Module 12: Capstone Project¶

← Module 11 | Topic Home

Produce and deliver a 5–7 minute oral presentation entirely in French on a topic of your choice, plus write a formal 400-word essay — demonstrating C1-level command of grammar, vocabulary, and register across all structures learned in this curriculum.

Project Brief¶

This is the final module of the French Language Learning curriculum. It has no new theory — its purpose is to synthesize everything you have learned in Modules 01–11 into a substantial, real-world linguistic performance.

You will produce two artifacts:

An oral presentation (5–7 minutes, to be delivered aloud and self-recorded if possible, or written as a full speech script) on a topic of your choice
A formal essay (400 words, ±5%) following the dissertation structure from Module 11, on a related or different topic from the presentation

Both artifacts must demonstrate: - Correct and varied grammar across all tenses and moods learned (at minimum: présent, passé composé, imparfait, futur, conditionnel, subjonctif) - Appropriate formal register (no informal contractions, no anglicisms unless discussing anglicisms, no first-person je in the essay) - Varied vocabulary with no excessive repetition - Correct pronunciation (for the oral) and correct spelling with accents (for the essay) - Cultural or factual accuracy appropriate to the topic

[!IMPORTANT] This project must be your own work. AI tools may be used to check your grammar after you have written the draft — not to generate the draft for you. The goal is to discover what you can actually produce in French. A short, honest, imperfect text you wrote yourself demonstrates more genuine learning than a polished text generated for you.

Prerequisites¶

[[french/modules/01_introduction]] through [[french/modules/11_speaking-writing-production]] — All 11 teaching modules must be substantially complete before undertaking the capstone
Module 11 should be complete, as it covers the oral presentation and essay structures directly

Milestones¶

Work through these milestones in sequence. Do not skip ahead.

Milestone 1: Choose Your Topics¶

By: Start of capstone work

Choose your oral presentation topic and your essay topic. They may be related or completely different. Guidelines:

Choose something you genuinely find interesting — you will spend significant time on it
The topic must be substantive enough to support 5–7 minutes of structured content
You must be able to discuss it accurately — do not choose a topic where you lack the knowledge to speak confidently

Topic ideas (not requirements — any topic is acceptable):

Oral presentation: - A francophone country or region you are interested in - A period of French history (the Revolution, the Occupation, May 1968) - A French cultural figure (filmmaker, author, musician, philosopher) - A contemporary social or political issue in France or the francophone world - A comparison between French culture and your own

Formal essay: - The role of French in the 21^st century - Pros and cons of a social/technological development - A question of education, environment, urbanism, or health in French-speaking countries - A classic French dissertation topic: liberty vs. security, individual vs. society, tradition vs. modernity

Submit: Write the two topics in your NOTES.md.

Milestone 2: Research and Outline¶

By: After choosing topics

For the oral presentation: - Read at least 2 sources in French on your topic (TV5Monde, RFI, Le Monde — see RESOURCES.md) - Create a detailed outline with the structure from Module 11: introduction, 2–3 developed sections, conclusion - List 10–15 key vocabulary items specific to your topic that you will need

For the essay: - Identify the problématique (central question) you will address - Draft an outline: accroche, mise en contexte, problématique, annonce du plan, 2–3 développement sections, conclusion - Identify the grammatical structures you intend to use (plan to include: subjunctive, conditional, relative clauses, past tenses)

Submit: Outline for both artifacts in your NOTES.md.

Milestone 3: First Drafts¶

By: After completing outlines

Write a complete first draft of both artifacts without stopping to look up every word. Work at your current level. Mark gaps with [?] where you need vocabulary or are uncertain of a construction. Aim for completeness over perfection.

For the oral presentation: write it out as a full script, then read it aloud at least once to time it. If it runs under 4 minutes, expand. If over 8, trim.

Milestone 4: Revision¶

By: After completing first drafts

Revise each artifact:

Grammar check: check every verb tense and mood, every adjective agreement, every article usage
Vocabulary check: replace any English-influenced choices, look up [?] gaps
Register check: ensure no je in the essay, no informal contractions, appropriate connectors
Variety check: count how many times you used your most common verb and connector — replace some with synonyms
Read the essay aloud — if a sentence sounds wrong, it probably is

Milestone 5: Final Production and Self-Assessment¶

By: After revision

Produce your final versions:

Oral: Deliver your presentation aloud 3 times. If possible, record the final delivery. Note: it is better to deliver with notes than to read a script — but a delivered script is acceptable at this stage.
Essay: Submit the final 400-word essay.

Complete the self-assessment rubric below before having your work graded.

