successful completion of your Senior Capstone. Please intial and date each item as you complete it.
Senior Capstone Proposal: The first step of your Senior Capstone is to explore an area of service to others or information that can be shared for the betterment of others. This proposal will serve to support the rest of your Senior Capstone, so make sure your topic personally motivates or inspires you.
Directions: To complete the proposal portion, you will first need to complete the Proposal Pre-Approval Form. Your senior English teacher will assist you and will approve your topic. Once you have approval, you may begin researching your topic of interest. The research you discover will be submitted in your next step, the Proposal Research Assignment. Rubrics are included to guide all of your work.
Below is a list of sample ideas for topics.
Proposal Menu Board
Your proposal should be an item that answers the question “What can I, as a senior in Akron Public Schools, do to share or influence this topic?” It should also be something that is personally important to you. Below is a list of subjects to generate some ideas. Oftentimes, you may have an interest that can easily be flipped into a Senior Capstone. Talk with your senior English teacher about ideas.
Animal Issues: animal care, pet overpopulation, shelter/homeless animals, access to affordable care, pit bull laws, behavior and obedience
Children and Young Adults: reading literacy, school attendance, transportation safety, mentoring programs, learning programs/apps
Civil Issues: volunteerism, hunger, lack of food/shelter, seniors and aging, random acts of kindness, prison rehabilitation, children or spousal abuse
Education: childhood literacy, access to education, curriculum development, testing, college debt and loans, school lunch, cultures, effects of attendance on education, positive peer relationships, community building, study tables, bullying
Environmental Issues: recycling, global issues, reducing emissions, clean drinking water
Health Issues: opioid (heroin) crisis, addiction and rehab, smoking, cancer prevention, diet and nutrition, alcoholism, vaccines, dental or vision care, blood drives, disabilities, mental health, eating disorders
Music and Entertainment: artistic ownership (music, video, or book copyrights), access to information, lack of instruments, artist showcase, impact of arts on education, screenwriting process
Public Safety: texting and driving, drinking and driving, home fire prevention and safety, home emergency plans, seat belts, road construction, gun safety/laws, recycling, city beautification programs, road construction
Politics: voter registration, fair voting practices, knowledge of issues, spotting fake sources of information, understanding differing opinions, amendment rights, unions, media influence, historic events' impact, women or minority issues, immigration issues
Sports: community and alumni, equipment shortages, equipment and uniform safety, safe practices, training programs, value of sports in schools, scholarship opportunities, sportsmanship
Technology: safe online practices, coding, building a positive online presence, web design, online shopping/business effects on brick-and-mortar business, data mining
Ineligible Proposals:
Proposals that are not school appropriate or are not based on valid research may not be used.
Projects that promote illegal activities, violate the code of conduct, or are plagiarized may not be used.
Sometimes unrealistic expectations (i.e., are not attainable in the scope of the project timeline) may need to be amended.
If you have additional questions or concerns, first reach out to the assigned senior English teacher, senior counselor, and/or the high school principal.