AP Seminar: identify a research question of your own; research, analyze, evaluate, and select evidence to develop a written argument of your own that you will present; and then you will defend your conclusion. 

AP Research: deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, you will design, plan, and conduct a year-long research based investigation and identify and resolve a gap in the current research available on the topic.

Helpful Hints:

Use the databases to narrow your topical focus. Make sure to find something you either have some background knowledge of and/or you find fascinating and engaging enough that your enthusiasm will sustain itself for a full year of academic study AND that there is enough previous research (or enough tangentially related research to piece together) to aid you in your own study.

Organizing Your Research

NoodleTools: An all-in-one research hub where you can record sources for your Works Cited page, create notes, outline and link to your GoogleDrive account to write your paper.  (Click Google to sign in!) 

Databases and Sources

NOTE: Remember, when you can, make sure you're narrowing your search by date (usually more recent content is preferred in the STEM fields, less necessary in the Humanities and Arts) and also locating "peer reviewed" and "full-text" resources if those search options are available (likely located under the Advanced Search option). Also, don't forget to check Lexile Levels. For topics you're unfamiliar with, lower Lexile numbers (800-1000) will help you gain background knowledge on a topic before delving deeper.

SIRS Issues Researcher: Three databases in one! Sometimes the content overlaps, but choose from: Issues Researcher (Pro/Con, Controversial Issues), Government Reporter (Law, Government, International Relations) and Renaissance (Humanities, Literature, Culture).

Academic OneFile Select: Expanded Academic ASAP includes journals and periodicals covering a wide variety of disciplines, from social science, humanities and politics to medicine, general interest and science.

CQ Researcher Online: Comprehensive reporting and analysis on issues shaping our world. (Pro/Con, Controversial Issues, News)

There are dozens of more databases in our Virtual Reference Collection, but these often produce the best results. 

To access any or all of the above databases, use the following credentials:

username: esm

password: sharks