CPA Capstone 1 – Tips For Part 3 & Presentation (Recorded & In-Person) - jenthinks (2023)

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My group submitted our recorded presentation for Capstone 1 for our Waste Disposal Inc case last Friday. Capstone 1 felt longer than it was in reality (8 weeks). I attribute this feeling to the number of meetings (average 1 to 2 per week) and amount of collaboration involved. There was quite a bit of work involved for the last part of Capstone 1 (Part 3 & presentation) and hopefully my tips will help make it easier for you. Also, I will provide my final thoughts on Capstone 1 as a whole at the end of this post.

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Contents hide

1.1Questions for the Facilitator

1.4Recorded Presentation or In-Person Presentation

1.4.1Recorded Presentation

1.4.2In-Person Presentation

2Final Thoughts on Capstone 1

2.1Capstone 1 Is Still Quite A Bit of Work Even Though It Is Only A Pass/Fail

2.2Working In A Group Means Compromises

2.3Capstone 1 Candidate Guide Addendum

2.4You Might Resent The Work During The Module But You Do Learn From It

2.5It Would Be Quite Challenging to Work On CFE Prep During Capstone 1

2.5.1Click here to sign up for my newsletter to get your free copy of How I Prepared for CPA CFE

2.6Share this:

2.7Like this:

2.8You Might Be Interested

Capstone 1 Week 6 to 8 Submissions & Tips (Part 3 & Presentation)

TimelineSubmission(s)
Week #6Group: 3 Questions for the Facilitator
Individual: Peer Assessment, Self Assessment
Week #7Group: Part 3 of Capstone 1 Report (7,000 words)
Week #8Group: Recorded Presentation or In-Person Presentation
Individual: Module Survey

Questions for the Facilitator

For both facilitator calls, even though our group submitted only 3 questions (as per the assignment instructions), we prepared more than 3 questions before the meeting. This is because the facilitator will most likely finish answering the 3 submitted questions before the 30-minute is up. This call will be a great opportunity to ask your facilitator any question regarding Part 3 (your final written submission) and the presentation.

Of course, you can always email your facilitator with your question or ask your questions on the discussion board. Before you make your post, make sure to browse the discussion board first as many questions might have been asked already. This will save your time by not having to wait for the facilitator(s) to respond.

Self-Assessment & Peer Assessment

  • self-assessment is pretty straightforward and it took only 10 minutes to complete (if not shorter)
  • for peer assessment, compared to the last time you submitted it (Week #2), more time has passed
    • like last time, do not need to create problems if there aren’t any
    • however, this will be your last chance to bring up an issue if it’s serious (trying to resolve with the group member(s) directly first is still recommended)

Part 3 of Capstone 1 Report

  • refer to Week #7 instructions and use the task list like a checklist for Part 3
  • refer to sample Part 3 reports (you should be given two) to determine the format and level of details
    • when there is a discrepancy between the sample report and Week #7 instructions, follow Week #7 instructions
  • before you even start working on the Part 3 of the report, review Part 1 & Part 2 as a group
    • you are expected to incorporate feedback from your facilitator for your Part 1 & 2 even if revision was not required
    • what my group did was the following
      • reviewed our work against the feedback guide and check to see if we can remove any content that was not required for marks (e.g., a long introduction that can be replaced with the Executive Summary of Part 3) to save some word count for Part 3 (you will need it)
      • revise our parts if they were awarded a RC or lower
  • you should be familiar with how exhibits are counted by now but continue to work on
    • condensing past exhibits from Part 1 & 2
    • keeping track of both Word and Excel exhibits as they share the same limit (25 page)
  • only submit your work to D2L when it is final
    • if you have not read my tips for this from Part 2, click here
    • note, this point is even more important as there is no revision opportunity for Part 3
      • avoid submitting the wrong file at all costs (even if your facilitator allows you to re-submit)
  • assign one of your groupmates to be a floater
    • floater is someone who is not assigned a part or only assigned a small part of the report so he/she can be available to help out when needed and also to put the report together
    • I marked this tip as OPTIONAL for Part 2 but I think this role is critical for Part 3 because of the size (7,000 words & 25 pages of exhibits) and importance (no revision opportunity)
    • having a floater does not remove the need for every group member to review the report in full
      • everyone has the same level of responsibility to ensure the report is as accurate and complete as possible
  • (OPTIONAL) fill out the PowerPoint slides for your presentation as you work on your Part 3
    • this is optional as my group started a Google Slide around the same time we started working on Part 3
    • however, we did not end up working on the slides much until after we submitted our Part 3