Oral Presentation Brief¶

Requirements¶

Duration: 5–7 minutes when delivered aloud
Structure: follows Module 11's oral presentation framework (introduction with plan announcement, developed sections with transitions, conclusion with synthesis and opening)
Content: factually accurate, demonstrating research
Language: C1-level grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation
Delivery: from notes (not read word-for-word from script); eye contact and clear diction if recorded

What Will Be Assessed¶

Criterion	What It Means
Grammatical range	Use of multiple tenses and moods, including subjunctive and conditional
Vocabulary range	Absence of repetition; appropriate register; topic-specific vocabulary
Discourse structure	Clear introduction, developed body, conclusion
Pronunciation	Correct nasal vowels, liaison, elision, stress
Fluency	Natural pace; appropriate fillers; no excessive hesitation

Formal Essay Brief¶

Requirements¶

Length: 400 words (±5% = 380–420 words)
Structure: dissertation format from Module 11
Register: formal — no je, no informal contractions, no anglicisms
Grammar: must include at minimum: one subjunctive, one conditional, one relative clause with dont or que, one past-tense passage (PC or imparfait), one complex connector (cependant, néanmoins, en revanche, or similar)
Spelling: all accents correct; all agreement correct

Self-Assessment Rubric (complete before submission)¶

Before submitting, verify:

Acceptance Criteria¶

The capstone is considered complete when:

Both artifacts (oral presentation + essay) are submitted in NOTES.md or linked files
The self-assessment rubric is completed honestly
An AI grading session (or self-grading against the rubric) has produced feedback
A written reflection (100–150 words in French) has been added to NOTES.md: what you found most challenging, what you are most proud of, and what you would study next

Help and Getting Unstuck¶

[!IMPORTANT] Try each level of help in sequence. Reaching for the final hints too quickly bypasses the most valuable part of the project — the productive struggle.

Help Level 1: I don't know what topic to choose

Start with something simple: describe your city, your work, your country, or a recent trip. A short, honest, well-structured presentation on a simple topic demonstrates more genuine French than a halting, vocabulary-strained attempt on a complex one. Ambition is good — overstretch is counterproductive at this stage.

Help Level 2: My essay is too short / I don't have enough to say

Use the classic technique of expanding each argument: (1) state the argument, (2) explain it, (3) give a specific example, (4) draw the conclusion. Each step adds words and depth. If your development section has only one sentence, apply all four steps to expand it to a paragraph.

Help Level 3: I keep making grammar errors I can't identify

Use a structured grammar-checking method: 1. Underline every verb. Verify: correct tense? correct form? correct auxiliary? 2. Circle every adjective. Verify: correct gender? correct number? correct position? 3. Box every article. Verify: definite vs. indefinite vs. partitive? negation rule applied? 4. Mark every connector. Verify: correct meaning? correct punctuation around it? This systematic check finds 80% of errors that a general re-read misses.

Help Level 4: I'm stuck on the oral — I freeze when speaking

Freezing in an oral is usually caused by trying to retrieve words that are not yet automatic. Two solutions: (1) reduce the vocabulary load — use simpler words you know rather than complex words you are uncertain of; (2) prepare rescue phrases for when you lose the thread: *Ce que je voulais dire...* (What I wanted to say was...), *Pour reformuler...* (To rephrase...), *Permettez-moi de préciser...* (Allow me to clarify...). These signal to the listener that you are handling the language actively, not struggling — which is itself a mark of fluency.

Help Level 5: I want to verify my grammar before final submission

At this stage, AI grammar assistance is appropriate. Ask an AI to: - Check all verb forms for correctness - Flag adjective agreement errors - Identify any article usage errors - Point out any register inconsistencies (informal language in formal text) Do NOT ask an AI to rewrite sentences for you — only to flag errors and explain why they are wrong. You then correct them yourself. This preserves the authenticity of your work while providing targeted feedback.

Assessment¶

Your capstone will be assessed on the following rubric:

Criterion	Weight	What It Measures
Grammatical accuracy	25%	Correct verb forms, agreement, article usage
Grammatical range	20%	Variety of tenses, moods, and structures deployed
Vocabulary range and accuracy	20%	Appropriate vocabulary; no repetition; register correct
Discourse structure	20%	Clear, explicit, logical organization of content
Task achievement	15%	Essay meets word count; oral meets duration; both address the chosen topic coherently

Passing: 70% overall

Cross-Links¶

[[french/modules/11_speaking-writing-production]] — Essay and oral presentation structure from Module 11 is the direct preparation for this capstone
[[french/modules/09_subjunctive-and-advanced-grammar]] — Subjunctive, conditional passé, discourse connectors
[[french/modules/10_reading-and-cultural-context]] — Reading French sources for your presentation topic; register analysis
[[french#projects]] — See the topic-level PROJECTS.md for all project options; Project 6 is this capstone