AP Research: what do you actually do?

I'm thinking of taking AP Research next year, but I'm not too sure what actually goes on in the class. Can anyone who's taken it give me a rundown on what you do throughout the year?

Sure, I'd be happy to give you an overview of the AP Research course! The main objective in AP Research is to design, plan, and conduct a year-long research project in a subject of your choosing. This class is the second course in the AP Capstone program, so you'll have completed AP Seminar prior to taking this course.

Here's a general breakdown of what you'll do throughout the year:

1. Identify your research interest: You'll spend the first few weeks exploring your interests, discussing potential topics with your classmates and teacher, and narrowing down your research question. It's essential to choose a topic you're genuinely passionate about, since you'll be working on it for the entire school year.

2. Conduct background research: Once you've identified a research question, you'll spend considerable time conducting background research and gathering resources. You'll learn about different research methods and identify the ones that are most appropriate for your research question.

3. Develop a detailed research proposal: With a clear understanding of your research topic and methods, you'll create a research proposal outlining your project, to ensure you have a solid plan in place for the remainder of the year.

4. Implement your research plan: With your proposal approved, you'll collect data, conduct interviews, and perform any other necessary tasks to gather information for your project. This stage of the process is generally the most time-consuming, as you'll be actively working on your research.

5. Analyze your findings: Once you've collected your data, you'll analyze it, draw conclusions, and start to form the foundation of your final research paper.

6. Write and revise your research paper: As the year progresses, you'll write your research paper based on your findings. This paper is a substantial portion of your AP Research score, so it's crucial to spend time revising and improving it. Seek out feedback from your teacher and peers to be sure your ideas are coming across clearly.

7. Present your findings: At the end of the year, you'll give a formal presentation and defense of your research to your teacher and possibly other students.

Though the course demands a lot of independent work, you'll also have the opportunity to collaborate and share ideas with your classmates, and throughout the year your teacher will provide guidance, feedback, and support. Overall, AP Research can be a fantastic experience if you're passionate about your topic and eager to dive deep into a research project. Good luck!