The end of March marks the beginning of course selections for all students headed into their next year at Hingham High School. For students interested in writing, researching, and presenting their argument skills, AP Seminar and AP Research may be an area of focus! However, being sure that you understand the commitment and details of the courses is vital heading into next year.
For a brief introduction, AP Seminar is offered to sophomores, juniors, and seniors and follows the college board procedures of an Advanced Placement course. Each student completes two argumentative research papers and two argumentative presentations- both individual and group- responding to real world issues. AP Research is subsequent to seminar and students choose a niche topic to dive into over the entire course of the school year, writing a research paper on said topic. In order to qualify for research, students must complete seminar in advance. Seminar is taught by Mrs. Garland while research is taught by Mrs. Gallagher and both classes take place in room 214 within the library.
AP Seminar is not to be mistaken as an “easy AP” just because it is classified as an elective. Elizabeth Galvin, who enrolled in AP Seminar her sophomore year, shares, “As someone with a busy schedule and outside of school activities, AP Seminar just didn’t fit in for me. The summer work was quite extensive, and trying to balance its work during the fall was difficult.” On the other hand, Sydney Steele says, “I love the seminar class a lot! Mrs. Garland is very helpful and a great teacher. The workload is a lot, but it is manageable as long as you stay on task. I’m looking forward to taking AP Research next year!”
Moving forward to AP Research, Junior Finley Erick who is currently taking the class describes, “Research has been an awesome class and it has really helped me perfect my writing skills, presenting skills, and has aided in discovering methods to solve real world issues today.” While the research class is not required after seminar, it is a great way to put forward the researching skills one learns in seminar. Additionally, taking both courses and earning a three or above on both exams can result in earning the Capstone Diploma as well as the seminar and research certificate.
Each student’s schedules vary greatly, so knowing whether or not these classes would be a great fit for you may be confusing. Ultimately, talking with a guidance counselor, viewing the college board descriptions, or consulting with Mrs. Garland or Mrs. Gallagher are helpful options when it comes to choosing classes for the following year. If you are interested in delving into research of your choice, collaborative and individual projects, defining your argumentative skills, and perfecting your writing and presenting skills, consider taking AP Seminar and AP Research!
