The parts of speech are the basic categories into which words are classified based on their grammatical functions and properties. When creating the objectives for a capstone project, it is important to use strong and action-oriented verbs that clearly communicate what you want to achieve.

1. Exploring Parts of Speech, Creating Strong Objectives, and Choosing the Right Voice Form for Capstone Projects
MARK JOHN P. LADO, MIT
Exploring Parts of Speech, Creating Strong Objectives, and Choosing the Right Voice Form for Capstone
Projects
MARK JOHN P. LADO, MIT
What are the parts of speech?
The parts of speech are the basic categories into
which words are classified based on their
grammatical functions and properties. There are
eight parts of speech in English grammar:
1. Noun - a word that represents a person, place,
thing, or idea, such as "dog", "book", or
"happiness".
2. Pronoun - a word that is used in place of a
noun, such as "he", "she", or "they".
3. Verb - a word that expresses an action,
occurrence, or state of being, such as "run",
"eat", or "be".
4. Adjective - a word that modifies or describes
a noun or pronoun, such as "blue", "happy",
or "big".
5. Adverb - a word that modifies or describes a
verb, adjective, or other adverb, such as
"quickly", "very", or "well".
6. Preposition - a word that shows the
relationship between a noun or pronoun and
other words in a sentence, such as "in", "on",
or "with".
7. Conjunction - a word that connects words,
phrases, or clauses, such as "and", "or", or
"but".
8. Interjection - a word or phrase used to express
strong emotion or surprise, such as "wow",
"ouch", or "hey".
Understanding the parts of speech is important for
understanding the structure and meaning of
sentences and for communicating effectively in
written and spoken language.
Creating the objectives using verbs
When creating the objectives for a capstone project,
it is important to use strong and action-oriented verbs
that clearly communicate what you want to achieve.
Here are some tips for using verbs effectively in your
objectives:
1. Begin with an action verb: Start your
objective with an action verb that describes
the behavior or skill you want to demonstrate.
Some common action verbs used in
objectives include "identify", "analyze",
"synthesize", "create", "evaluate",
"compare", and "apply".
2. Use specific, measurable verbs: Use verbs
that are specific and measurable so that it is
clear what needs to be done and can be easily
assessed. For example, use verbs like "list",
"define", "design", "calculate", or "solve".
3. Avoid vague or ambiguous verbs: Avoid
using verbs that are vague or ambiguous,
such as "understand", "know", or "learn".
These verbs do not clearly communicate
what needs to be achieved.
4. Use active voice: Use active voice when
writing objectives to make them more clear
and direct. For example, instead of saying
"The objective is to understand the impact of
climate change", say "The learner will
evaluate the impact of climate change".
5. Align the verb with the level of the objective:
Use verbs that align with the level of the
objective, whether it is a knowledge, skill, or
attitude objective. For example, use verbs
like "explain", "describe", or "discuss" for
knowledge objectives, and use verbs like
"perform", "demonstrate", or "apply" for skill
objectives.

2. Exploring Parts of Speech, Creating Strong Objectives, and Choosing the Right Voice Form for Capstone Projects
MARK JOHN P. LADO, MIT
By using strong and action-oriented verbs in your
objectives for the capstone project, you can create
clear, measurable, and achievable outcomes that
demonstrate your knowledge and skills in the chosen
topic.
Should past tense be used when writing a
capstone project or is it necessary to use past tense
in a capstone project?
In general, it is common to use past tense when
writing a capstone project because you are typically
reporting on research that has already been
conducted and completed. The past tense is often
used to describe what you did, what you found, and
what you concluded in your research.
For example, you might write sentences like:
1. "The research showed that..."
2. "The participants completed the survey..."
3. "The analysis revealed that..."
However, you should also consult with your
instructor or advisor regarding any specific
guidelines or expectations for tense usage in your
capstone project. It's possible that there may be some
instances where present or future tense is
appropriate, depending on the specific context of
your project.
When to use active and passive voice in scientific
writing?
In scientific writing, both active and passive voice
can be used, depending on the specific context and
the purpose of the writing. However, there are some
general guidelines to consider when deciding which
voice to use:
Active voice:
1. Use active voice to emphasize the agent or
performer of the action. This is particularly
important in experimental research where the
researcher's actions and decisions can have a
direct impact on the results.
2. Use active voice to make your writing more
engaging and direct.
3. Use active voice to emphasize causality and
to highlight the relationships between
different variables.
Passive voice:
1. Use passive voice when the focus should be
on the recipient of the action, rather than the
agent. For example, when describing
methods or procedures, or when discussing
results that are not directly related to the
researcher's actions.
2. Use passive voice when you want to be
objective and impartial. Passive voice can
help to create a more formal and professional
tone.
3. Use passive voice when you want to avoid
personal pronouns, such as "I" or "we". This
can be particularly important in certain types
of scientific writing, such as formal research
articles or grant proposals.
In general, it's important to consider the specific
context of your writing and to use the voice that will
best serve your purpose and convey your ideas
clearly and effectively. A variety of sentence
structures, including both active and passive voice,
can help to create a more engaging and informative
scientific text.
What voice form should be used in capstone
project?
The choice of voice form to use in a capstone project
will depend on the specific context and purpose of
the project. In general, however, it is recommended

3. Exploring Parts of Speech, Creating Strong Objectives, and Choosing the Right Voice Form for Capstone Projects
MARK JOHN P. LADO, MIT
to use active voice as much as possible in a capstone
project. Active voice can make your writing clearer,
more direct, and easier for readers to understand. It
can also help you to establish a stronger connection
between the subject and the action, which can be
particularly important when reporting on research
findings or presenting arguments.
However, there may be situations where passive
voice is more appropriate, such as when you want to
emphasize the recipient of the action rather than the
agent. For example, you might use passive voice
when describing methods or procedures, or when
discussing results that are not directly related to the
researcher's actions.
Ultimately, the choice of voice form will depend on
the specific context and goals of your capstone
project. It's important to consider the purpose and
audience of your writing and to use the voice that will
best serve your goals and convey your ideas clearly
and effectively. A variety of sentence structures,
including both active and passive voice, can help to
create a more engaging and informative capstone
project.
Writing active voice
Writing in active voice means making sure the
subject of the sentence is doing the action. Here's an
example:
Passive Voice: The cake was baked by the chef.
Active Voice: The chef baked the cake.
Notice how in the first sentence, the cake is the
subject but it's not doing anything - the action is
being done to it. In the second sentence, we start with
the chef (who is doing the action) and then say what
he did.
Here are some steps to help you write in active
voice for your capstone project:
1. Identify the action you want to describe.
What is it that you want to say someone did
or will do?
2. Think about who is doing the action. Who
is the subject of the sentence? Make sure the
subject is the person or thing doing the action.
3. Use a strong verb to describe the action.
Avoid using weak verbs like "is" or "was."
Instead, use verbs that show action like
"completed," "designed," or "created."
4. Put the subject before the verb. Make sure
the sentence starts with the subject, then the
verb, then the object (if there is one).
5. Check your writing to make sure it's easy
to understand. Does it make sense? Is it
clear who is doing what?
So, for example, instead of saying "The data was
analyzed by the researcher," you could say "The
researcher analyzed the data." This way, it's clear
who is doing the action, and the sentence is more
active and engaging to read.
Another example:
"The student designed and implemented a real-time
embedded system for monitoring and controlling the
temperature and humidity in a greenhouse."
In this sentence, the subject is "the student," who is
doing the action of "designing and implementing"
the system. The verb "designed" and "implemented"
are strong and specific, and the sentence makes it
clear what the student accomplished in their project.