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Capstone

Your Story

Salvatore Scibona

Everything comes together in the Capstone. You will draft a complete story, narrative essay, or memoir of 8–15 pages. With the advice of your peer readers, you will revise, rewrite, and complete it. The skills you’ve learned of plotting, setting, physical description, characterization, and stylistic clarity and innovation will culminate in an original work of art all your own. We’ll discuss the steps that professional writers take to bring their work into the public world. Along the way you’ll learn the patient habits of revision that make up the writer’s life.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to the Capstone and Gathering Materials

This week we lay out the agenda of the Capstone—seven weeks of structured work in which you’ll proceed from your accumulated notes and exercises to a finished piece: Your Story. We discuss the upcoming sequence of critiques of your fellow students’s work and you assemble the materials for your first draft.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides guidance on writing a complete story, narrative essay, or memoir

Students are guided through the writing process from gathering materials to revising and completing their work

Offers insights from successful Wesleyan alumni writers

Emphasizes the importance of peer review and critique

Provides strategies for effective self-assessment

Students learn about the publication process and considerations

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Reviews summary

Complete your story capstone

According to learners, this Capstone course provides a structured framework essential for completing a significant writing project like a story, memoir, or narrative essay. Students appreciate the weekly deadlines and the overall course structure which helps them stay on track and finally finish their draft. Many highlight the value of learning revision habits and the insights gained from lectures on the writing process and professional paths. However, some caution that the peer review system can be inconsistent, with feedback quality varying widely and occasional difficulty receiving enough reviews. The course relies heavily on peer interaction and self-discipline, with limited direct feedback from instructors.

Emphasizes crucial skills for refining written work.

"The focus on revision is incredibly valuable; I learned how to approach rewriting with more discipline."

"Understanding the habits of professional writers, especially regarding revision, was a key takeaway."

"This course taught me the importance of patient, multi-pass revision."

"The exercises and discussions on rewriting really improved my skills."

Highly effective at motivating completion of a draft.

"My main goal was to finish my story, and this course helped me do exactly that."

"If you need accountability and a roadmap to get a draft done, this is the place."

"The emphasis is truly on drafting and revising a complete piece, which is its greatest strength."

"I finally have a completed manuscript draft thanks to the structure and deadlines provided here."

Provides essential structure to finish a long piece.

"The structure of this Capstone was invaluable in getting me to actually FINISH my novel draft."

"I really needed the weekly deadlines to stay accountable and push through."

"Breaking down the process into manageable steps made the daunting task of writing a full story achievable."

"This course provides an excellent framework for staying organized and focused on your writing goal."

Limited direct interaction with instructors.

"Don't expect personal feedback from the instructors; it's primarily a peer-driven experience."

"The lectures are good, but I wish there was more direct guidance or feedback from the professors."

"Instructor presence feels minimal; the learning and critique happen mostly among students."

"While the video content is informative, direct instructor involvement in critiques is absent."

Quality and consistency of peer feedback can vary.

"The peer review system was a bit hit-or-miss; some feedback was incredibly helpful, while other reviews felt rushed or not insightful."

"It was sometimes challenging to get timely reviews from my peers, which affected my ability to revise on schedule."

"While the concept of peer review is great, the execution relies heavily on who you get and their level of engagement."

"I learned a lot from reviewing others, but the feedback I received wasn't always constructive or relevant."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Capstone: Your Story with these activities:

Refresh Basic Grammar and Punctuation

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Reinforce your understanding of grammar and punctuation to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.

Browse courses on Grammar

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Review online resources or textbooks on basic grammar and punctuation rules.
Complete practice exercises to test your understanding.
Identify areas where you need additional practice and focus on improving those.

Review 'On Writing'

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Gain insights into the writing process and refine your own writing techniques through a review of Stephen King's renowned book.

View On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (A Memoir of... on Amazon

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Read and reflect on the key principles and advice provided by King.
Apply the techniques discussed in the book to your own writing practice.
Write a summary of your key takeaways from the book, highlighting the most impactful ideas.

Sentence Structure and Style

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Enhance your writing precision and clarity by mastering sentence structure and stylistic techniques.

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Review online tutorials on sentence structure and style.
Practice writing sentences with varying structures and lengths.
Analyze examples of effective prose to identify stylistic devices.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Peer Writing Critique

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Receive constructive feedback and improve your writing skills through a collaborative peer review session.

Browse courses on Peer Feedback

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Prepare a draft of your writing for review.
Participate in a workshop setting, sharing your work and providing feedback to others.
Incorporate the feedback you receive to refine your writing.

Character Development Analysis

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Analyze a character's development throughout a story to enhance your comprehension of their role and impact.