Do you want a guide that answers all of your Day 1 questions?

CPA Capstone 1 – Tips For Part 3 & Presentation (Recorded & In-Person) - jenthinks (1)

Recorded Presentation or In-Person Presentation

Recorded Presentation

Note, I took Capstone 1 from May to Jul 2021 when social distancing rules were still in place. Depending on what rules are in place when you take Capstone 1, you might be asked to record your presentation (what I did), present live online on a Zoom call (what CPA Ontario candidates did during the same period) candidates or present with your group in-person.

There are 2 ways your group can record your presentation: record together on a Zoom call or record separately (have the option to either put the clips together as a complete video or submit separately). My group chose to record separately and one of my groupmates put the video clips (~15 short clips) together at the end. We made sure to allocate the time per person beforehand so there would not be any editing/cutting involved. This approach worked out well except for minor hiccups (e.g., introducing the wrong group member). We agreed as a group to not nitpick minor flaws as re-recording will take a long time (no guarantee it will be perfect the next 10 times anyway).

We worked on the presentation slides on Google Slide as it allowed for online collaboration. We then downloaded the file as .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint file extension) and kept only our own slides. I posted this quick tutorial on my Instagram story if you need assistance with recording.

CPA Capstone 1 – Tips For Part 3 & Presentation (Recorded & In-Person) - jenthinks (2)

For the Q&A, your group might be requested to attend a meeting to answer questions up to 3 days after your submission. However, I have not personally come across any group that did Capstone 1 in this format who got the request.

In-Person Presentation

By the time you read this post, hopefully all the social distancing rules are lifted. If so, chances are you will be presenting in-person in front of a panel. This Reddit post written by a previous Capstone 1 presentation marker provided a lot of valuable tips for the presentation. The only thing I have to say is practice enough so you know your materials, get familiar with your group members’ slides so you can help if needed and just relax.

Your group will be asked questions by the panel right after your presentation (both in-person and online live format). To pass, each and everyone of you is expected to answer at least one question. The author of the Reddit post I linked earlier suggested a really great way to ensure everyone gets a chance: assign a leader who is familiar with who did which part so he/she can assign the questions evenly.

Final Thoughts on Capstone 1

Capstone 1 Is Still Quite A Bit of Work Even Though It Is Only A Pass/Fail

I have not come across anyone who knows someone who has failed Capstone 1. That means, if you put in the effort and follow the rules (e.g., format, deadlines etc.), you will pass this module no problem. However, that does not mean that Capstone 1 is easy. I was quite lucky with my groupmates as all of them were punctual and responsible. We met online at least once a week (twice towards the end) and most meetings lasted close to 2 hours. I believe not all groups met this often or for this long, however, I found our meetings really productive. On top of that, we communicated in a group chat on Whatsapp regularly.

My biggest tip for minimizing work for Capstone 1 would be to follow the weekly instructions PDF closely so you will not get any NA (not addressed). We only had to submit revision for our Project Plan and that interrupted our flow for the parts we had to work on next. We learned from our mistakes and did not have to submit revision for any submission after.

