course description & Overview

AP Research, the second course in the AP Capstone experience, allows students to deeply explore an academic

topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. Students reflect on their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process and reflection portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000–5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.

The course will be composed of 2 College Board and teacher graded components and assessments:

1) Intensive skill-building and practice

2) AP Task 1: Academic Paper

3) AP Task 2: Individual Presentation and Oral Defense

Attached, you will find a tentative list of major works for the year, classroom procedures and rules, class and school policies regarding attendance, as well as an outline of consequences and grades. Feel free to contact me using the information  below if you have any questions. 

Please review this letter with your student, and sign and return the last page. 

Course Framework

The AP Capstone courses are organized around five big ideas that form the QUEST framework; students will use this framework as they explore issues and topics throughout the course. In-class activities and homework assignments will focus on developing skills and meeting the end of course objectives that are ties to each of the following elements of the QUEST framework below:

Q - Question and Explore

U - Understand and Analyze

E - Evaluate Multiple Perspectives

S - Synthesize Ideas

T - Team, Transform, and Transmit

College Board Assessments  

Coursework will focus on preparing students with the necessary skills for the following assessment tasks that will together determine the overall AP score for the course

Part 1: Academic Paper 75% of AP Score

Part 2: Presentation and Oral Defense 25% of AP Score

Task Overview

Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong, in-depth study or investigation in an area of personal interest through a chosen or designed inquiry method and develop a well-reasoned argument based on the evidence collected in an academic paper of 4,000–5,000 words. As a culmination of their research, students deliver (using appropriate media) a presentation and orally defend their research design, approach, and findings. Students whose academic paper is accompanied by an additional piece of scholarly work (e.g., performance, exhibit, product) must arrange for the teacher and panelists to view this work prior to the presentation and oral defense. Throughout the inquiry process, students communicate regularly with their teacher and, when appropriate, consult with an internal or external expert.

Course Outline

The following skills-based units will be taught through the course [themes]. These are subject to change as seen fit by the instructor of the course:

Unit 1: Developing Research Essentials 

Unit 2: Creating Research Foundations

Unit 3: Research Design and Methods

Unit 4: Findings and Data Analysis

Unit 5: Data Discussion and Conclusion

Unit 6: Final Revisions and Presentations

Unit 7: Post-Submission Activities 

Course Materials

Due to the nature of this course centering largely around the texts that students choose themselves for their own resources, students will need access to scholarly databases such as EBSCO, JStor, Google Scholar, and Gale, which will be provided through the district and through College Board.

Any texts that we read will either be provided by the instructor, the school library or can be accessed online for free. Additional course materials, posted assignments, announcements, and other  important resources can be found on our Google Classroom. Access to Google Classroom requires a CVUSD-issued Google and/or Office 365 account. Students will be utilizing Google Classroom and other online resources frequently, so ChromeBooks should be brought to class everyday fully charged.