AP Seminar/AP Research Guide

Shop for a topic that interests you, and read background information.

Topic Shop & Read Background Information in the GALE in Context Databases:

• Click "Browse Topics" in the top left.
• Browse the list and select any of interest to further investigate
• Focus on "Reference" sources to gather background information.

Topic Shop & Read Background Information in the New York Times 

• Click "Science."
• Click a narrower topic of interest, or simply search the science articles.

Example Articles

• Ocean-Clogging Microplastics
• How Much Alcohol Can You Drink Safely
• Battle of the Thermostat - Cold Rooms May Hurt Women's Productivity
• Is Conference Room Air Making You Dumber
• Shrimp from 5 UK Rivers Have One Thing in Common: Cocaine

Topic Shop & Read Background Information in Magazines

Topic Shop & Read Background Information in Google and Wikipedia

• Google [chem/physics/biology + anything that is of interest]
  • Ex:  cooking and chemistry
• Google [general area of study or topic of interest + magazines]
  • Then you can do a site specific search for your topic
    • Ex:  [depression site:psychologytoday.com]
• Use Wikipedia!
  • Ex: cooking and chemistry wikipedia
• Once you find a topic of interest google [that topic + studies], but focus on secondary sources (news/magazine/article explaining a study that happened).
  • Ex: Maillard reaction studies
  • Or [topic + articles]

Create your research question.

• After conducting background research, determine what aspect of your topic to investigate.
  • Consider the issues, mystery, debate, problem, or controversies.
  • What interests you?  What needs to be solved?
• Create a concept map or a list of ideas.
• Use the six Ws (& How), if needed, to help create a question: 
  • Who
  • What
  • Why
  • When 
  • Where
  • Which
  • How
• Be sure it is neither too broad nor too narrow.
• You will eventually develop sub-questions that support your primary question.
• You may find your primary research question changes after doing research.  That's okay!

Select and brainstorm your keywords.

*Keywords are the words and phrases typed into a database or search engine in order to retrieve relevant sources.*

How to select keywords:

1. State your research question:

   • EXAMPLE: "How do cigarette companies target children with their advertising?"

2. Identify main concepts:

   • EXAMPLE:  "How do cigarette companies target children with their advertising?"

3. Brainstorm synonyms, related terms, broader terms, scientific/technical terms, and more specific terms based on your own background knowledge:

   • EXAMPLE:

     • Cigarette companies:  Philip Morris, Camel, Imperial

     • Children:  child, adolescent, teen, teenager, students, youth

     • Advertising:  ads, marketing, commercials, promotions, product placement

4. Avoid the following:

   • Abbreviations - spell them out

   • Relationship words - words like compare, contrast, causation, etc.

   • Judgement words - words like best, worst, pro, con, etc.

5. If needed, search Wikipedia and other reference sources to further develop your list of keywords.

Select source types that are most appropriate for the information need.

For Example:

Science

Humanities

Examples of Primary and Secondary Sources

adapted from University at Albany Library