1. AP Research The second course in College Board’s Capstone Program

2. “Capital R” Research FINDING A GAP IN KNOWLEDGE
Students can choose almost any topic to research, but this course asks them to do much more than just analyze or synthesize studies that have already been conducted.
The first semester will be spent finding scholarly articles with varying viewpoints on each student’s given topic. This will allow them to find a gap in research and propose to conduct their own study to add to the body of knowledge.
SITUATING THEIR NEW KNOWLEDGE
Each student will conduct some kind of experiment, case study, survey, etc., in order to add to the body of knowledge that exists on their topic. They will write clear method explanations, discuss their findings and the implications those findings may hold.
To conclude the course, each student will submit a 4,000 to 5,000 word paper to the College Board and give an oral defense of their research process to a panel.
A link to the College Board’s course description can be found at: research-course-and-exam-description.pdf

3. IT’S ABOUT THE PROCESS, NOT THE SCORE
Investigation, Scholarly Reading, Scientific Writing, Documentation, Presentation

5. There is a whole ocean of knowledge
There is a whole ocean of knowledge. The goal of this course is not to be an expert on the whole ocean, but rather to be an expert on a single grain of sand on the ocean floor.

6. You’ll then create an effective Research Question.
We’re starting here, with your knowledge from AP Seminar!
First, you’ll identify a gap in knowledge about your topic of interest.
Then you’ll choose an aligned research method for your own study.
Develop Research Question
Synthesize new knowledge
Choose aligned method
End of AP Seminar
Identifying a Gap
Lastly, you’ll synthesize your new knowledge.
And you’ll find yourself at the end of AP Research.

7. THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
Point out that engaging in research is different from debating, or making an argument, or taking a stance. It’s about asking a question (that has yet to be answered about a phenomenon). The green puzzle pieces linked together represent what is currently known through research about that phenomenon (this is the body of knowledge). Students must find a gap in the understanding of the phenomenon or body of knowledge and situate that question into the larger body of work on that topic, gathering data/information about that specific topic, coding, categorizing, analyzing, and evaluating that data for its merit in supporting your assumptions and hypotheses pertaining to one’s question. Next one must make a conclusion or claim that is a new piece of information or piece of the puzzle, and then find how it connects to the larger body of knowledge. This process ensures that one who engages in scholarly research is part of the academic conversation and not just repeating the parts of the conversation.

8. ENGAGING IN RESEARCH ADD TO THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE LARGER BODY OF WORK
 categorizing, analyzing
LARGER BODY OF WORK
UNDERSTAND & SITUATE BY
ADD TO THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
 reviewing
situating
PRIOR TO STUDENT RESEARCH
EVALUATING & INTERACTING
BY SYNTHESIZING & CONNECTING
Gathering, coding 

9. HEALTHY DOSE OF CHALLENGE
I can’t really help, but I can guide.
You can support, but please don’t edit.
Students may feel frustrated, but their hard work will pay off!
Students are allowed to seek out a mentor in the community, and they may receive guidance from teachers that are experts in the student’s field of study.

10. Important dates, grades & details
COURSE LOGISTICS
Important dates, grades & details

11. DEADLINES HARD DEADLINES
There are four non-negotiable deadlines that you can plan for.
Research Proposal:
Wednesday, November 28, 2018 (A)
Thursday, November 29, 2018 (B)
Literature Review:
Tuesday, December 18, 2018 (A)
Wednesday, December 19, 2018 (B)
Final Paper:
Wednesday, March 20, 2019 (A)
Thursday, March 21, 2019 (B)
Presentation & Oral Defense:
Weeks of April 1, 2019 & April 8, 2019
ROLLING DEADLINES
Because this course is so individualized, I cannot mandate that quality research happens within a certain time frame. Almost all course assignments will have flexible deadlines.

12. GRADES
MAJOR GRADES: 60%
I am not allowed to grade students’ papers in order to give specific feedback, per the College Board. Major grades in this course will come from drafts of the paper, oral presentations, and completion of things like the proposal and annotated bibliography.
MINOR GRADES: 40%
These grades will come from each student’s PREP notebook, in-class assignments, and informal presentations.
GRADING CAVEAT
Because I am grading for students’ application of the research process, and not grading their project or the content, grammar, or structure of their paper, their course grades will not reflect what the student will score on their AP submission.

13. AP SCORING 75% of score 25% of score
…will be made up of the student’s score on their paper. This is graded by at least two AP Trained graders.
25% of score
…will consist of the student’s score on their oral presentation and oral defense. This is graded by me.

14. AP CAPSTONE POLICY ON PLAGIARISM AND FALSIFICATION/FABRICATION OF INFORMATION
A student who fails to acknowledge the source or author of any and all information or evidence taken from the work of someone else through citation, attribution, or reference in the body of the work, or through a bibliographic entry, will receive a score of 0 on that particular component of the AP Seminar and/or AP Research Performance Assessment Task. In AP Seminar, a team of students that fails to properly acknowledge sources or authors on the Team Multimedia Presentation will receive a group score of 0 for that component of the Team Project and Presentation.
A student who incorporates falsified or fabricated information (e.g., evidence, data, sources and/or authors) will receive a score of 0 on that particular component of the AP Seminar and/or AP Research Performance Assessment Task. In AP Seminar, a team of students that incorporates falsified or fabricated information in the Team Multimedia Presentation will receive a group score of 0 for that component of the Team Project and Presentation.