Working In A Group Means Compromises

I am not a perfectionist and I tend to prefer efficiency over perfection. It works fine when I am working on my own assignments as I bear all the consequences. This can be a concern if your group members are the opposite. There was no major conflict (or even minor) when I did Capstone 1 but there were times when I wished we would be done already. The key is to find a balance. If it is something truly trivial, I would suggest to my group that maybe we should overlook it. On the other side, if it is something critical, I would respect my group members’ wishes and continue working on it. After all, it is their project as much as it is yours.

Capstone 1 Candidate Guide Addendum

Being familiar with the rules will make your Capstone 1 life easier. Also, when in doubt, contact your facilitator directly. I say this because of the slight variations between how the facilitators interpret the rules and some are more lenient than others (rules are rules after all). Do not forget to be nice and patient to your facilitator as all of the ones I have encountered are helpful and fair.

You Might Resent The Work During The Module But You Do Learn From It

I would be lying if I tell you I did not whine about the “meaningless” work during Capstone 1. I did more than once at several points of the module. I was tired from work, CFE prep and found no joy in analyzing for a waste disposal company (I swear I would have been more passionate if I was working on the hotel case). However, when the final report was coming to fruition towards the end, I understood why Capstone 1 was part of the CPA PEP journey. Thanks to the 7 weeks of hard work, the final report (Part 3) turned out to be more professional than I could have imagined. When I was reviewing it, I thought to myself, “so that’s what CPAs were paid to do.”

It Would Be Quite Challenging to Work On CFE Prep During Capstone 1

I went back to my CFE diary and confirmed that I basically stopped CFE Prep completely towards the end of Capstone 1. The fatigue finally caught up to me. Since I had started my technicals reivew for CFE several months ago (earlier than most and definitely not necessary), I did not force myself to stay on schedule. Keep this in mind if you plan on starting technicals review the same time as Capstone 1.

However, keep in mind that the case for your Capstone 1 is directly related to Day 1 of CFE. That means you are working on CFE Prep just by working on Capstone 1.

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Do you want a guide that answers all of your Day 1 questions?

CPA Capstone 1 – Tips For Part 3 & Presentation (Recorded & In-Person) - jenthinks (3)

You Might Be Interested

FAQs

How do you give a good Capstone presentation? ›

Tips on a Great Capstone Presentation
  1. Narrow the Focus. Narrow the focus of your presentation. ...
  2. Build on Learning Outcomes. Determine what you were expected to learn in the course, then strategize your presentation around the expected outcomes. ...
  3. Incorporate Visuals. ...
  4. Prepare and Practice.

What to expect in Capstone 1? ›

Capstone 1 combines individual and team work to complete a number of assignments, which concludes in the submission of a final Board Report and an Oral Presentation to a panel of CPAs. Enabling competencies such as professionalism, ethics, team work and self-management are critical to the success of Capstone 1.

How long is capstone 1 presentation? ›

Each group is allotted 90 minutes, which includes: Set-up time. Presentation time. Questions from the panel.

How much work is capstone 1? ›

Capstone 1 focuses on teamwork. You'll be placed in a team made of 4 to 5 students. You'll work together to solve issues in one big case (50-60 pages long case). To pass, your team must complete a written report and oral presentation.

How many slides should a capstone presentation have? ›

Slides should follow a logical progression, with each building upon the other. Page 2 Guidelines for Creating and Presenting Capstone POWERPOINT Presentations o Use brevity: Your presentation should contain no more than 12 slides. In general, using a few powerful slides is the aim. paying attention to you.

What are the 3 most important steps when delivering a presentation? ›

Delivering the Presentation
  • Once you have rehearsed the presentation well, here are some simple suggestions to consider in delivering the presentation effectively: ...
  • Greet the audience. ...
  • Change the inflection of your voice to gain audience attention or to emphasize content. ...
  • Use appropriate gestures. ...
  • Make proper eye contact.

How many people fail capstone? ›

Fail rate: 87.03%.

Is it possible to fail capstone? ›

Yes, you can fail a capstone course. However, failing a capstone course at some universities could disqualify you from graduating from that particular major or program. Other schools could require you to revise your capstone project until it's approved or you receive a passing grade.

