AP CapstoneResearch

AP Research

Design and complete a yearlong inquiry that uses an appropriate method, evaluates evidence, produces an academic paper, and culminates in presentation and oral defense.

Course map

Open a section, then choose the exact idea.

BI1Question and Explore1 topic

Move from a meaningful area of interest to a focused, feasible question that warrants sustained scholarly investigation.

  1. STS-R1Develop and refine a feasible research question

BI2Understand and Analyze1 topic

Read scholarship closely and analyze evidence, methods, assumptions, reasoning, and disciplinary context.

  1. STS-R2Analyze sources, methods, and scholarly context

BI3Evaluate Multiple Perspectives1 topic

Compare relevant perspectives and evaluate the credibility, limitations, implications, and relationships among them.

  1. STS-R3Evaluate perspectives, credibility, and limitations

BI4Synthesize Ideas1 topic

Integrate evidence and reasoning into a coherent account that supports defensible findings, conclusions, or new understanding.

  1. STS-R4Synthesize evidence into a defensible conclusion

BI5Team, Transform, and Transmit1 topic

Communicate research effectively, respond to questions, reflect on choices, and explain how the inquiry developed.

  1. STS-R5Communicate, reflect on, and defend the inquiry

PROJECTAcademic Paper, Presentation, and Oral Defense5 topics

Plan the yearlong inquiry as an ethical sequence of proposal, method, evidence, writing, presentation, and defense milestones.

  1. STS-RP1Question and proposal checkpoint
  2. STS-RP2Method, feasibility, and ethics checkpoint
  3. STS-RP3Evidence collection and analysis checkpoint
  4. STS-RP4Academic paper revision checkpoint
  5. STS-RP5Presentation and oral defense rehearsal