The end of the fourth quarter is approaching, which means students are preparing for end-of-year exams.
Sophomores in AP Seminar are tackling their biggest English project of the year.
Students are working on and learning about many components such as researching, presenting, analyzing information, and preparing for Q&As. Even though the course is challenging, it allows students to explore real-world problems through valuable topics.
“I am proud of getting better at researching and presenting. You have to improve in those two areas to do well in the class,” Emma Hood (10) said.
Presenting is a major part of the course. Memorizing information and presenting it confidently in front of others is a life skill that students will need in college and future careers.
In AP Seminar, students present their research projects multiple times throughout the year. Learning how to approach a presentation with professionalism is a valuable experience.
“I think my biggest strength is my ability to memorize scripts quickly and accurately, which helps me stay focused on my performance and connect better with the presentation,” Lilly Anderson (10) said.
Researching complex topics, like the ones AP Seminar students base their projects on, is also an essential skill. Learning how to find credible sources and ensuring those sources are relevant to the topic can be a challenge during the drafting phase of a presentation.
“A good presentation has to be rooted in an argument. Students need to take a position, then argue throughout their presentation that their solution, conclusion, or resolution is the best, and support that claim with evidence,” AP Seminar teacher Katie Stewart said.
Projects don’t always develop as expected, so being able to adapt to changes in topic or research is crucial. Sometimes, a project changes direction due to a lack of research or credible sources. Having a backup plan is important when preparing both the research and the presentation.
“My topic was on sexual assault, and I talked about how it affects people and survivors. I originally focused on how victims were reacting to the issue, but then I realized there weren’t many studies on that. So, I shifted my focus to how society reacts to victims of assault,” Ellie Niese (10) said.
Preparing for questions from teachers during the Q&A session is essential for demonstrating strong presentation skills. It shows that students are not only confident in their delivery but also well-versed in their topic, having conducted thorough research.
Anticipating potential questions allows students to address concerns proactively, showcase their depth of understanding, and engage with the audience in a meaningful way.
“I think what helped me the most during my Q&A process was making notecards to carry for the presentation and making sure I had all the important information memorized,” Charlie Feldbruegge (10) said.
AP Seminar benefits students by preparing them for future classes throughout college and beyond. These skills can help students become more independent and help them analyze ideas more effectively.
“AP Seminar is useful once they go into other classes in other areas, and then when those classes ask them to do a presentation, or write a research paper, and then that’s when it kind of clicks to them that they could do everything they did in seminar can apply in a lot of other different ways that’s not just in English class,” Stewart said.
Students need to know many things before the AP presentation, but one of the most important things is choosing a topic wisely.
“Do something that you like and that’s interesting to you, because if you do something that you aren’t interested in, it would be hard to stay focused and engaged during researching,” Niese said.
While AP Seminar presentations can be challenging, they help students develop important skills such as presenting, conducting research, preparing for Q&A sessions, and analyzing information.
These experiences not only strengthen their academic abilities but also prepare them for the types of tasks and expectations they will face in college.