What is a passing grade for capstone? ›

To pass the Capstone Exam course and earn a certificate, you need to achieve a total score of at least 50%.

Are capstone projects difficult? ›

While a project of this scope and scale can be challenging, it can also be very rewarding. The capstone project is usually the final assignment and plays a vital role in preparing students for the world of work thanks to its practical applications and ability to help hone students' professional knowledge and skills.

Is capstone harder than thesis? ›

Thesis and capstone projects synthesize your overall learning, taking the knowledge you've gained throughout your program and applying it to your own research. A thesis, which often requires more intensive research than a capstone, may span multiple years depending on the level of the psychology program.

How many hours is a capstone? ›

HOW MANY HOURS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE? The Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) requires the length of the doctoral capstone experience to be a minimum of 14 weeks (560 hours).

How many pages is a capstone? ›

A capstone paper may be 25 pages, where a thesis could be 100 or more, and is a more demanding research paper. If an undergraduate student chooses to further their education and enter into a doctoral program, the capstone project could be an invaluable tool in preparing for a thesis.

Can I take capstone 1 and 2 together? ›

Important: It is highly recommended that candidates take the Capstone modules 1 and 2 immediately leading up to the CFE. For instance, if you are planning to write the CFE in September, you should register to the Capstone 1 starting in May and to the Capstone 2 starting in July.

How many people are in capstone? ›

A typical Capstone team comprises three to five students. Faculty are encouraged to get information from students, including their interest areas, resumes, and transcripts, in order to help ensure an appropriate team composition for each project.

What is the 5 5 5 rule in making a slide for presentation? ›

Follow the 5/5/5 rule

To keep your audience from feeling overwhelmed, you should keep the text on each slide short and to the point. Some experts suggest using the 5/5/5 rule: no more than five words per line of text, five lines of text per slide, or five text-heavy slides in a row.

How many slides can be presented in 30 minutes? ›

A 30-minute presentation would require no more than 30 slides. You can use 5-7 bullet points per slide or 8-10 bullet points if the presentation is necessary to convey ideas in great detail. If you are including lots of images and charts to help illustrate your point, then reduce the amount of bullet points used.

How many slides should a 5 minute presentation be? ›

When creating a five minute presentation, plan to present a slide per minute. The five slides, in order, include a Title/Author/Affiliation slide, an Outline slide, a Problem Description/Motivation slide, a Proposed Approach/Alternative slide, and a Summary/Conclusion slide. The title slide names your presentation.

What is the 3 second rule in presentation? ›

If viewers aren't hooked after three seconds, they will likely lose interest and move on to something else. This rule has great significance for organizations and businesses seeking to influence audiences.

What are the 3 P's of presentation skills? ›

Ask Mint | The three Ps of presentation: prepare, practise and present.

What are the 3 P's strategy in presentation? ›

The 3P Approach. Effective presentations are sometimes created around a three-step process, sometimes called the 3-P Approach: Plan, Prepare, and Present. Your success depends on the effort you put into each step of this process. Examine each step carefully and put the approach into action for your next presentation.

What happens if you don't pass capstone? ›

If you have failed your capstone course, or a combination of a comprehensive exam and a capstone course attempt, you are no longer eligible for degree conferral.

Do colleges care about capstone? ›

The AP Capstone Diploma is increasingly recognized in admissions by higher education institutions around the world. Many colleges and universities offer credit and/or placement for a qualifying score in AP Seminar, AP Research, or both.

Do colleges look at capstone projects? ›

Still, if you take Capstone, aspects of the program—especially the long research paper—will likely look desirable to most colleges. The independent research AP Capstone requires could be the topic of a college essay or at least something substantial to talk about in an interview.

What are common questions in capstone? ›

Capstone Projects FAQ
  • What is the Capstone Project/Course? ...
  • What are some of the advantages for students? ...
  • How big are the project teams? ...
  • Where do projects come from? ...
  • What background will the students bring to the Capstone Project? ...
  • What is the process for getting a project submitted as a potential Capstone Project?