Browse courses on Character Development

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Read the story carefully, noting the character's actions, dialogue, and interactions.
Identify the character's initial state, motivations, and goals.
Track the character's experiences and how they shape their thoughts and actions.
Consider the character's relationships with other characters and how they influence their development.
Write a 500-word analysis of the character's development, discussing the key moments, motivations, and changes.

Volunteer at a Literary Event

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Engage with the literary community and gain practical experience by volunteering at a book fair, reading, or other literary event.

Browse courses on Community Involvement

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Identify a literary event or organization that you would like to volunteer with.
Contact the organizers and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Perform the assigned volunteer tasks, such as greeting attendees, assisting with book sales, or facilitating discussions.
Reflect on your experience and the insights you gained.

Theme Exploration Essay

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Demonstrate your understanding of a literary text's themes by crafting a well-structured and insightful essay.

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Read the literary text carefully, identifying potential themes.
Research and gather evidence to support your interpretation of the themes.
Organize your ideas into a logical outline, considering the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
Write a compelling essay that presents your analysis of the themes, using textual evidence and literary devices.
Proofread and revise your essay to ensure clarity, coherence, and impact.

Contribute to Open Source Literary Project

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Engage in a community-driven project, such as digitizing literary works or creating an online literary database, to enhance your understanding and appreciation of literature.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify an open source literary project that aligns with your interests.
Join the community and explore the project's goals and guidelines.
Contribute to the project by transcribing, editing, or developing content.
Collaborate with other contributors and learn from their expertise.
Reflect on your contributions and how they have expanded your knowledge and skills.

Career center

Learners who complete Capstone: Your Story will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Author

An Author uses written words to convey ideas, stories, and information to readers. The Capstone course can be a valuable tool for aspiring Authors, as it provides guidance on developing a story, narrative essay, or memoir. Through the course, learners will develop their skills in plotting, setting, physical description, characterization, and stylistic clarity and innovation. These skills are essential for Authors who want to create compelling and engaging written works.

See salaries and explore the career path for Author

Journalist

A Journalist researches, writes, and reports on news and current events. The Capstone course can help aspiring Journalists develop the skills they need to succeed in this field. Through the course, learners will learn how to conduct research, interview sources, and write clear and concise articles. They will also gain experience in working with editors and meeting deadlines.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Editor

An Editor reviews, corrects, and improves written material. The Capstone course can be beneficial for aspiring Editors, as it provides guidance on how to critique and revise written work. Through the course, learners will develop their skills in identifying and correcting errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. They will also learn how to provide constructive feedback to writers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editor

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates instruction manuals, technical reports, and other documents that explain complex technical information. The Capstone course can be helpful for aspiring Technical Writers, as it provides guidance on how to organize and present information clearly and concisely. Through the course, learners will develop their skills in writing, editing, and proofreading technical documents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Creative Writer

A Creative Writer uses imagination and creativity to write stories, poems, plays, and other works of fiction. The Capstone course can be a valuable tool for aspiring Creative Writers, as it provides guidance on how to develop characters, plot, and setting. Through the course, learners will develop their skills in writing fiction that is both engaging and meaningful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Writer

Copywriter

A Copywriter writes marketing and advertising materials such as brochures, website content, and social media posts. The Capstone course can help aspiring Copywriters develop the skills they need to create effective and persuasive marketing materials. Through the course, learners will learn how to write clear and concise copy that resonates with target audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Copywriter

Grant Writer

A Grant Writer writes proposals to secure funding for organizations and projects. The Capstone course can be beneficial for aspiring Grant Writers, as it provides guidance on how to develop strong and compelling proposals. Through the course, learners will develop their skills in writing persuasive proposals that meet the requirements of funding agencies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grant Writer

Speechwriter

A Speechwriter writes speeches for politicians, business leaders, and other public figures. The Capstone course can be helpful for aspiring Speechwriters, as it provides guidance on how to write speeches that are clear, concise, and persuasive. Through the course, learners will develop their skills in writing speeches that connect with audiences and achieve desired outcomes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Speechwriter

Content Writer

A Content Writer creates written content for websites, blogs, and other online platforms. The Capstone course can be beneficial for aspiring Content Writers, as it provides guidance on how to write engaging and informative online content. Through the course, learners will develop their skills in writing clear and concise articles, blog posts, and other online content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Writer

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Capstone: Your Story.

On Writing

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A classic work on the craft of writing, by one of the most successful authors of all time. King provides insights into his own writing process and offers practical advice on everything from plot development to characterization.

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (A Memoir of the...

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Capstone

Your Story

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Save this course

Reviews summary

Complete your story capstone

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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