AP Research students will share presentations on the topics they are personally researching in the class, on Nov. 28. The administration and other faculty members will watch the students present part of their findings.

AP Research is the second class in the AP Capstone series, and  follows AP Seminar. Students must pass four AP classes overall, in addition to Seminar and Research to receive a special Capstone diploma from the College Board, which goes on their official transcripts. The purpose of this program is to create a multi-faceted educational experience for students and enhance the importance and growth of research skills

In AP Research, students investigate a subject that they are eager to learn about. They formulate  a study to further investigate their topics. At the conclusion of their study, the students write a professional research paper and give a presentation that gives an overall synopsis of what they have learned

The symposium is a forum where the students in AP Research are able to showcase their research and overall understanding of presenting it. It is popular throughout the AP community and was decided to be held at West Essex. There are multiple purposes of this symposium. 

 “It’s to get the students comfortable presenting, in the spotlight, their original work,” AP Research teacher Caroline Blanchard said. “It’s also supposed to be a jumping off point from where they’ve done all of their background research before they start their analysis.”

Most of the school faculty is invited to the symposium including all administrators, supervisors, department heads, the entire guidance staff and all AP teachers. The students in AP Seminar are also invited to attend the symposium. 

“The students are about to start some really interesting original research,” Blanchard said. “So, [we are] trying to get staff and adults throughout the school community aware of everything that the research students are doing.”

The last symposium was two years ago and it was on a smaller scale because of the pandemic. The symposium this year will truly allow AP Research students to showcase their hard work to the school community.