Is capstone project graded? ›

Capstone Project grading

Other Capstone Projects are automatically graded or graded by experts. In some Specializations, you will be evaluated only on your final project submission. In other Specializations, you will get separate grades for each section of the project.

How long is the average capstone? ›

In most cases, the capstone project will be an interdisciplinary study of approximately 25-35 pages in length that demonstrates graduate level research and writing skills.

Is D considered failing? ›

A letter grade of a D is technically considered passing because it not a failure. A D is any percentage between 60-69%, whereas a failure occurs below 60%. Even though a D is a passing grade, it's barely passing. As such, it is not looked at favorably.

Does a C count as passing? ›

C - this is a grade that rests right in the middle. C is anywhere between 70% and 79% D - this is still a passing grade, and it's between 59% and 69% F - this is a failing grade.

Can you graduate with an F in college? ›

If you get an F, you still have to pay for the class without receiving any credit toward your degree. What's more, failed classes don't count toward graduation requirements either. In some majors, even a passing grade like a D might not meet those requirements.

How do you become a successful capstone project? ›

A successful capstone needs to have time management as a priority. Consider creating a schedule of when to do work on your project. These can be long-term goals you and your professor set, but they also needs to include personal goals for weekly and daily time management.

What is an example of a capstone project? ›

Capstone project examples

Analyze soil samples from different areas or over time; study the population of a local animal; experiment with plants and seeding; run a summer camp for children to encourage science and outdoor exploration; found a community garden.

Does a capstone have to be a paper? ›

A capstone course is not always a paper, though a paper is often a piece of it. Art students may put on exhibitions of their work, while other students will have to pass an oral examination, defend their thesis to a group of professors, or complete a book.

Does everyone do a capstone? ›

No, not all colleges require capstone research projects. Additionally, some schools and programs may only make them mandatory in certain instances, such as specific degree levels or majors. Generally, a thesis or similar research experience is more common for graduate degrees than undergraduate degrees.

What is the best title for capstone project? ›

Management Capstone Project Ideas
  • Evaluation of free clinic process.
  • The role of project management in effective political campaigns.
  • The practice of ethical thinking in administration.
  • Modern strategies for rate of return and capital investment.
  • The importance of conflict administration for big companies.

How many chapters are in capstone? ›

At some colleges and universities, there is no difference between the words “thesis” and “Capstone Project”, but generally these are five-chapter papers that explore a new and original research topic. Nonetheless, both types of papers amount to the same writing process.

How many words is a capstone project? ›

Still, when writing your senior capstone project, it may go up to 80-100 pages, especially if you are going for a doctoral program. Speaking of college students, the maximum length that is usually accepted is 10,000 words, not counting your references.

What to expect in capstone? ›

The capstone should be a culminating set of personal, academic, and professional experiences. In a capstone course, students synthesize, integrate, and/or apply their previous knowledge, rather than acquire new knowledge or skills. Students demonstrate mastery, not learn new knowledge/skills.

What are the 4 capstone project elements? ›

Capstone Resources
  • Parts of a Scientific & Scholarly Paper.
  • Title.
  • Abstract.
  • Introduction.
  • Methods.
  • Results.
  • Discussion.
Jun 20, 2023

What is capstone format? ›

Everyone's capstone paper should contain the following elements: a title page, abstract, introduction, body, conclusion, and reference list. Click on the link below to open and make a copy of the capstone paper template.

What makes a good capstone project? ›

The best Capstone proposals are important but not urgent; achievable within the academic time frame and with the resources available; provide a clear definition of the problem or issue to be addressed; have a realistic scope; and specify tangible deliverables for the Capstone team to provide.

What to expect from CPA capstone 1? ›

Capstone 1 combines individual and team work to complete a number of assignments, which concludes in the submission of a final Board Report and an Oral Presentation to a panel of CPAs. Enabling competencies such as professionalism, ethics, team work and self-management are critical to the success of Capstone 1.

