CAP: Paper, including critical
analysis
approach
MA in English, Technical & Professional Communication Concentration
East Carolina University
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Part of your comprehensive assessment project (CAP) includes a
paper, approximately
10-pages
double-spaced. Your 10-page paper can be a traditional academic paper,
such
as a literature review (bibliographic essay), which may or may not
incorporate
application examples.
OR it
can be a 10-page, double-spaced critical analysis of a "practical
application" project that you created for a class.
Whichever approach you take, your "paper" must be approved first by
your
comprehensive exam director, then distributed to committee members at
least two
weeks
before your comprehensive exam.
The project or projects used should be work that you completed in a class, not be an entirely new project or new projects; however, you, in consultation with your director, may want to revise what you submitted for the class project a bit for it to be suitable for the CAP.
This "academic" paper can consist of a variety of options. For example, you might use a paper and annotated bibliography from a class, revised and (if needed) extended so that the two documents total at least 10-pages double-spaced. See the documents indicated in the list below for examples of course projects that could be classified as an traditional academic paper.
Sample traditional academic paper ...
To begin deciding what your paper might evolve from, review the
suggestions
that follow:
The projects just suggested are NOT
the only choices. Many of the tpc courses include projects which might
serve for this type of paper.
Your 10-page paper can be a critical analysis of an application
project completed in one of your classes.
In your critical analysis, you should analyze the project
rhetorically and
reflect
on
the project(s). Consider as appropriate such aspects as background,
purpose,
audience, content, organization, style, visuals, and format/layout, as
well
as cultural dynamics. Projects can be print documents or online ones
such
web site. Projects can be ones prepared collaboratively.
You do not necessarily have to revise
your
project, but in your critical analysis, you should demonstrate that you
understand
what revisions are needed and why.
Sample critical analysis ...
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