Capstone Project Draft Proposal

Name of student: Madison Khashan Date: October 7th 2021

Teacher: Mr. Main Block: C

The Capstone strand I have chosen is: The project strand

Proposed title for my Project Proposal: (write the proposed title for your Capstone Project in one clear
sentence): “How Muscular Dystrophy Affected my family”

What is your inquiry question that interests you for further research? It should be a question that
connects with a purpose, passion or personalized area of interest for you. This is a question that you cannot
just google an answer for. Please see examples from your Capstone booklet.

My inquiry question is:

The inquiry question I am researching is how and why Muscular Dystrophy affects the brain’s development
the way it does. This is a huge undertaking, but a valuable one. I know you have a jam-packed schedule, so
please be mindful of your time and your other commitments so that you don’t spread yourself too thin. That
said, I am really looking forward to hearing more about the link between MD and brain development.

Rationale/context: Detail your reasons for choosing this inquiry question. Explain WHY you are choosing to
investigate this topic as a major area of focus. How does this area of inquiry connect to your passion(s),
purpose? Why is it of personal interest to you?

I am choosing to investigate this because my sister and dad both have Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy. As I was growing
up, I was always told that my sister had the mentality of a 6-year-old. I have always wondered why this occurs and if it
has anything to do with when you get diagnosed. I also have the gene so it is possible that my children could have it,
which is another reason as to why I am passionate about researching this.

Background: What background knowledge/connections/prior learning do you have in this area of inquiry?

I don’t have too much background on this other than what the doctors have told us. With just saying that my
sister has a younger brain mentality. I would argue you have a lot of background with the topic, maybe just
not the medical or scientific expertise you are referring to.
Career connections: What is your intended career area at this point in time? What connections does this
inquiry question have to your life, academic and/ or career goals?

I have always wanted to be in the health care field as I have always just wanted to help others. Becoming a
surgeon is my dream job, and it was my dad who told me that I need to take the chance and try to do it.
Good advice!

Interdisciplinary and core competencies connections: What subject areas and core competencies will
be connected with your project? Outline and explain the connections.

You will need to list 12 core competencies when you submit your final Capstone proposal. You can find
the core competencies on the back page of your paper copy of your draft proposal paper.

Some core competencies that I will be practicing during this project is self- regulation. I need to practice
this as I am not the best with my time management. I have a hard time focusing with everything going
on at home.

Capstone Presentation medium: select one or more project mediums you wish to use to present your
project. Outline and give details about how you will present your project once completed. You may use a
combination of mediums.

o Electronic portfolio: Prezi or PPT

o Physical portfolio
o Website
o iMovie presentation
o YouTube channel
I plan to do my project on a PowerPoint or Prezi and show the steps that I take to complete this project. I
might also present with a poster as well as a PowerPoint to show images and diagrams that I have
discovered.

Description of my Capstone project. Specific Project Details of the Capstone Project: what will you
research, create, study, produce, solve, investigate? What product will be produced at the end of this
project for evaluation. Write a one-page description outlining your proposal.

My dad got diagnosed when I was about 6 years old with Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy. Since it was diagnosed when
he was an adult, it progressed fairly quickly. He then had to stop working because his legs kept buckling and it was a
danger to his job. This disease ended his very successful plumbing career. The years that followed only grew more and
more challenging. Currently, he is completely unable to walk on his own and needs my myself and my mom’s help to
 do everything for him. We help carry him to the bathroom, to the shower, and to the car when he needs to get to
certain appointments. 

He is my motivation, he is my hero. I understand that it must be very challenging to lose your mobility so quickly. He is
the reason why I wish to pursue a career in the medical field. I would like to obtain a bachelor's degree in Chemistry at
either UBC or SFU and after that, go off to medical school. After finishing medical school I would love to become a
Cardiothoracic Surgeon. 

At the end of this project I hope to have more of an understanding about how it affects the brain development. I have
had tons of arguments constantly with my sister as I have never had a clear understanding of why. I found out not
long ago that I do carry the gene and there is a very high chance that I would pass it on to my potential future
children. 

For this project I plan to read tons of different articles and read suggested books from my dad's doctors. My friend's
mom is also a neuroo nurse at Royal Columbian Hospital and she agreed to help me along with this project. My final
goal of this project is to figure out why my sister acts out and has the mentality that she does. 

Resources/ Technology/Skills: Make an assessment of the resources, technology and skills you will
need to be able to complete this project. What is your plan to be able to access/learn all of the resources
necessary to achieve completion of this project? Detail your plans.

My plans for researching this project reading the book “Muscular Dystrophy” by Peter Harper that was given to
us by my dads doctor. I also plan to read through a few websites informing about past studies done about brain
development through Muscular Dystrophy.

Project limitations: What are some project limitations and potential obstacles that you foresee that might
affect progress with your Capstone Project?

Since Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy is a known disease, a potential obstacle could be finding the answers to
my question too quickly. Even though I have never done research on it personally, I am worried about finding
the answers too quickly.

Other considerations: List and detail any other related information/ considerations about your project
that you feel should be included in your project proposal.

I feel that I should include that this project is very important to me as it hits very close to home. Even though
unfortunately there is no cure for this aggressive disease, I want to learn more as I carry the gene for it. I feel
that now I am older, I should learn more about it incase I have children one day and I can become educated
about it.
References: Provide references: research, videos, etc. that offer some preliminary research you have
done for your project that shows you are able to access the key information that you will need to be able
to complete this project/work. Your list should be written using correct APA formatting.

- Cell Press. (2012, August 8). Underlying causes of impaired brain function in muscular dystrophy revealed. Science
Daily. Retrieved October 11, 2021 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120808121804.htm
- Quest. (2002, November 2nd) When Neuromuscular Disease Affects the Brainhttps://www.mda.org/quest/article/when-
neuromuscular-disease-affects-the-brain
- Anderson, J. L., Head, S. I., Rae, C., & Morley, J. W. (2002). Brain function in Duchene muscular dystrophy. Brain: a journal
of neurology, 125(Pt 1), 4–13. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awf012