What is a capstone rule? ›

Capstone rules allow your business rules to be applied across all reviewed bills. No bill should leave the shop without your re-pricing logic or medical resources reviewing the bill.

Does capstone count as work experience? ›

A Capstone Project Enhances Your Resume

A capstone programme can help you gain practical work experience to add to your resume. This can be a great way to show off your skills, learn new ones, and get some experience working in a team environment.

How many weeks is capstone? ›

In the Capstone course, students work 12-20 hours a week for 15 weeks.

How many sources does a capstone have? ›

Capstone Prompt

Works Cited page using at least 4 quality sources.

What is the difference between capstone and research? ›

Research projects focus more on developing or proposing theories, whereas capstone projects focus more on achieving tangible or intangible results through research.

What makes a good capstone? ›

The capstone should be a culminating set of personal, academic, and professional experiences. In a capstone course, students synthesize, integrate, and/or apply their previous knowledge, rather than acquire new knowledge or skills. Students demonstrate mastery, not learn new knowledge/skills.

What are the 3 things you must consider in making a good presentation? ›

Create a Dynamic Presentation
  • Talk to your audience, not at them.
  • Project enthusiasm for the topic without preaching. ...
  • Present your material in a well-organized manner. ...
  • Speak to the knowledge level of your audience. ...
  • Choose your major points carefully and illustrate them with examples or stories.

What are the elements of a good capstone project? ›

Components of a Capstone Project
  • Abstract.
  • Introduction.
  • Literature Review.
  • Methodology.
  • Findings.
  • Discussions.
May 23, 2022

How do you write a capstone discussion? ›

The discussion is where you interpret the project as a whole. Present principles, relationships and generalizations shown by the results. Discuss the significance or importance of the results. Show how your results agree or disagree with previously published works.

Can I fail capstone? ›

Can you fail a capstone course? Yes, you can fail a capstone course. However, failing a capstone course at some universities could disqualify you from graduating from that particular major or program. Other schools could require you to revise your capstone project until it's approved or you receive a passing grade.

What is capstone strategy? ›

The capstone is a strategic leadership and management plan where you'll apply what you will learn to an actual business situation with participation by one or more focal companies.

What are the 4 C's of a good presentation? ›

The Four C's Of Winning Sales Presentations
  • Preparing for a Winning Sales Presentation.
  • Capture.
  • Connect.
  • Content.
  • Conclude.

What is the 5 5 5 rule presentation? ›

Follow the 5/5/5 rule

To keep your audience from feeling overwhelmed, you should keep the text on each slide short and to the point. Some experts suggest using the 5/5/5 rule: no more than five words per line of text, five lines of text per slide, or five text-heavy slides in a row.

What should a capstone look like? ›

A capstone is similar to a thesis in that the starting point involves strengths that one needs for a thesis or dissertation work. A student needs to think about the skeletal structure of research and form their theory, hypothesis, and problem statement.

How many pages should a capstone project be? ›

Points to consider when writing a capstone project

Your capstone project should be at least 45 pages in length with an adequate amount of references, about 12 – 14 sources.

What is the main goal of capstone project? ›

The capstone project is designed to consolidate final-year students' learning with valuable hands-on experience to help develop them into well-prepared and well-rounded graduates.

What is a good introduction for a capstone? ›

Normally, the opening paragraph should 'hook' the reader, contain your thesis statement, and explain what you are going to do in the paper so that the reader knows what to expect. Be careful to link your subsequent sections to your main argument, make them substantive and persuasive.

What are the common questions in Capstone project? ›

Capstone Projects FAQ
  • What is the Capstone Project/Course? ...
  • What are some of the advantages for students? ...
  • How big are the project teams? ...
  • Where do projects come from? ...
  • What background will the students bring to the Capstone Project? ...
  • What is the process for getting a project submitted as a potential Capstone Project?

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